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Bainbridge Island Almanac 2013
Local support helps island farms grow BY RICHARD D. OXLEY
Farming is a heritage on the island dating back to its first settlers in the late 1800s. Today it has become a point of pride for islanders who can see where their food is grown. Heyday is one of the newest among the islands community of farms that vary from blueberry patches to vineyards. Alice and Greg Skipton joined the island’s farming community in May 2011. Since then, they’ve grown Heyday Farm on two locations off of McDonald Avenue and Old Mill Road; 2012 proved to be a successful year for the young operation. “It’s been a really big year, and now we are kind of like ‘phew,’” Alice said. “It was kind of a watershed year.” From chickens to pork and a little produce too, Heyday Farm seemed to
fit right in on Bainbridge. “The community was so supportive,” Alice said. “They clearly want local food, produced ethically.” The island was certainly supportive. The farm worked up to producing 100 chickens a month and 30 dozen eggs a day. They even produced around 100 pigs for the year. By big-business agricultural standards, the numbers might not be so impressive. But for an emerging farm just getting underway, it came as a relief for the Skiptons. “We are a very small farm, especially related to how agriculture is today,” Alice said. Heyday products are now offered at the Hitchcock Deli and Pane D’Amore. To help grow the business even more, Heyday also opened a storefront in Lynwood.
Brian Kelly / Bainbridge Island Review
Kia Micaud, one of the founders of Friends of the Farms, knocks apples out of a tree at Johnson Farm in preparation for last year’s Harvest Festival.
“We are looking to grow what people want the most of, like tomatoes and potatoes,” Alice said. “And just making it more convenient for people. You can get stuff online, subscribe or go to the Lynwood store.” The couple now looks ahead to further expand the farm’s ability to FARMS:
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