Annual festival at Pomeroy Farm coming up

As a part of its 34th birthday celebration, Pomeroy Living History Farm’s annual spring festival, which for years was called the Herb Festival, is being renamed and redesigned for 2014.

This year’s event, Pomeroy Farm’s Plant Sale and Country Life Fair, will be held Sat.-Sun., April 26-27, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on both days, at the farm located at 20902 NE Lucia Falls Rd., Yacolt.

This annual event will continue the long tradition of herb and vegetable sales, but with even more this year. Bob Brink, farm executive director, explained the date and image change.

“There are many more people in the country growing small backyard herb and vegetable gardens now than there were even a few years ago,” Brink said. “Many of these folks are from the southern part of the county, which is several weeks ahead in their growing season than North County. We’ve just found that our traditional date in mid-May was too late for many of our customers who are anxious to get their plants in the ground. So, we moved it up three weeks.”

After realizing that, for decades, they have been teaching sustainable living concepts, especially in the school programs at Pomeroy, Brink said they decided to get back to their roots. This year, the farm will bring back historical craft activities and demonstrations that will appeal to the entire family.

“It’s still a work in progress, but we think this year’s event will not only provide the best selection of herbs, organic vegetable and heirloom tomato plants in the entire area, but also an informative and fun day learning sustainable living skills,” Brink said.

During the plant sale and fair, there will be thousands of herb plants, both the common and uncommon, and a wide selection of organic vegetable plants including heirloom tomatoes. A number of craft demonstrations and historic craft activities appealing to children and adults will take place around the farm. There will also be hayrides, farm animals and an operating blacksmith shop. The historic log house will be open for tours from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. each day, and the Farm Cafe will provide food service throughout the weekend, offering items like hot dogs, sausage dogs, baked potatoes, snacks and hot and cold drinks.

The fair is also promoting local agriculture and entrepreneurs as well as independent living. A number of demonstrations of both historic and modern-day crafts will take place around the farm grounds. Several local CSAs will be available to provide information. Short educational “out in the garden and orchard” sessions will be held on a variety of topics, including raspberry, blueberry and fruit tree pruning and square-foot gardening. In addition, there will be introductory classes on hot water bath and pressure canning.

For children, there will be an opportunity to learn about and pet farm animals such as goats, sheep, alpacas, pigs and horses. There will also be hands-on activities such as planting seeds to take home, making historic corn husk dolls and more. Americana music will be played on the front porch of the historic log house.

Parking and admission are free. Donations are accepted to support the farm’s educational programs. Applications for vendors or demonstrators are now being accepted. For more information on this, contact the farm office at (360) 686-3537 or email staff@pomeroyfarm.org.

Upcoming Pomeroy events

Pomeroy Farm also offers several different themed teas in the Gathering Place at the farm each year. Visitors can attend a tea and then take a stroll through the farm’s herb and flower gardens or visit the historic log house. The main floor of the log house will be seasonally decorated, while the second floor focuses on a “walk through time,” with the five bedrooms displaying artifacts from specific decades of Pomeroy family and Lucia Valley history from the 1920s through the 1970s. This year’s special exhibit is photography through the 20th century.

Reservations for themed teas are best made by phone at (360) 686-3537 and must be prepaid with a bank card or you may reserve and then send a check. Those wishing to attend a tea can also contact farm staff via email at staff@pomeroyfarm.org to determine space availability. Fee will be refunded if the staff is notified of a cancellation at least seven days prior to the event. You may also send someone else in your place if you are unable to attend.

Here are some of the events coming up in 2014:

• St. Patrick’s Day Tea, Sat., March 15: Celebrate the “wearin’ of the green” in the Gathering Place. The themed menu will include assorted tea sandwiches, scones, desserts and two varieties of tea. Tea time is noon. Cost to attend is $16.95 plus tax for tea luncheon only. Cost for tea and tour of the historic log house is $21, including tax.

• Mother’s Day Tea, Sat., May 3; Wed., May 7; or Sat., May 10: Join Pomeroy staff in the Gathering Place to celebrate mothers with a lovely afternoon tea. Seasonal menu will include assorted tea sandwiches, scones, desserts and two varieties of tea. Tea time is noon. Cost is $16.95 plus tax for tea luncheon only. Cost for tea and tour of historic log house is $21, including tax.

Also in May, Pomeroy will hold a plant sale offering 40 percent off of any remaining herb and vegetable plants from the Plant Sale and Country Life Fair. The 40 percent off sale will be Sat., May 3, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Pomeroy Living History Farm is located at 20902 NE Lucia Falls Rd., Yacolt. Contact staff at the farm at (360) 686-3537 or email staff@pomeroyfarm.org. Visit www.pomeroyfarm.org for more information.