The daylight is disappearing and the cold is settling in, but don’t let that fool you. Many of Kitsap’s farms are up and running through the holiday season with something fresh for the holiday table.
“It adds to the holiday experience as we reconnect with family and friends,” said Tim O’Brien, manager of the Bainbridge Island Farmers Market. “It’s connecting to your local food source and supporting your local economy.”
The island’s farmers market is one of two in Kitsap that operates through the holiday season. The Poulsbo Farmers Market also stays open with farm fresh products.
“We stay committed to the farmers and the community by carrying the market all the way through to last Saturday before the Christmas holiday,” O’Brien said, noting that the winter farmers market is at a different location.
“We go just a hop, skip and a jump away at the Eagle Harbor Church. We also extend the hours by one hour for holiday shoppers.”
Poulsbo’s market also remains strong during the cold season, at its regular location on the corner of Iverson Street and 7th Avenue.
“We’ve never canceled a market due to weather,” said Brian Simmons, manager of the Poulsbo Farmers Marker. “Rain or shine, Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.”
Simmons said the market before Thanksgiving is prime shopping time for the big meal.
“Thanksgiving is all about the harvest,” he said. “The harvest is now. It’s when everything is coming out of the ground.”
Simmons said market vendors are still producing, and seasonal foods are becoming available, such as fish, mushrooms and cranberries.
O’Brien agrees. The island market remains filled with farmers and vendors during the winter season as well.
“It’s still got a strong farmer presence with several of the key island and Kitsap farms,” he said. “We also have a fresh new crop of craft vendors that come in for this six-week run with food and gift items.”
Both farmers markets continue to offer a range of meats and produce. Seasonal items also become available such as ginger and fruit breads, cookies and pastries.
The experience is heightened with live music. The markets also have an open fire to warm patrons.
“You can get some hot cider and mingle at the market,” O’Brien said.
The Bainbridge and Poulsbo farmers markets are a good source for one-stop shopping when it comes to getting local food. But there are a variety of local sources where residents can find food fit for the holiday table, from the farms themselves, and even local grocery stores.
Meat / produce
Abundantly Green
1146 NE Madison Road, Poulsbo.
Available at the farm and at the Poulsbo Farmers Market.
Abundantly Green has organic chicken, pork and beef. The farm also has kale, carrots, squash, onions, garlic, cheese, honey, raw milk, goats milk and pickled vegetables.
Info: www.abundantlygreen.com.
Heyday Farm
5145 McDonald Ave. NE, Bainbridge
Available at the Heyday Farm store, 4569 Lynwood Center Road, Bainbridge Island.
Ethically produced meats, vegetables, eggs and more. This year, the farm has a variety of holiday treats such as turkey, farmstead cheeses, cheese boards, holly and yew, wreathes, and preserves. Also, seasonal vegetables and fruits. The farm is also offering holiday gift certificates for cooking classes, or a stay at its historic farmhouse. As always, Heyday has chicken, pork, beef, bacon, ham, eggs, and yogurt available at its Lynwood Center store.
Info: www.heydayfarm.com.
3377 NE Tani Creek Road, Bainbridge
Available at the Bainbridge Island Farmers Market and Pane d’Amore in Lynwood on Bainbridge Island.
Offering organic heritage ducks and geese, German embden geese, and muscovy ducks.
“A European favorite,” Helmut Sassenfeld of Tani Creek said of Muscovy duck.
Tani Creek also grows a variety of organic vegetables, fruit and herbs.
Info/reserve a bird: tanicreekwaterfowlfarm@gmail.com, www.organicducksandgeese.com.
Produce
Persephone Farm
Indianola
Available at the Bainbridge Island Farmers Market.
Offering a range of produce such as, arugula, spinach, kale, chard, mustard greens, collard greens, beets, carrots, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, celery, parsley, leeks, peppers, onions, winter squashes and much more.
Info: www.persephonefarm.com.
13274 Clear Creek Road NW, Silverdale
Open on Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or by appointment.
Offering sugar pie pumpkins, winter squash, chard, kale and collards. The farm also has a special variety of pumpkin known as “Long Island Cheese.”
“I call that the Cadillac of pumpkins,” said Nikki Johanson of Pheasant Fields. “It makes the best pumpkin pies ever.”
Pheasant Fields also has a variety of decorative gourds and lot of elephant garlic.
“This is primarily for people shopping for local food for their table for Thanksgiving,” Johanson said, noting that the farm will close for the winter after November.
Call 360-509-0744 for more information or to make an appointment.
Other holiday goods
Bainbridge Vineyards
8989 Day Road East, Bainbridge Island
Producing a variety of wines, including Muller Thurgau, Siegerrebe, Rose of Pinot Noir, and more.
Available at the winery Saturdays and Sundays, and the week before Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as the Bainbridge and Poulsbo farmers markets, Town & Country Market, Central Market, Marina Market and Bay Hay & Feed.
Info: www.bainbridgevineyards.com.
Cloud 9 Pastries
Available at the Poulsbo Farmers Market.
Offering holiday pies made from local, fresh ingredients, including pumpkin and apple pies. All baked at a Poulsbo commercial kitchen.
“I make my pumpkin pies from fresh pumpkins,” said Melanie Maibaum of Cloud 9 Pastries. “In December, I will have available fancy cookie assortments and bundt cakes.”
Maibaum takes special orders for pies at the farmers market, or by phone at 206-353-5287.
Greenwoodes Farm
34799 Hansville Road NE, Kingston
Available at the Kingston Farmers Market.
Offering a variety of farm-fresh pies and apple cider from heirloom apples grown on site.
“Our specialty is apple pie,” said Alicia Kellis of Greenwoodes Farm. “It’s made from the apples we grow here; they are heirloom variety. Everything is organic.”
Contact the farm for ordering and more information.
Info: www.greenwoodesfarm.com.
Heide’s Holly
Bainbridge Island
Offering bundles of holly branches, green foliage, holly wreaths and custom holiday decor.
Available at Flowering Around, Changing Seasons, Town & Country Market on Bainbridge Island. Also available at Central Market in Poulsbo. Order direct by calling 206-780-6821, or emailing heidi.madden@gmail.com.
8840 NE Lovgreen Road, Bainbridge
Available at the winery, Central Market (Poulsbo), Harbor Square Wine Shop (Bainbridge Island).
Specializing in wines that thrive in a cool climate, such as Muller Thurgau, Frambelle Raspberry dessert wine, Rose, Lemberger, Muscat, Syrah, blends and much more.
Six Chix
Available at the Poulsbo Farmers Market, Poulsbo Red Apple Market, and the Poulsbo Mercantile.
Offering candied jalapeno slices, apricot jalapeno jam and blackberry jalapeno jam.
“They are great as condiments and for adding to holiday dishes,” said Linda Prine of Six Chix.
Check the Six Chix Facebook page for more information.
Farmers markets
Bainbridge Island Farmers Market
Through Nov. 15, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bainbridge Island Town Square, 280 Madison Ave N, Bainbridge Island.
Nov. 22 through Dec. 20, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Eagle Harbor Congregational Church, 105 Winslow Way, Bainbridge Island.
Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Dec. 20
At the corner of 7th Avenue and Iverson Street, Poulsbo.
