Whatcom and Skagit counties have no lack of local farms and farmers markets, but if you really want to dig into seasonal eating, you might consider signing up for a CSA.
Community-supported agriculture is basically a seasonal subscription to a farm, where you pay a certain amount of money (or promise to volunteer) and receive a box of whatever’s been harvested that week. Not only does it keep your cooking fresh, but it’s an effective way to support local agriculture.
A CSA box is traditionally all from one farm, but many farmers are now doing aggregates where they include products from neighboring farms, like eggs, flowers or meat. Alternatively, some farms are offering a pre-paid credit to their farmstand instead of a packed box. This gives the customer options on what and how much they buy each week, but still puts money in the farm’s pocket ahead of time — which is a win-win for everyone.
Some CSA offerings sell out early — check with farms for the latest information about subscriptions mentioned below. Addresses are included for those that are publicly advertised.
Whatcom County
Alluvial Farms
6825 Goodwin Road, Everson
Alluvial offers a Monthly Mix Club pork subscription to a limited number of customers (with pickup at the farm or the Bellingham Farmers Market), or you can purchase quarter, half or whole shares of pork to pick up all at once. Info: alluvialfarms.com.
Barnstar Florals
Besides growing flowers for Barnstar Events, this farm offers five-week flower subscriptions over the growing season, with local delivery to Bellingham, Ferndale, Custer, Birch Bay and Lynden. Info: barnstarflorals.com.
City Sprouts Farm
Located in the Birchwood neighborhood of Bellingham, this urban farm works with Western Washington University students to mentor new farmers through the Center for Community Learning. Pick up on Wednesday weekly or every other week from June–October. Prices are on a sliding scale: a median-income family pays $28 per box. Info: citysproutsfarm.org.
Daydream Farm
This women-owned, no-till farm sells its grab-and-go salads at the Bellingham Farmers Market, but they also offer a 20-week mixed vegetable CSA for $30 per week with pickup at Wander Brewing. Info: daydreamfarmwa.com.
East of Eden
4974 Patton Road, Bellingham
The Free Choice CSA lets you purchase a gift card that you then use at their digital checkout at the farmstand, which is open every day through the season. Credit can be used on any farmstand item, including goods from other producers, and can include fish, meat, cheese, sauces and bread. The farm also offers a small number of work-trade shares. Info: eastofedenfarm.com.
Nimbus Farm
Microgreens are grown to order, and two 16-ounce containers are delivered every other Wednesday. Boxes might contain salad mix, radishes, broccoli, mustard or edible flowers. Info: nimbus-farm.square.site.
Spring Time Farm
3348 Mack Road, Everson
Spring Time offers a 20-week CSA in regular ($40.95/box) and petite ($29.95/box) with a range of pickup points including Bellingham and Seattle, plus a few slots for home delivery for customers in need. Info: springtimefarm.com.
Ten Fold Farm
4634 Guide Meridian, Bellingham
Ten Fold offers many different kinds of subscription boxes, including eggs, meat and vegetables, available online as a single purchase, once per week, bi-weekly or monthly. Info: tenfoldfarm.com.
Twin Leaf Microgreens Farm
Fresh microgreens from this urban vertical farm are grown to order, and are available online as a single purchase or a weekly or biweekly subscription. Free delivery in Bellingham, $5 to surrounding areas. Info: twinleaf.farm.
Skagit County
Boldly Grown Farm
8855 Ershig Road, Bow
Boldly Grown’s farmstand is open all year with products from many other local vendors as well as their own produce. They do offer a CSA, and because the farm focuses on fall and winter crops, their program runs through the offseason. This makes Boldly Grown a great complement to more traditional summer subscriptions. Info: boldlygrownfarm.com.
Bow Hill Blueberries
15628 Bow Hill Road, Suite 4620, Bow
This blueberry farm offers a monthly juice membership, where for $34 you can have two pints of organic blueberry juice shipped to you. A subscription comes with a variety of perks and different options for juice quantities. Pickup at the farm is available. Info: bowhillblueberries.com.
Hedlin’s Family Farm
12052 Chilberg Road, La Conner
Hedlin’s farmstand by the La Conner roundabout is open every day from late May through October, but you can prepay for a Season Farm Pass which includes anything in the stand. Get $650 in-store credit for $550 when you prepay by May 15th. Hedlin is known for its tomatoes and other vegetables, but the stand also carries goods from producers all around the area like bread, cheese and preserves. Info: hedlinfarms.com.
Padilla Bay Farm
13694 Bayview Road, Mount Vernon
A full share including eggs is $144 per month June through September, or $576 for the full season. Half shares and shares without eggs are available. Info: padillabayfarm.com.
SUOT Farm & Flowers
329 N. Cherry St., Burlington
An elaborate bouquet of flowers every week, for yourself or as a gift. Subscriptions run $140 for four weeks of flowers, or $270 for eight weeks. Pick up at the SUOT flower shop on Fridays. Info: suotfarmandflowers.com.
Tangled Thicket
This Mount Vernon-area farm grows produce and eggs with an emphasis on sustainable practices. Subscriptions are on a sliding scale, but a regular box is $275 for farm pickup, or $300 in Bellingham, for a 10-week season. Six hours of work on the farm will earn a $75 discount. Info: tangledthicketfarm.com.
Viva Farms
16470 State Route 20, Mount Vernon
Viva is a farm incubator, which means their CSA draws from all the different farmers growing under their umbrella. Boxes are delivered to pick-up locations in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish and King counties, and are available in small (for one to two adults) and a larger size for three to four adults or a family of five. There is a sliding scale for pricing, and some pick-up sites offer a 50% discount for SNAP/EBT customers. Info: vivafarms.org.
Waxwing Farm
16665 Britt Road, Mount Vernon
Waxwing no longer offers a traditional prepacked CSA box, but you can sign up for a “Farmstand CSA,” a prepaid credit for the farmstand (open on Wednesdays and some Saturdays during the growing season) plus additional credit depending on the amount: a $250 membership gives an additional 5% credit, and $500 gives an extra 10%. Simply deduct purchases from your total in a handy notebook at the farmstand. Info: waxwingfarmllc.com.
Jessamyn Tuttle is a freelance writer and photographer based in the Skagit Valley.
