Take a harvest tour of King County farms

Farms around King County welcome visitors with fresh produce, farm animals, live music, cooking demonstrations, hayrides and more at the WSU King County Extension Harvest Celebration Farm Tour this Saturday. Some of the tour's farms are open often, with produce stands, pumpkin patches, corn mazes and other seasonal features, but several sites on the tour provide a behind-the-scenes look at local agriculture on farms that aren't usually open to the public.

"You could probably spend all day at each farm, but try to get to at least a few. Every farm is different; the crops they grow, the variety of animals, their special activities," says King County Extension Programs Coordinator Karen Luetjen.

Locations close to urban centers include Marra Farm, the last working farm in Seattle, with guided tours and kids' games. See sheep, rabbits and chickens at BarnPlace, only six blocks from downtown Woodinville, or join Pioneer Days activities at Farrel-McWhirter Farm, minutes from the heart of Redmond. Take a scenic drive and/or ferry ride to pet lambs and see sheepdog-herding demonstrations at Blue Dog Farm on Vashon Island, watch the trebuchet catapult pumpkins at Jubilee Farm in Carnation, or pet farm animals and feed pigs at V2 Farm in Enumclaw. Most locations offer fruit, vegetables, herbs, honey, cut flowers, cider, wine, plants and other farm products for sale, with lunch and treats also available at several venues. Kids' activities include scavenger hunts, games, craft activities, animal visits, wagon rides and hands-on farming skills.

To reduce your carbon footprint, consider biking or carpooling; some locations are accessible by bus. Wear shoes that can get muddy and leave your pets at home. Tour maps and descriptions of events at each site are available online or in brochures available at King County farmers markets, public libraries and community centers.

Volunteers are needed to welcome visitors to farms, answer questions and accept donations on the day of the tour. Half-day shifts are available to leave time to visit other farms; call for more information.

The details

Time: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Cost: Free; suggested donation $10 per car.

Locations:

Redmond — Farrel-McWhirter Farm, 19545 Redmond Road; The Root Connection, 13607 Woodinville-Redmond Road; Serres Farm, 20306 N.E. 50th St.

Woodinville — BarnPlace, 16708 140th Place N.E.; Hollywood Hill Vineyards, 14350 160th Place N.E.

Carnation — Ames Creek Farm, 27307 N.E. 100th St.; Carnation Tree Farm/Hjertoos Farm, 31523 N.E. 40th St.; Full Circle Farm, 31904 N.E. Eighth St.; Jubilee Farm, 229 W. Snoqualmie River Road N.E.; Remlinger Farms, 32610 N.E. 32nd St.

Duvall — Dougherty Farm, 26526 N.E. Cherry Valley Road

Fall City — Fall City Farms, 3636 Neal Road S.E.

Seattle — Marra Farm, 9026 Fourth Ave. S.

Auburn — Little Farm at Windwater, 20621 S.E. Green Valley Road; Moonshadow Alpaca Ranch, 17710 S.E. 384th St.; Trees 'n' Bees, 34747 162nd Ave. S.E.

Enumclaw — Country Garden Bouquets, 46620 228th Ave. S.E.; Thunder Mountain Farm, 40622 196th Ave. S.E.; V2 Farm, 20613 S.E. 435th St.

Vashon Island — Blue Dog Farm, 10323 S.W. 156th St.; GreenMan Farm, 8800 S.W. Dilworth Road; K-Jo Farm, 20602 111th Ave. S.W.; Langley Fine Gardens, 10012 S.W. 268th St.; Sister Sage Herb Farm, 2310 S.W. Willow St.; Stop Sign Farm, 14016 S.W. 240th St.

More information: 206-205-3187 or www.king.wsu.edu/foodandfarms/.

Madeline McKenzie: 206-464-8245 or mmckenzie@seattletimes.com