During October San Juan County Farm Festival

Fundraiser includes a delicious private lunch followed by guided tour that includes the lower return pond of the salmon hatchery

By Madie Murray

October has been proclaimed as San Juan County Farm Festival month when many events will be held on Orcas, Lopez and San Juan. The weekend of October 7, 8 and 9 features Orcas Island.

A private lunch at Ship Bay and guided tour of the Salmon Hatchery will occur on Sunday, October 9 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The event starts when guests meet at the Inn At Ship Bay at 1 p.m. for a private sit-down Sunday Lunch in the dining room featuring fresh local salmon (a vegetarian dish will be provided upon request.) Immediately following, guests will board a private van to begin a personally guided tour of Glenwood Springs Salmon Hatchery. This unique hatchery began in 1978 on Orcas Island by Jim Youngren who pioneered “natural rearing” and the creation of a Chinook salmon run where none existed before.  Guests will experience the complete cycle from how roe are raised at the hatchery, released in several stages via fresh-water ponds into the sea, then return to the lower pond where their life began three years previously.

Donation is $40 per person for the lunch and tour – all monies raised directly benefit the Orcas Island Farm to Cafeteria Program.

For reservations, contact Madie Murray at gomadie@gmail.com or call 360-376-3371 or 3064. Checks payable to the Orcas Island Education Foundation (O.I.E.F.) may be mailed to 36 Colorado Blvd, Eastsound, WA 98245. Be sure to note on the check: “F2C Farm Festival Event.”

For a calendar of all county events, click here. For more information, contact info@sjcarc.org.

 

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