Drought, Trees, and Water
Recently there have been many articles relating to NASA’s research and predictions of “mega-droughts” for the American West. See one example from the BBC, here. The ultimate conclusion reached by the scientists states that “The cause of the drying was twofold: reduced precipitation – that is, reductions in rainfall and snowfall; but also increased evaporation, driven by higher temperatures, leading to more parched soils.” Certainly, in California, and even in Washington, where the snow-pack is at record lows right now, and where February has felt more and more like April with each passing day, none can deny the significance of such a report. NASA’s findings of reduced rainfall and…
Ananda Farm Camano Island Winter Reflections
February 2015Newsletter and Reflections Greetings farm friends, 2015 is the beginning of our 3rd year of Ananda Farm on Camano Island (Wow!). We finished up 2014 with successful holiday markets and were able to share a lot of the farm’s herbal care products with a lot of really nice people. And we hear that some of them are really helping people too! Comfrey oil, the farm salve, herbal hydrosols, handmade soap, to name but a few. What a blessing it is to provide for basic needs, for ourselves and a growing community of friends. With another year upon us, more residents are calling the farm home (Welcome Home…
Autumn Update
A Joyful Season The seasonal shift has already begun, and so too at the farm our priorities will begin to change. Last Friday marked the final Port Susan Farmers Market of the 2014 season, with the Camano Island Farmers Market ending a couple weeks ago. We said hello and goodbye to many new familiar faces of customers and vendors whom we’ve gotten to know this year. The connections made were great strides taken towards the community building model we seek and require as a community farm. Fall Garden Prep Workshop We will be offering a hands on workshop on Saturday October 25th 1-4pm, for fall bed prep here at the…
Ananda Farm no-till community-grain-growing experiment
Ananda Farm no-till community-grain-growing experiment – This Saturday, April 26, 11 am – 4 pm Lunch served at 1 pm ($5) The first annual community grain sowing happens this Saturday at the farm on Camano Island What is this for? To prepare seed beds and sow grains and chickpeas at the farm for the 2014 season. Why? Last year we began the exploration of no-till grain growing, with Barley, Oats, Quinoa and Rye. No till means no tractor and thus no disruption to the life in the soil, and no dependence on oil. The goal is sustainability as a farm and community, and cultivating uplifted consciousness in our farming methods.…
Spring Garden Tour and House Blessing
Enjoy Lunch and Tour the Farm Sunday March 16th Vegetarian Lunch at 1:00pm @ Haven Place Haven House Blessing @ 2:15pm Garden Tour at 2:30pm Parking @ 732 Haven Place, Camano Island Directions Spring is Coming… The plants have gone dormant for the winter, but we haven’t! Help us welcome our second spring here on Camano Island. Come view transformations in the landscape, meet new animals, see the first plants of the year, and enjoy lunch with friends. Walk about the Farm… We love working out here with Mother Nature and are looking forward to sharing with you! See for yourself where this year’s fruits, vegetables, and herbs will grow. We’ll…
Winter 2014 Update
I do believe Nivritti will begin moving in this weekend? I do know from going inside the Haven house that it has been painted! Haven Green House raised beds have been constructed on both sides. Today we began filling the base layer with wood from the arborist, Doug. He has volunteered to come by this week or next to prune with us the handful of fruit trees on the Haven side. These didn’t produce much fruit this year, and are badly overgrown, so it will be another good experience to see how we can reshape the trees back into production. Larger prunings can be used for cooking wood stock-pile (which…
Alpacas!
We have four new residents at Ananda Farms Camano. Left to right they are Vermeer, Pascal, Toulouse and Hobbes, all male alpacas. We will have two female alpacas moving in soon. Their job is to eat grass, manifest organic fertilizer, and grow fleece. They will be sheared in the spring for their own comfort. So as to not waste a thing, we’ll turn that fleece into roving or yarn that can be used to create beautiful fabric and garments.
Open House August 10
Join us for our first open house, August 10, 10 am to 3 pm. We will have tours and samples, nature activities and food and herb processing demonstrations. All free – all are welcome! Click here for directions, or set your GPS to 749 Tycory Lane, Camano Island, WA.
Lavender Hydrosol for burns
One of the products being produced at Ananda Farms Camano is lavender hydrosol, using lavender grown on the farm. This preparation is very effective in preventing kitchen burns and treating sunburn. Lavender Hydrosols are made by distilling Lavender flowering stalks. Distillation converts the volatile liquid (the essential oils) into a vapor and then condenses the vapor back into a liquid – it is the most popular, and cost effective method in use today to produce essential oils and hydrosols. Literally all of the commercial products of lavender hydrosols have extracted the lavender essential oil so only the water portion is left. By contrast, the process Sara, Joanne and Hailey are using at…
A Great Success!
A big thank you to all those who turned up to help with the farm activities on Sunday, from Lynnwood to Bellingham (Dave and Marylin) and out to Whidbey Island (Krishnapriya). Many hands lead the lavender harvesting charge and processing, too (Sadie, Chandi, Betty, and many others), leaving the entire house smelling of divine essences. Bundles hang on the walls drying, and bowls filled with flower trimmings await honey infusion. Hailey will be joined again today for more processing activities. Randa lead the kitchen charge, creating delicious lemonade, farm salad, and a fresh Tabouli salad that warranted 3 servings on such a hot day. Dakshina supplied the farm with much…
Farming with Spirit!