This September, Sustainable Connections in Bellingham, WA invites all to celebrate our local food community and partake in events like Farm Tour Weekend Sept. 8 – 9, restaurant specials, grocery discounts, and the opportunity to win locavore prizes all month long.
Kick off Eat Local Month with the Farm Fun Hootenanny at Boundary Bay Brewery, Sept. 2. Local food, live music from the Sky Colony Band, a tractor photo booth, square dancing, beer, and the annual Farmer Awards make this a fun and family-friendly event. All of the proceeds benefit the Community Food Co-op’s Farm Fund.
The second week of September is the annual Whatcom Farm Tour Weekend. On Sept. 8 and 9, 12 local farms will swing open their gates and welcome the community to see, taste, feel and learn hands-on what goes into local food production. A variety of products will be featured, including vegetables, beef, eggs and poultry, flowers, dairy, orchards, a farmhouse brewery and yak. Learn about these unique farms and the passion and care that goes into producing local food. Farm Tour Weekend will also include three delicious events: The Farm Tour Brunch at Cosmos Bistro, a farm-to-pint pairing at Boundary Bay, and a wine, cheese and chocolate tasting at Samson Estates Winery.
In addition, 18 restaurants will be running Eat Local Month specials for the entire month in Bellingham and Whatcom. Look for the Eat Local First fork on menus to find $6 and $12 dishes filled with ingredients from local farms at spots like Aslan Brewery, Bellingham Beer Garden, Hundred North, Lovitt Restaurant, The Wild Oat and Good to Go Meat Pies.
Community members can also share their local food stories by submitting them through social media and the Eat Local First website for the chance to win prizes throughout the month including cookbooks, kitchenware, and gift certificates to Whatcom based food businesses and restaurants.
It’s never been more important to support and celebrate our local food community. From farmers to food processors, restaurant owners to employees, the folks who grow, raise, and prepare our food are the foundation that keeps our local economy strong, saves Whatcom’s farmland, protects natural resources, and gives our community access to fresh foods grown with care.
Get your Eat Local Month Guide at the Bellingham Visitor Information Center at 904 Potter Street, or at Village Books, the Community Food Co-op, Haggen grocery stores or at any participating restaurant. The guide includes a 15% off coupon to local markets and a Whatcom Farm Tour guide. For all the details, check in often at EatLocalFirst.org.