Seagate Farm

Seagate Farm’s primary crop is heirloom apples for hard cider producers. Ben’s mother always described it as an idyllic beach village where she grew up with her brothers and dozens of cousins. It always sounded like a mythical utopia to us, so we thought it would be both inspirational and a wonderful way to honor her life by naming our farm after Harriet’s happy place. We chose San Juan Island in

Washington state to be closer to Ben’s family. Because we both love hard cider, It’s also the ideal place to grow apples that make hard cider due to it being the same climate as traditional and heirloom cider apples from England and France. Heirloom apples, those grown in the San Juan area for over 100 years, are becoming harder to find so it was the perfect place to grow the hard-to-find varieties of hard cider apples. Seagate Farm includes a variety of heirloom fruits, trees, vegetables, and cover crops following organic principles to benefit the environment, increase biodiversity, improve soil health, clean water, beneficial insects, and important organisms. We do this by using the Swiss Sandwich Method that incorporates low-density orchard rows which are alternated with a variety of cover crops. Mason bees and bumblebees are included for natural cross pollinating the trees and crops. We will have chickens to not only produce fresh and local eggs, but they’re also great for pest control and naturally fertilizing the soil. In addition, Seagate rents our large pasture for temporary livestock grazing to naturally mow the native grasses and to make natural compost that is used for the numerous crops. Along the eastern edge of our farm, we have setbacks for the designated wetlands and pond so the natural areas and ecosystems are not only preserved, but available for the abundant wildlife and natural beauty. To also help the environment and decrease our carbon footprint, we reclaim rainwater, have created a second pond for water storage, and utilize solar power for most of the farm’s needs. Although running a natural and holistic farm can be more time consuming, we feel it is the only way to leave the earth better than the way we found it. What better way to help our community become stronger while giving back with care, equity, and love. Doing what is best for our neighbors is just the right thing to do.