Greenbank Farm will host its first major harvest celebration in September in conjunction with Eat Local Month on Whidbey Island.

The Greenbank Farm Harvest Faire will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 10 at the historic farm. Local vendors and artisans from the farm and from around the island will be selling their wares, and there will be recreational and educational activities for visitors of all ages.

Susan Laarman, communications specialist for the Port of Coupeville, which owns and operates Greenbank Farm, said that a few of the flower farmers and other Greenbank Farm tenants held a small harvest festival in 2019, but efforts to expand the event were shortly derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, four years later, the harvest fun is back with a full-scale faire.

Activities will include hay rides, farm tours, a local artisan market, lawn games, crafts for children, live music and food from local vendors. The event will also have a pie-eating contest, with pies donated by Whidbey Pies, and a beer and cider garden.

Island nonprofits that have ongoing partnerships with Greenbank Farm will also participate, including Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation, Whidbey Camano Land Trust and the Orca Network. Ballydidean Farm Sanctuary will be present with Instagram-famous pig, Petunia, and Sound Water Stewards will provide a touch tank to teach kids about life in local tidal pools. Whidbey Island Master Gardeners, who operate an educational garden at the farm, will educate folks about gardening and native plants.

“It’s an iconic place on the island, and we want to make it open to the community and special occasions,” Laarman said.

The Harvest Faire is just one of many events taking place as part of Eat Local Month on Whidbey Island. This year marks the third annual Eat Local Month, put on by Whidbey Island Grown Cooperative. Farm tours, festivals and farmers markets will be happening all over Whidbey Island throughout the month of September to educate residents on the food production process and raise awareness for local farmers and food producers.

Laarman said this year, Eat Local Month is a regional effort, with King, Whatcom, Skagit and Jefferson counties all holding Eat Local campaigns throughout September.

“Local producers are really the backbone of an important economy for our community,” Laarman said.

Photo provided The Instagram-famous Petunia from Ballydidean Farm Sanctuary will attend the Harvest Faire.