Growing Things Farm is a 31-acre farm snuggled between Full Circle Farm’s Ames Creek acreage and Oxbow Organic Farm and Education Center, with Full Circle to the south of Ames Creek and Oxbow to the north of the Snoqualmie River. In this riparian area, Ames Creek causes Growing Things Farm to flood four to five times per year, with water depths greater than you stand tall. Founded in 1989, Growing Things Farm is certified Salmon Safe, certified organic, and a King County Conservation District Conservation Farm of Merit. Owner Michaele Blakely got her start growing flowers and going substantial amounts of gardening while running a Montessori in Duvall. In the summer, Michaele held Growing Things Camp, which allowed young learners to get their hands dirty. When Michaele made the transition to farming, the Growing Things name did the same. Today, there’s still an educational component to Michaele’s work: each season she has around eight interns on the farm.
At the Carnation Farmers Market, Growing Things Farm brings a variety of produce, but they also come in tow with several specialty items. Growing Things Farm provides market patrons with both frozen chicken and farm-fresh eggs from pastured hens. You’ll also find their blueberry, blackberry, apricot, strawberry, and raspberry gems: low sugar jams made with perfectly ripened fruit. You don’t want to miss their gentle-on-the-skin handmade soaps, which include goat milk oils from goats raised right there on the farm. At the beginning of the market season, you’ll find herb, squash, and zucchini starts available at the Growing Things Farm stand. As the season progresses, kale, collard greens, chard, broccoli, cheddar cauliflower, peas, yellow and green beans, and much, much more will make their way to market. Be on the lookout for their salad mix too, a ready-to-go, fresh mix of their salad greens and a few little extras. If you’re looking for summer or winter squash, zucchini, carrots, potatoes, cherry or heirloom tomatoes, green onions, radishes, bok choy, cucumber, and lettuce, you’ll find it at Growing Things Farm as well. Michaele has a unique growing philosophy: she works with nature to protect her crops from pest. She lets her fields run wild between rows, and the natural vegetation masks the attractants that draws pests to her crops. She also creates a perfect environment for predatory soldier bugs, which help to control pest populations as well.
Growing Things Farm began selling at the Carnation Farmers Market in 2003, when the market first started. Michaele’s favorite part about being at market is visiting with the people there. Her goal with Growing Things Farm is also a challenge as she strives to create a diverse and creative environment. Visit their stand at the Carnation Farmers Market to indulge in the fruits of the Michaele’s, and her interns’, labor.
Learn more about Growing Things Farm and placing meat orders from them for turkey, pork, and beef online at www.growingthingsfarm.org.