RE-WILDING OUT
Hello Chimacum Corner Community!
One early sign of spring: the nodes of the osoberry bushes pushing tender vertical leaves in constellations through the understories. Osoberries are lean, resilient pollen providers. In many ways that is the essence of a “native,” in whichever biome it may be. As our culture awakens from the 20th century folly of “the lawn,” there is a small but mighty cadre of nursery growers creating the inputs we need to encourage native plants to re-take their rightful places in the court of natural spaces around us. Whether it is your lawn or your diet, we at CCF encourage you to “get wild” whenever possible. Shine on, you crazy diamonds! And read on for all the latest goodies down on the corner.
PNW NATIVE PLANTS
It is a personal mission of our founders to continue to support people in our community who want to plant native plants in spaces that they care for. For this reason, we have an extensive offering of well-researched and appropriate native plantings for your zones, at super reasonable prices. Available in both potted and bare-root forms. From the tiny but monumental Henderson’s Checkermallow, all the way up to the Giant Sequoia, there is something for your space that is native in the Corner Nursery at the moment. While touring with Jude, our Native Plant buyer, some highlight species that struck me included multiple sizes of Oregon White (Garry) Oaks, bare root specimens of Western Larch, vigorous Twinberries, well-established Pacific Wax Myrtles, and potted Camas Lily bulbs. As Jude said, Twinberries and Wax Myrtles are akin to “planting a living bird feeder.” And don’t forget we have all of our native seed selection from Inside Passage on the seed rack in the greenhouse, if you are hardcore and want to start from seed! This year’s crop of native plants is special, well-tended, and extensive, and an opportunity for you to establish the cornerstones of your microecosystem. Come check it out and look for the uber-knowledgeable Jude, Native Plant Buyer Mondays and Tuesdays on site. And learn more about her in the staff feature below!
GET TO KNOW JUDE!
Jude started out with us almost 2 years ago as a seasonal Nursery person and has stuck with us ever since! We’re super thrilled to be able to access her wealth of PNW Native Plant and reclamation knowledge and highly encourage you to do that same! Read on to learn a little more about Jude, and don’t be shy about saying hi and asking a few questions when you see her.
What’s your current favorite thing (or things!) at the store? In the Nursery - I'm thrilled with our bare root fruit trees - especially Ashmead's Kernel Apple, Frost Peach, and Dolgo Crabapple (all from Biringer Family Nursery in Mount Vernon) and specialty apples and Wickson's Crabapple (from Logan at Heartwood Nursery in Port Townsend). Native plants, of course - Pacific Wax Myrtle is a living bird feeder and effective screening plant; red flowering currants attract local hummingbirds, and gorgeous camas lily have such deep cultural significance...planting window is - now! Inside the store - Chimacum Grainery's seeded sandwich bread, toasted and buttered - after a long day working outside, when I am too tired to cook, this hits the spot. Every. Time. Daily breakfast must-have: Samish Bay Greek yogurt. Anything locally grown from the Produce Porch!
What do you like most about living on the peninsula? A genuine feeling of connection to people, plants, water, animals, and history of place. Our small town social ethics still mean that our relationships with each other matter more than transactions; I love how even our small encounters have meaning. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to swim in the sparkling waters of Port Townsend Bay, Gibbs Lake, and Lake Crescent.
What brought you to the Corner? It was a perfect fit. After a 25 year career working in non-profits as a project manager and restoration ecologist, (while running a small farm on the side), I was excited to help "re-center the original mission" of the nursery. Over the past two years, our goal has been to increase the inventory of native and edible plants, while hopefully keeping prices affordable to locals. Two years later, I'm still excited to meet customers and help folks find solutions, plants and info.
Anything else you’d like to share with folks? Three ways you can support Shooting Star Farm: 1) Hire me as a consultant for food forests, re-wilding/restoration, and residential land. Get in touch! 2) Buy some Shooting Star Farm plant starts and produce (snow peas! rhubarb!) at the Corner Store. 3) If you live in Port Townsend, send a note to City Council saying that you value farms and food production for Food Security and Climate Resilience. 4) Support swimming and community water survival skills: Please fill out the survey about the new pool.
SLAMMIN’ SALMON
All hail the salmon, our biome’s chief protein source! There’s a lot of excellent fish protein options at CCF, and we thought we would highlight the smoked salmon offerings on tap at the store these days. For local cans, we have Keta Salmon from Katfish Salmon Co., Silver Salmon from Cape Cleare, or Pink Salmon from Loki Fish Co. And don’t miss the offerings from Lummi Island Wild! Both the Smoked Sockeye and Smoked Keta are now ON SALE. One of this humble author’s favorite salmon products is the Smoked Salmon Spread from Loki Fish Co., available in up front in our grab and go deli refer. These salmon are wild, not farmed, and in most cases line-caught. These are core food producers who enrich our communities with the foods that they bring to the table. Let’s celebrate and support them, and enjoy!
TUNA SALAD SANDO
There’s a new lunch option in town: the Tuna Salad Sandwich from the Corner Kitchen! A simple recipe full of capers and light on mayonnaise, the scratch Tuna Salad is the star of the show, with a solid supporting cast of Pane D’Amore Seedy Sourdough slices and greenleaf lettuce. The CCF staff always looks forward to trying the latest Corner Kitchen creations, and we think you will too. Made fresh daily!
SPEARS SUBLIME
Early spring means a seasonal treat: asparagus! The great North American harvest cycle of Asparagus has begun. Mexican Asparagus begins the season, and before you know it we will be into Washington Asparagus. Keep your eyes peeled for “flash sales” on this crop. Stalk thickness and label changes from order to order, so if you are a skinny stalk or thick stalk lover, seize your moment when you see it on the porch. Tender sprigs await you, while you await your own patch to produce!
PRODUCE IS HIRING!
Join a team that is passionate about produce and our local farming community. Our ideal produce clerk has produce-handling experience (farm or retail), efficient work habits, and great teamwork. Help us prep our award-winning produce porch with local organic fruits and veggies, and share our love of produce with the community! We are especially known for our work supporting local farms, but we also work with several small organic farms throughout Washington and with various large organic wholesale distribution suppliers.
TOTALLY EPIC
Snack strips and bars from Epic Provisions are insanely affordable at the moment. All strips are $1.25 a pop! Whether you like beef, salmon, or venison, quick and easy protein is having a moment. The Bison Bars are a hot seller as well. Did you know that Epic is in partnership with the Savory Institute, and their website offers links to a lot of good peer-reviewed research on holistic animal management and its potential to positively influence our global ecosystemic problems? Check it out!
We’ve said it before and we will say it again, the Jefferson Aquatic Coalition is looking for folks to fill out their Survey about the new proposed pool project in Port Hadlock. Get your answers in so that they can present their findings at the next community hearing on the matter. Follow the link here to fill out the survey:
