Submitted by: Sustainable Connections
This September, Sustainable Connections will once again invite the community to experience and celebrate the abundance of local food that is grown, raised, harvested and made right here in Whatcom County and Northwest Washington.
September Eat Local Month is a month-long celebration that will kick off with the Farm Fund Hootenanny on Sunday, September 2 at Boundary Bay Brewery. Local food, live music from the Sky Colony Band, a tractor photo booth, square dancing, beer and the annual Farmer Awards make this a fun and family-friendly event. All of the kickoff’s proceeds benefit the Community Food Co-op’s Farm Fund.
The second week of September is Whatcom Farm Tour Weekend! On September 8 and 9, more than twelve local farms will swing open their gates and welcome the community to see, taste, feel and learn hands-on what goes into local food production. A variety of producers will be featured, including vegetables, beef, eggs and poultry, flowers, dairy, orchards, a farmhouse brewery and (drumroll, please…) yak! Learn about these unique farms and the passion and care that goes into producing local food for our community. Farm Tour weekend will also include three tasty locavore events including the Farm Tour Brunch at Cosmos Bistro, a farm-to-pint pairing at Boundary Bay, and a wine, cheese and chocolate tasting at Samson Estates Winery.
All month long a variety of Bellingham and Whatcom restaurants, including many local breweries, will be running Eat Local Month specials! Find $6 and $12 locally sourced dishes at all participating locations. Other featured events include SeaFeast, September 21 and 22, that showcases Whatcom’s maritime heritage and our internationally renowned fishing and seafood industries and the Unity Care Eat Local Gala on September 28, that will highlight how Unity Care is helping patients focus on nutrition and healthy habits.
All month long community members will be encouraged to share their local food stories and experiences and submit them through our social media and website for the chance to win amazing locavore prizes throughout the month. Eat Local Month is the premier celebration of the Eat Local First Campaign, the go-to source for finding the best locally grown, raised, harvested and made food in Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan and Island counties.
More details forthcoming, check in often at EatLocalFirst.org.
