Two Islands Farm Market grows sales, friendships

Published 5:00 pm Sunday, September 30, 2007

Rob and Diane Stockhouse were looking for a way to share the bounty of their farm-grown vegetables when they hit upon an idea: why not create an outlet for all Puget Island farmers to sell their produce, pasture-raised poultry, herbs, and homemade breads and pastries?

Today, as Two Islands Farm Market nears the end of its first full year of operations, the market’s owners say they couldn’t be happier with the success of their endeavor.

“It started very informally,” said Rob Stockhouse, who serves as the market’s manager. “We called people to bring their items and we provide a community venue for the farmers on the island.”

“It’s been a labor of love,” added Diane.

Like many of the estimated 26 farms operating on Puget Island (population 844), the Stockhouses turned to agriculture as a second career. Rob is a retired biology professor at Pacific University; Diane retired from Intel.

Looking for a slower pace of life, the couple moved part-time to the island nine years ago and started Stockhouse’s Farm. Today, they work the farm full-time, raising a variety of seasonal vegetables and flowers, as well as pastured chickens.

Outgrowth of Ag Summit

The Stockhouses’ partners in Two Islands Farm Market, Kim and Mike Howell are formerly from Seattle. They own Little Island Farm, where they raise Boer goats and pasture poultry and grow assorted fruits and vegetables.

Kim Howell says the seeds for the farmer’s market were planted in late 2004 during the first Wahkiakum Ag Summit, where the island’s farmers had the opportunity to meet each other and to learn ways to promote small farms.

As an outgrowth of that forum, local farmers formed a cooperative organization and, with the assistance of the Washington State University Wahkiakum County Extension, created a Farm Map to advertise the island’s small farms and their products, not only to other Puget Island residents but throughout the region.

In August 2006, the two couples opened Two Islands Farm Market on a section of Stockhouse’s Farm, at 62 W. Birnie Slough Road. The market is open every Friday from May through October from 3 to 6 p.m.

Rob said the market has a nucleus of six vendors that regularly set up stalls. In addition, the market also sells produce and other items on a consignment basis for another half-dozen or so farms.

The market is promoted in a local food guide and on the Internet, as well. It also is advertised throughout the region, Rob said. Shoppers regularly come from the Longview/Kelso area in Washington state and from Astoria and Clatskanie, Rob said.

“We’ve had buses of tourists stop by on their trip to or from the coast,” added Kim Howell.

All products sold at the market must have been produced in Wahkiakum County.

Market as a social event

On a recent Friday, Chris Henry was checking out the display of corn. Henry, a semi-retired cabinet builder who moved to Puget Island from San Diego three years ago, operates the 172 Farm and sometimes sells his produce at the market. But on this day, he was a customer.

“This is really more than just a market; it’s a social event,” Henry said. “Neighbors come by just to get together and to see each other.”

Other California transplants are Sarah Brown and Connor Voss, managers of Elk Valley Guest Farm in Skamokawa. They were selling tomatoes and other produce they grow.

“This is a great opportunity for farmers to develop contacts” for their products beyond the market, Sarah noted, adding that much of Elk Valley’s produce is sold to Astoria area restaurants.

David Noel, owner of Slow Boat Farms, was selling garlic and carrots and offering samples of carrot juice in his booth. He said he loves the atmosphere associated with the market.

“We do it because we love it,” he said.

Kitty Speranza of The Inn at Crippen Creek Farm entices each visitor to sample the artisan breads and pastries she bakes.

“No one leaves without a smile on their face,” she said.

Although the market closes for the season on Oct. 26, many of the vendors will continue to sell their products through a Community Support Agriculture (CSA) subscription program Diane Stockhouse started.

Each month throughout the year, CSA subscribers receive a 10-pound bag of assorted produce raised by the local farm, including staples, like lettuce and tomatoes, as well as seasonal items.

“Right now, our farm has 15 subscribers that we serve,” Diane said. “It helps farmers know how much to plant each season.”

Next year, she hopes to expand the subscription program to include fresh flowers.

The Stockhouses said they are committed to providing as many outlets as possible for Puget Island farmers to succeed in their agri-businesses.

For more information call (360) 849-4145 or visit www.stockhousesfarm.com.