Thanks to everyone who supported The EduCulture Project through December sales at Bainbridge Island Vineyards and Winery, and our gratitude to Jo Ann and Gerard Bentryn of BI Vineyards for their tremendous support of our edible education programs!
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Suyematsu-Bentryn Day Road Farms Partnership
8989 Day Road East, Bainbridge Island, WA
The home base for our EduCulture Project is historic Suyematsu-Bentryn Farm, the oldest working landscape on Bainbridge Island, and one of the largest farms in Kitsap County. Since 2006, we have been collaborating with the farmers at Suyematsu-Bentryn Farms to transform their working landscape into a center of teaching and learning for K-12 and community based education.
Looking out on Suyematsu/Bentryn Farms
Over the past few years, this land has been an experiment in bridging sustainable local farming with education for sustainability, and offer lived experiences for teachers and students that cultivate scholarship, stewardship, citizenship and sustainability.
Akio Suyematsu of Suyematsu Farm
Started by the Suyematsu Family in 1928, it is the oldest, most continuously farmed land on Bainbridge Island, and the last of the large family farms that at once made Bainbridge Island an agricultural community and strawberry capital. This farm is a living part of Bainbridge Island history. Akio Suyematsu, now 88 years old, is a living testament to the agricultural heritage of the Island’s Japanese-American community.
Gerard and Jo Ann Bentryn of Bainbridge Island Vineyards (Photo by Kathryn Keve)
In 1976, The Bentryn’s purchased part of the farm to start Bainbridge Island Vineyards. Today is it is one of a handful of working vineyards remaining in Western WA. This is the only vineyard in Western WA never to use insecticides, and the the first Salmon Safe Certified vineyard in WA State.
Betsey Wittick teaching kids how to steer Samantha the draft horse (Photo by Brenda Berry)
Today, there are five full time farmers growing food on Suyematsu Farms:
Suyematsu Farm, Akio Suyematsu
Farm stand on Day Road open for raspberries during the Summer and U-pick pumpkins in the Fall. Also squash, gourds, and ornamental corn. Raspberries available at Town and Country Thriftway. Tel: (206) 842-4388
Bainbridge Island Vineyard and Winery, Gerard & Jo Ann Bentryn
Award winning wines made exclusively from Bainbridge Island vineyards, including Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Mueller-Thurgau, and Island grown raspberry wines. Open Friday-Sunday, Tel: (206) 842-9463; http://www.bainbridgevineyards.com/
Laughing Crow Farm, Betsey Wittick
Specialty garlic (18 varieties), heirloom potatoes (over 15 varieties), garlic braids, onions, shallots, peppers, broccoli, and flowers, all grown sustainably without pesticides with help of Betsey’s Belgian draft horses. Available at the Farmer’s Market, the Day Road farm stand, and directly from the farm. Tel: (206) 842-3516
Bainbridge Island Farms, Karen Selvar
Corn, Pumpkins, Raspberries, Strawberries, available at the Day Road farm stand. Jams and vinegars available. Tel: (206) 842-1429
Butler Green Farms, Brian MacWhorter
Certified organic produce: corn, cucumbers, lettuce and mixed greens, leeks, onions, sugar snap peas, beans, beets, tomatoes, sweet peppers, basil, zucchini, squash, pumpkins, apples, pears, plums, herbs, fresh flowers, and eggs. Available at local restaurants, Town and Country Thriftway, the Farmers’ Market, and through a CSA program. Tel: (360) 697-8446; http://www.butlergreenfarms.com/
An intern shows teachers how to steer a plow (Photo By Kathryn Keve)
In 2000, about half of the farm was sold to the City of Bainbridge through an Open Space Levy to be kept as farmland in perpetuity. This working landscape is now part of our Bainbridge Island’s community commons.
Cabbages from Laughing Crow Farms (Photo by Kathryn Keve)
This 40 acre farm is the largest working farm on Bainbridge and one of the largest in Kitsap County as well as working landscape that produces 80-100 tons of food per year. The primary crops grown on the farm are raspberries, corn, pumpkins, grapes, potatoes, garlic, onions, and a variety of seasonal greens. It is also one of the most popular site for bird watching on Bainbridge Island.
Pumpkins from Suyematsu Farms
Seeding New Opportunities for the EduCulture Project
Transforming Bainbridge Island Vineyards into an Agricultural & Culinary School
The EduCulture Project is part of an emerging collaboration that is working to transform award-winning Bainbridge Island Vineyards & Winery into a center of learning about farming and food that would serve a variety of educational programs within the wider Puget Sound region. Look for more information about this special opportunity in Winter 2011.
Launching Agri-Tourism Programs in 2011
The EduCulture Project is working with farmers, Friends of the Farms and the City of Bainbridge Island to develop an agri-tourism program at Suyematsu-Bentryn Farms. This program will help to bring a greater agricultural identity to Bainbridge, while giving visitors the chance to participate in authentic food and farm experiences. We have applied for a grant through the Bainbridge Island Tax and Lodging Fund in order to move this initiative forward, and plan to begin offering programs in the Spring of 2011.
Looking at the Olympic Mountains from Day Road Farms (Photo by Brenda Berry)
For more information please contact
The EduCulture Project at Global Source, or call 206-780-5797
Read recent news about Suyematsu/Bentryn and Morales Farms and farm programs
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