Seems like it has been an “interesting” spring to be a farmer.  Cold, wet, … Potatoes being planted in late May when we’re used to seeing that action in mid-April.

What if all those folks just up and quit?

No more 14-hour days riding between those big yellow (or red or ..) wheels going slowly back and forth watching the same scenery.  No more pruning apple trees and tying berry canes and replacing irrigation tubes in the cold and the wind and the rain.  No more driving slowly down a country road towing a “wide load” with a line of irritated drivers following.  No more listening to the whining of Johnny-come-latelys and those tree-hugging, fish-loving environmentalists.  And no more of surely all that business stuff that goes on behind the scenes we see… the planning, hoping, bookkeeping, forms filing, marketing, …..

A huge part of what makes this place the way we like it would be gone, possibly never recoverable.  We would lose the ability to locally provide much of the food we need, becoming more dependent on far-away places and situations.  The strong awareness of our attachment to this land, this place, and nature would weaken, and weaken us in turn.

We don’t all always agree with the farmers, but they sure are worth keeping around.  When you are out there Digging In to help keep the NaturalSkagit great, it’s good to remember … those farmers Dig In a lot more than most of us.

The Local-Organization-You-Might-Want-To-Be-Involved-With this week is The Skagit County Shore Stewards http://shorestewards.org/skagit/index.htm

We are shoreline property owners and residents of waterfront communities with shared beach access up and down Skagit County’s diverse coastline. We voluntarily follow ten nature-friendly guidelines in caring for our beaches, bluffs, gardens and homes because we know that what we do, and how we do it, makes a big difference on our properties and in Puget Sound. We are proud to be creating and preserving attractive, healthy and safe shorelines for people, fish and wildlife.

After signing up to be a Shore Steward, you will receive a free reference book, Guide for Shoreline Living, that explains how you can best care for your shoreline, plus monthly informational newsletters and invitations to a wide variety of marine and coastal-oriented workshops.

There is no cost to join, or to become a certified Shore Steward. To learn more about the program, the guidebook, or how to become a Shore Steward, contact Adria Banks, Skagit County Coordinator, at 360-428-4270, ext. 223 or .

Here are some near-term activities to consider:

Now Watch a video about helping to keep Puget Sound clean http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=24243118493081945&hl=en

Sat. June 21 Skagit Land Trust van tour 9:30am – 3:00pm http://www.Skagitlandtrust.org for details.  See some beautiful preserved areas with lunch and treats!

Sat. June 21 Nookachamps Watershed Tour 9:00am – 3:00pm Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group All ages 360 336 0172 or

Sat. June 28 North Cascades NP Colonial Creek Campground Storm Damage Revegetation 9:00am – 12:00pm 360 854 7275 for details. 

Sat. June 28 Tour Eight Anacortes Backyard Wildlife Habitats 10:00am – 2:00pm Map and flyer at Anacortes Farmers Market – R ave. between 6th and 8th. 

July North Cascades Institute, in cooperation with the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, is seeking volunteers to participate in the Mountain Stewards program, now in its seventh year. Beginning in July, this environmental education program will train adult volunteers in low-impact recreation skills, natural history and backcountry management issues. Mountain Steward volunteers will travel in these beautiful areas to share information with day hikers, backpackers and climbers.

If you’re an experienced hiker with a passion for protecting wild places, you can find more Mountain Stewards information or obtain an application at http://www.ncascades.org/programs/stewardship/mountain , by phone at (360) 856-5700 ext. 209 or email at . 

Many similar events and activities and opportunities are posted on the GoSkagit Event Calendar.  Check it often! 

(Your comments about this blog will be helpful.  New ideas to consider, and changes we should make are especially welcome.  Corrections and further enlightenment will help as well.  You can email to .  Thank you.)

Farmland....and farmers.....are becoming more valuable as markets react to the skyrocketing fuel costs.  Processed food in the typical grocery store travels thousands of miles before it gets to your dinner table.  That cannot be sustained with diesel hovering at $5 a gallon.  Local farmers with their delicious, fresh, wholesome produce is a blessed treasure for those of us lucky enough to live in this fertile valley. 

No farmers?  No way!  They are the foundation of our community, our culture and our greatest bulwark against an uncertain future.

A huge part of what “we” had is gone!  All gone.  The infulx of those who have moved here to experence our valley have left it a mess.  Just like they did in California they raped and pillaged down there and then when they messed it up enough they moved here to ruin with we had before they came.  Now they are here in droves assuming we need their help and politics.

What a real shame.  What they have done to our valley.

Hippie Chaser - 07 August 2008 12:07 AM

A huge part of what “we” had is gone!  All gone.  The infulx of those who have moved here to experence our valley have left it a mess.  Just like they did in California they raped and pillaged down there and then when they messed it up enough they moved here to ruin with we had before they came.  Now they are here in droves assuming we need their help and politics.

What a real shame.  What they have done to our valley.

Amen Brother or sister.I must say.That the year that the Safeway stayed open for the first time ever on Christmas day (I believe this was 2003) I looked at my son I said to him never will our valley be the same. How true this statement has proven to be. It would only be old timers who have truly noticed the major changes in our valley. 

Tulip’s, bulbs, farms now a figament of our imagination. I remember a time not to long ago when the kids couldn’t wait to be old enough to work the spinach. Now where do the young people go. They stand on the corner at the Taco Bell.

The sad thing with this great influx also came their criminals. I am starting to think that Skagit Valley’s main function is starting to become a place to house criminals as well as the mentally ill. When you get out of jail here these nice little charity organizations these tax deductible organizations we seem to have an abundance of give to these people a get a motel room for free card. Most communities give these individuals a bus ticket out. Not ours we invite them to stay. We import them.

In my opinion Skagit Counties main resource has become the Jail, the college, attorneys, treatment centers and the mentally ill.  Heck half the time I wonder is it a real emergency or is it the college playing lets learn how to blow our siren day?

Another thing that I question. How is it a community can build new homes, new banks, new pharmacies while major grocery stores close. Just a theory but I do wonder just how much dirty money gets washed in this valley. It makes me want to puke. Oh yes things have changed in our valley. Some call it progress. You find it shameful. I find it sickening.

Susie, you are dead on. It is heart breaking. Mount Vernon High School used to be a good school.  Now it’s full of politics, seperate societies and “don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings or their rights.” It’s a mess.

There are so few growers anymore and so few dairy farmers it is a shame. Heartbreaking. Most tulips are grown in green houses and we will be celebrating the “Skagit Valley Potato Blossom Festival.”

What urks me is the Hippies who moved here are getting government grants to “help out the poor people who have lived and farmed here, becasue by California standards we don’t know what we are doing.  Mention “Mussers Hardware” and people go ???. Everywhere you turn these people are applying for grants and getting them and then interjecting themselves into our lives claiming they know the answer. They act as if God put them here to “save our valley.” Then there is the nut cases who embarras the community with anti-government signs at the court house and on the Blackburn over pass.

I agree with you on the stores open Christmas.  How heartbreaking is that.  Very sad.

Remember one thing.  Don’t pee in the stream and don’t hold a car wash!

I thought I was the only “born and raised” left in this county.....I sure am glad to see that some of us are still here! Thanks for staying.