We wish to congratulate Jo Ann and Gerard Bentryn of Bainbridge Island Vineyards for achieving the Business Couple of the Year award from the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce. We also wish to extend our deep gratitude for the continued support of the EduCulture Project and local K-12 education from Bainbridge Island Vineyards. Click here to view the article in the Kitsap Sun!
Akio Suyematsu has farmed the land that is now Suyematsu/Bentryn Farms for 60 years. He has been honored by Friends of the Farms for his outstanding contribution to Bainbridge Island agriculture. Click here to view the article about Akio's achievement!
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Suyematsu-Bentryn 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:
Akio Suyematsu, Suyematsu Farm
Gerard & Jo Ann Bentryn, Bainbridge Island Vineyard and Winery
Karen Selvar, Bainbridge Island Farms
Betsey Wittick, Laughing Crow Farm
Brian MacWhorter, Butler Green Farms
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
Now the farms are a growing center for teaching and learning on the Island.
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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