When an errand ejected us from the Kitsap Peninsula during the middle of the pandemic, Phil and I decided to make a socially distant day trip out of it. In the middle of the Southworth to Fauntelroy Ferry, there’s a short stop at the Vashon Island dock. Neither one of us had ever explored the island before, so we spent the thirty minute ferry ride to look up things to do. Much to my surprise and intrigue, Vashon Island offers a plethora of quaint farmstands offering fresh, possibly organic, local produce, dairy, and meats.

We arrived fairly late in the day, just after 3:30 pm, and in the middle of November, which meant we only had another hour of daylight left. What’s more, it was pouring, making for a quintessential Pacific Northwest outing. Just five minutes from the ferry terminal, we arrived at Forest Garden Farms. Phil had to put up with me ooh-ing and aah-ing at how adorable this little farmstead was.

We were worried that we’d be too late, thinking that these farmstands might have people operating them. In the cold, rain, and dark, we figured that they’d be long closed. However, we found that they were self-serve, where most had Venmo or Cash App handles for you to pay via honor system.

Though the selection was small, obviously because it’s November in the Pacific Northwest, there was still a modest selection at most of the stands.

Even more than fresh produce, several of the stands offer eggs (if you arrive early enough in the day before they sell out!). A few even offer meat, such as whole chickens, pork, and sausage. Others have dairy, such as yogurt, milk, and cheese.

I’m definitely looking forward to going back during the summer for peak harvests.

If you want to check out the Vashon Island farmstands for yourself, check out this website to see which ones are open and what they are offering.