SOILS AND SEEDS
Hello Chimacum Corner Community!
Though the tractors may still be in the barn with all of this rain, soil and seeds are on the brain around town. Whether you are beefing up the garden, nourishing your body, or bringing cuisine to a gathering, there is something seedy going on at CCF. So much labor and energy goes into the production of a seed. Yet a seed has everything it needs. We’ve seeded some ideas below to get you on your way towards spring. With the return of the frogs, it can’t be far off!
SOILS AND LOCAL SEEDS
Now is the time when farmers bulk up on their inputs and get rolling. Fortunately for local gardeners, we’ve bulked up on the raw inputs you need to get your gardens started. In the case of soil, we have the long time purveyors of compost and potting soil, Cedar Grove, available for a quick and affordable option. We also have Black Gold Potting and Seedling Mix, and even the Seacoast Biodynamic Potting Soil and Compost, which is an uber premium mix. If you need to add some nitrogen to existing in-ground beds, we have Nutri-Rich and Supergreen chicken manures. Or if you’re looking to sequester some carbon mulch with some Olympic Biochar or our burlap bagged Alder or Fir Mix Sawdust. Time to lay down those earthly chocolates.
Nothing keeps your loop local and closed like buying seed for your garden grown in your bioregion. Fortunately, we have three homegrown talents to meet your needs, as well as some other Salish Sea seed growers from slightly further afield. For veggies and flowers, we have a good library of Saltwater Seeds, a consortium of long-time local growers with ties to Organic Seed Alliance that has deepened their catalogue year over year. For growers who want to grow all-things medicinal, we have our collection of seeds from Friends of the Trees Botanicals. And if you are in the market to seed some natives, we have our stock of seed from Inside Passage in Port Townsend. Buying local seed means you are getting DNA that has been imprinted with the sun patterns of your specific area. Our slightly further afield growers included Deep Harvest of Whidbey Island and Uprising Seeds from Bellingham. These are larger seed farms that aggregate a portion of their seed from other growers as well. That being said, they conform to the highest standards of growing organic seed. The seed racks are located in the back of the Nursery Greenhouse, come peruse the stacks and secure your favorite varieties!
SEED DREAMS
If you’d rather eat local seeds than plant them, we have a great selection of “seeded” bakery items. We have Seedy Loaves hailing from both Pane D’Amore and Chimacum Valley Grainery. A sweet seedy option is the Grainery’s Rye Sable, which comes dipped with a rim of black sesame. We also have the gluten-free and vegan loaves from Shambala Bakery, which are chock full of “seed flours,” like millet flour, quinoa flour, and ground flax meal. So many reasons to celebrate seed on your plate!
And if you were wondering who keeps all those loaves and cookies flowing through the carb department? Meet Erin! Erin joined us as a buyer in Spring of 2024 and has quickly picked up the art of pars and purchasing. Beyond keeping the carb shelves full of your favorite local bakes, she also hand selects beverages, health and beauty items, and cards and stickers! Read on to learn a little more about Erin and check out her sets and say hello next time you’re in. You can’t miss her epic curls.
What fruit or vegetable would you be and why? I think a grapefruit, if I had to characterize myself. Overall familiar enough, not the sweetest citrus in the grove, but not the sourest!
What farm or regional animal would you be and why? Certainly some kind of ruminant. Generally laid back and easy-going, very dramatic when startled, tendency to stare.
What’s your current favorite thing (or things!) at the store? Right now I am eating at least one pint of Kishu Mandarins every single day, and in the summer for the short time we can get them it's Benton Strawberries and Sungold Tomatoes.
What do you like most about living on the peninsula? For the wider Olympic Peninsula it's the generic "it's so beautiful here" answer, I spend a lot of time outside and am from North Dakota so living somewhere where my backyard is like a scenic hiking trail is great. For the Quimper Peninsula more specifically it's the incredible diversity of the industries and producers here. There's not many places to live with such an extensive array of vegetables, fruits, livestock, dairy, brewing, milling, baking, etc. We really have everything you could want within 25 miles.
What do you like to do when you’re not at the Corner? I raise quail, and in the warmer months hike, paddle board, and camp. In the winter I tend to get really into cooking and various small inside hobbies.
How has your food philosophy changed since being here? I think since working here I've gotten really into ingredient transparency for processed or packaged foods, but more intensely I've gotten huge into seasonal eating fresh foods. I try to only really buy what's in season regionally, within reason. I also try to source as much as possible as close as possible. I've also become a real stick in the mud about disinformation and faddish food. You won't catch me jumping on a single trend when it comes to foods, and I am always happy to argue against them with strangers.
STRAWBERRY SWOON
The latest addition from the Corner Kitchen is a delightful Strawberry Chia Parfait! Chia and Honey Yogurt from Grace Harbor provide the base for our house made Center Valley Granola and a strawberry puree float. It’s a locavore’s dream, and easy to grab and go. Discover it in the breakfast set of the Deli Case at the store!
RED DOG ROOTS AND SHOOTS
Red Dog Farm has returned from their winter break and we are thrilled to have some fresh local vegetables on tap from them once more. Chief among them are bulk red beets, and some stunning Stir Fry Mix that is perfect baby leaves of chard, kale, and collards. Also keep your eyes peeled for the first stirrings of local salad greens!
DON’T FORGET THE DEALS!
The produce deals for the next several weeks feature some fabulous fruits. Cosmic Crisps will be $1.99/lb, and the luscious Honeygold Grapefruit will be clocking in at $2.49/lb. We appreciated all your support with the 4lb navel bags from Johansen Ranch, we sure moved through a great deal! They are still available while supplies last.
PRODUCE IS HIRING TOO!
Join a team that is passionate about produce and our local farming community. 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.
MARY QUITE CONTRARY
A new deal has cropped up yet again - all of our Mary’s Gone Crackers line is on sale through the middle of March! Obviously top of mind for us is the Super Seed line-up - whether you are an Everything, Seaweed & Black Sesame, or Classic person, we’ve got a deliciously crunchy wholesome cracker for ya! And, of course, no cracker is complete without locally made cheese atop it.
A WORD ABOUT THE BLACKOUT
We see and celebrate the planned economic blackout for February 28th in response to the ever-expanding socioeconomic pressures on the 99%. We are choosing to remain open as an essential business, in case people need access to healthy foods on that day. As an independent locally owned and operated small business that centers around selling local goods, we feel it is important to support our staff and local vendors by remaining open on this day. Our mission and values push us to source items locally that support a healthy economic feedback loop for our region. Showing up with a mindfulness to the impact of our daily behaviors is a skill we are all in process with. The more we lean in to locally scaled economies and relationships, the more resilient our community will be!
