Those who have had a chance to visit PNWSC and HCSEG's new office location at the Farm at Water's Edge (FAWE) may be wondering what on earth a bunch of salmon people are doing tending a farm. When we moved onto the FAWE, HCSEG and PNWSC staff came together and decided that it would be a good idea to provide the opportunity for community members to learn about some of the sustainable agricultural and gardening practices in Western Washington. The way that people use their property for gardening and agriculture can greatly impact salmon habitat in the Puget Sound region. HCSEG's Spring 2010 newsletter has great information on Salmon Friendly Gardening.  

Sustainable agriculture is the farming practice that uses the principles of ecology to determine what types of plants and animals work best for specific sites to maximize crop yields and reduce the impact on the environment. Each animal and plant that we have chosen to cultivate at the FAWE was specifically selected to demonstrate that it is capable of growing well with a minimal impact on Western Washington's soils and waterways given our heavy annual rainfall.  HCSEG is just getting started in the sustainable gardening arena, and we definitely have a long way to go. We are working toward this educational endeavor with a chemical free garden, alpacas and a llama, cage-free chickens, and Nubian goats.  As well, in partnership with the Mason Conservation District a Farm Plan was created to guide us in the Farm's growth.  

Volunteers and staff contributed to the planting, care and harvest of pesticide-free produce that was available from June through September at the Belfair Farmer's Market at the Theler Community Center and on a U-Pick basis at the farm in August and September. 2010's crop included 14 varieties of tomato, acorn squash, Swiss chard, pumpkins, tomatillos, lettuce, peas and garlic.

The FAWE is also home to a herd of alpacas and a llama. We have 5 female alpaca, 2 gelded male alpaca and one female llama. Three cria (baby alpaca) were born to three of the five females in 2010. Alpacas and llamas are an environmentally friendly species of livestock. Their feet consist of two toes that are protected by toe nails and are very soft and easy on the terrain. Alpacas also have a specialized digestive system that enables them to extract more nutrients from the food that they eat than typical grazing species. Their special digestion can be attributed to the fact that they are indigenous to the highest regions the Andes where the elements are harsh vegetation is sparse. Alpaca are fiber animals and their fleece can be sheared annually. Their fiber is used in many textiles such as sweaters, socks and hats.

The chickens at the FAWE produced 1175 eggs in 2010. Donations were collected and given to the North Mason Food Bank totaling $200.00. The first 7 chickens on the farm were donated by a staff member and volunteer. The flock has grown to 10 laying hens and a rooster. Staff selected chickens of different breeds in order to show what the different breed traits.

The 9 goats living at the FAWE are Nubian goats and have the potential to produce milk. Goats are browsers, like deer. They prefer brushy plant matter over grasses, and have been brought here to help us remove blackberries and other shrubs from our ditches. Goats are a more natural approach to brush management than gas powered machinery.