Views of Sequim, the Olympic Peninsula. . .and beyond
We’re a small town but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a small international dining district…next door to McDonald’s.
A rough count: We’ve got three Mexican, two Thai, at least four Chinese, and a couple of teriyaki restaurants. I’ve been spoiled by ethnic restaurants in California, but that’s another story.
Our local Dungeness River Audubon Center, above, has been approved for a capital grant to undertake a major expansion. A new classroom, multi-purpose room, commercial kitchen, office space and more will be built as part of a building remodel and addition of a new wing. The current space is filled with educational exhibits and is well used for community education. It’s a great local resource.
A state grant was added to other funds raised in addition to commitments from the local Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal contributions of land and promises to build a new entry road, parking lot, and site improvements. A “Close the Gap” fundraising campaign is being conducted to raise remaining funds needed to take on this ambitious project.
Graysmarsh Farm offers a little of everything that grows well here. Near the entrance is a rolling hill covered with lavender. The plants in the foreground have been partially or fully harvested by visitors and Graysmarsh workers for lavender products the farm markets. I wish there were scratch and sniff computer screens because the scent is wonderful now.
There’s a small field of pretty, varied sunflowers at Graysmarsh Farm behind a farm stand where pickers can pay for their harvests. The farm also offers pre-picked seasonal produce, including their berries, and a selection of their delicious preserves.
Here’s a view of some of the berry operations from the sunflower field. The berry bush locations are rotated from year to year. The flat field in the middle ground may have been the location of this year’s strawberries. In the far distance on the right is the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Tomorrow I’ll give you a view of what’s to the right of this photo.
I saw this contraption the other day while I was at Graysmarsh Farms picking berries. I had no idea what it was until my friend asked if I’d ever seen the berry picker in operation. Nope.
In the middle of the machine are twirling rows of poles that brush along rows of berries. Ripe ones easily drop from bushes and the poles coax them into conveyors. The two big vents at the top of the back of the machine blow out excess leaves or twigs. The conveyors rotate the berries up onto the sides of the machine where workers catch them in plastic berry bins and pick out any unnecessary bits. I thought it was pretty interesting. If you don’t…well, just humor me, ok?
Berry season is one of the rewards for a long winter in the Pacific Northwest. Some berries grow wild here but if I’m ready to do some serious picking I go to Graysmarsh Farm, a U-Pick operation that offers a variety of beautiful, cultivated berries for a fraction of the cost of store bought. This is a blackberry. It’s easily more than double the size of those found on wild bushes.
I picked a couple of pounds of blackberries and raspberries this week and was happy with my harvest. But I think the peak of the season is still to come. Some blackberries, above, still have blossoms and ripe berries are surrounded by ones that should be perfect later this month. I may make a return visit. It’s such a summery sort of thing to do.
One of Sequim’s longtime nurseries, Peninsula Nursery, changed hands a few years ago. The new owners have made many improvements, including the addition of a pretty lavender field.
Not all of our lavender operations are large farms. Earth Muffin Lavender is a modest operation at a busy intersection that many visitors pass.