Saturday and Sunday June 23-24
By Sue Lewis
The Orcas Island Garden Club presents “The Homestead Tour” of five farms and gardens on the east side of Orcas Island, with emphasis on beauty, history and the sustainable horticulture of fruits, vegetables, herbs and livestock, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, June 23-24.
Three of the homesteads—the Doe Bay Garden, Orcas Farm, and Cherry Hill Farm– date back to the 1880’s.
The other two gardens—Seaview Farm and the McCoy Garden– are more recent homesteads but are also committed to a sustainable ecology. Included in the tour are lectures on Orcas Island History, composting, seed saving, and elimination of noxious plants. Eastside restaurants, Café Olga and The Doe Bay Café are preparing box lunches available by pre-order no later than June 8 with your online purchase of tour tickets or you may bring your own picnic lunch to enjoy at selected garden sites.
Tickets are $20 (tour only) or $30 (by online order through June 8 for tour plus box lunch). Order tickets online anytime at brownpapertickets.com, “The Homestead Tour,” or through the link at OrcasIslandGardenClub.org.
You may also purchase tickets in person at Driftwood Nursery and Darvill’s Bookstore, Eastsound Village, Orcas Island.
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