A season in photographs: through the eyes of an apprentice

“It is the time of the autumn equinox, and the harvest is winding down. The fields are nearly empty, because the crops have been plucked and stored for the coming winter. ” -Patti Wigington

Nelson carrot mountain

Fall is definitely here, but thankfully we’ve got rain gear. It’s been a wildly busy season for the behind the scenes team at Local Roots- A rotating cast of characters have come through to work their hearts and bodies out on the farm. We shared meals cooked on the fire, endless hours harvesting vegetables for the CSA, two Farmers Markets and more than a dozen restaurants, and a few collective minutes swimming in the Snoqualmie on one hot summer day. We all traveled down to Olympia at the beginning of the month to square dance and mingle at the Washington Young Farmers Mixer where there was constant apple cider being pressed by young farmers from all over Washington state, and tons of farm-fresh potluck dishes. It felt great to take part in a community event created by and for young farmers- the whole movement feels to be gaining so much momentum and energy from young people who want to serve their country food. We feel lucky to have been a part of such an important year for Siri and Jason- the beginning of so many new and exciting endeavors and unprecedented success. We are so grateful to have learned such an important trade from young farmers who are truly passionate about their work. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to spend this season out at the farm, and here are the photos to prove it!

The Apprentices
Leah, Brady, Rita, Marisa, Cara and David

text and photos by Marisa

The Apprentice uniform: Carhartts and black boots

Tatsoi peeking out from under row cover

Siri teaches how to cut springtime salad mix in the greenhouse

Tiny Tom Thumb baby butter lettuces get a bath

Jason, tractor and a very baby Felix

turnips and radishes piled high at the Broadway Farmers Market

prospective green butter lettuces waiting to be planted

Siri and Jason thinking about building a pepper and melon greenhouse

Felix takes a nap in the greenhouse

Rita rides the little engine that could

Bright Lights chard in its prime

Harvest vehicles waiting to be filled with vegetables

Leah, Jason and Scott carrying potatoes

Siri gets her caffeine fix

Farm dog Buster working hard in the grass

Rita with radicchio

Collin carrying carrots

Cara carrying beets

Cameron picks some turnips

Summer lettuce bounty

A sweet sprouting broccoli

Morning fog and sun in the turnips

Zinnias!

Marisa in a kale cloud

Tomato harvest aftermath

A foggy valley morning

A fine summer evening

Harvest moon

Tractor, farmer, tractor, farmer's brother

Haying time

Large lettuces are a Local Roots speciality

David and beets

Kale and Cara

Felix is finally on the move

Cara and Rita harvest arugula

Fresh sheet at the Farm Stand

Slowly ripening heirloom tomatoes

Our blue truck is full of kale and there's more on the way

A summer sunset through our tomato greenhouse

Full crew at the Queen Anne Farmers Market

Fall garlic bounty

Fall spread: shallots, romanesco and Savoy cabbage at the Queen Anne market

Leah and Brady take a break from washing and boxing parsnips

The Pickering's pigs down the road get some local roots for lunch

Harvesting Fall cherry tomatoes in the greenhouse

A shallot bounty

Harvesting whole basil plants for our CSA members

Brady and Leah lifting the last of the cherry tomatoes from the greenhouse into the truck

Getting ready for a fall farm bonfire