Food. We love it. And we relish the variety of what is grown and made right here in the Pacific Northwest. Finding products from a unique source can add to the variety of our eating experiences. Take milk for example. “I wish more people could actually see the animals and the creamery and we could talk about how all milk is not the same,” says David Lukens, second generation owner of Grace Harbor Farms in Custer, WA. “It reminds me of the microbrewery world 20 years ago, when people realized that beer wasn’t just beer – there were different processes and recipes, too. We consider ourselves the microbrewery of dairy.” 

Yogurt, cream-top milk, kefir, cultured buttermilk - these are just some of the delicious products that Lukens produces and shares with the local community as well as the greater Puget Sound region. Grace Harbor’s milk is not homogenized or separated. And Lukens says the flavor is unique. “It’s very true to the farm.”  

Whatcom County Farm Tour–Sept. 16th 

Grace Harbor Farms will be one of 12 farms to open their doors on Saturday, September 16th for the free Whatcom County Farm Tour. The Whatcom County Farm Tour is an opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at what makes food from this place so special. On the tour, you can learn about regenerative vegetable and flower farming, fruit trees that thrive in our region, natural fermentation, sheep husbandry, and more! You can see a variety of animals, tour a creamery, and appreciate the collaboration between different farmers and producers.  

Grace Harbor Farms acquired Misty Meadows Farm in 2021 – they now sell pasture-raised organic eggs produced by their 2400 chickens. Fourth generation farmers at Steensma Creamery, another Whatcom County dairy, will be showcasing their production facility, co-located at Grace Harbor Farms. The Steensma family is committed to regenerative food production in partnership with their animals and land. In 2021, they launched the Pacific Northwest’s first local skyr yogurt, hand-crafted with milk from their pastured dairy cows.  

September Eat Local Month & The Farm to Table Trails 

The Farm Tour is just one part of September’s Eat Local Month - a celebration of local food and the folks who farm, raise, fish, forage, harvest, cook and make what we eat. Come early for Market Week, stay for Farm Week. Chase the tour with Restaurant Week and close out your month with Seafood Week.  

If your schedule can’t accommodate a trip to Bellingham in September, consider taking advantage of the enticing, creative, Farm To Table Trails anytime. The Trails make it fun and easy to embark on culinary adventures by car or bike and explore delicious offerings from Whatcom County. Enjoy bountiful harvests from berry farms, find the best local cheeses, and visit area markets for fresh veggies, meat, and fish. 

By participating in one or more of the Farm To Table Trails, you’ll have the opportunity to use the digital passport to check in, earn points, and win prizes! 

There are so many ways to experience the food and farming culture of Northwest Washington. Whether it’s the Whatcom County Farm Tour, September Eat Local Month, or the Farm to Table Trails, be sure to bring an appetite and your curiosity!  

“We’re fortunate to have so many incredible chefs and farmers in this region,” says Jess Meyer, Sustainable Connections’ Food and Farming Outreach Coordinator. “Eat Local Month is a celebration of all the connections that bring food from the farm to our plates – and the connections that bring us together.”  

Whatcom County’s food and farming world is one of sustainability, collaboration, flavor, and a deep passion for growing a strong, vibrant community.  The Farm Tour is on September 16th from 10 am - 4 pm - it’s self-guided and is free for all ages! 

Eat Local Month: http://sustainableconnections.org/eat-local-month/   

Whatcom County Farm Tour: https://sustainableconnections.org/whatcom-county-farm-tour/  

Farm To Table Trails: https://sustainableconnections.org/farm-to-table-trail/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatlocalfirstnw/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eatlocalfirstnw/   

Eat Local Month is made possible by Sustainable Connections, thanks to the support of Whatcom Community Foundation, Bellingham Farmers Market, Cascade Radio Group, FarmWild, Community Food Co-op, Mt. Baker Care Center, Whatcom County, City of Bellingham, Aslan Brewing Company, Katheryn Moran Photography, and Heritage Bank.