Farm to Fork Coming to Whispering Winds Farm

My friend Char Byde asked me to pass on this invitation to their Farm to Fork buffet style dinner on July 16. She was featured on my blog last summer.  You are invited to join them for a great evening.

Freshly Doug Vegetables from 2010

Whispering Winds Farm, Stanwood, WA, owned and operated by Doug and Char Byde, is hosting its first Farm to Fork buffet style dinner event on Saturday, July 16, 2011 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.   The farm is well-known in the area for producing reasonably priced, certified organic vegetables under the Freshly Doug Vegetables logo. 

The dinner menu includes fabulous produce grown on the farm, prepared  by local Chef  Devra Gartenstein,www.quirkygourmet.com and featuring vegetarian recipes from The Northwest Vegetarian Cookbook  by Debra Daniels-Zeller.  Ms. Daniels-Zeller is a local Edmonds author www.foodconnections.blogspot.com and will be on hand to sign copies of her book.   

More of Char and Doug's veggies from last year

The buffet style dinner will be served at assigned seating times of 4, 5 and 6 p.m.  The event will be held rain or shine as dinner will be served using the lower floor of their circa 1938 Heritage Barn.  The proposed menu will include Halibut mixed with grated potatoes (Chef Devra's recipe), Fennel Carrots, Romanesco with Northwest Berry Vinaigrette, and dessert.        

Live music will be provided by the acoustical duo of Diane Wood Bachsler and Tara Caldwell Wolfe of Cabin Fever,www.cabinfevernw.com.   Their music is said to "lift your heart and soul."  They will be playing from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. 

Local wines will also be featured at the event.  

Guests are encouraged to arrive at any time after 3:00 p.m. and wander the grounds.  The farm has much to offer, including  a self-guided tour of the certified organic vegetable gardens, a small orchard, wide array of flowers, alpacas, pygmy goats, chickens, and rabbits.  The Bydes have implemented several strategies to outwit Mother Nature, including the use of raised beds and hoop houses.   Guests are encouraged to bring a camera with fully charged batteries.

Char Byde

Asked why the Bydes were opening their farm to the public through an event of this type, Char Byde replied that "we have a tendency to take our food and food supply for granted, especially when it's so easy to run to the store and buy what we want, without regard to seasons.  Supermarkets do serve an important purpose, by providing consumers with product, but it's also important for people to understand what it takes to get food to market and to actually grow great tasting food.  And, with all of the publicity about food safety and getting to know your farmer, we thought this would provide consumers with an opportunity to experience our small farm operation."      

 If you are interested in attending this event, contact Char at 425-220-3903 or bydenmythyme@hotmail.com.  For updated information visit freshlydougvegetables.blogspot.com.  Tickets are available for $45/person.