FARM 'H' LA CONNER FLATS

Address: 15920 Best Road, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Miles off of I-5: 9
Phone: 360-466-3190
Owners: Bob and Margie Hart
Website: www.laconnerflats.com

Farm type: A diversified family farm of 230 acres specializing in nursery stock. Potatoes, berries, seed crops, cereals, herbs and cut flowers are also grown. The 11-acre display garden features plants for Northwest Washington and trials vegetables, flowers, roses and cultural methods for success in Skagit Valley. Accommodations for weddings, parties, meetings and picnics.

Directions: Heading North on I-5: Take exit 221 at Conway, cross over freeway, turn right onto Fir Island Road, which becomes Best Road. Travel 9.5 miles from I-5. We are on the left.

Directions: Heading South on I-5: Take exit 230 at Burlington, Head west on Highway 20 for 6 miles, Turn Left on Best Road, travel 2 miles, we are on the right.

Farm premises: Located in the middle of the Skagit Valley and its farm production. The Family Home was built in 1914 by Bob’s great grandparents. The granary was built at the same time and stored grain, it has been converted with a commercial kitchen and food service amenities. The premises are rented for weddings, parties, retreats, meetings and picnics. Jen runs the Café serving espresso, pastries & lunch and Margie serves high tea by reservation.

Festival activities:

• Tours of gardens
• Tours of vegetable trials
• Cider making and samples
• Children’s activities
• Lots of covered areas, in case of rain

Learn while touring these premises: Learn about varieties of vegetables, and cultural methods that work here. See many landscaping ideas and plants. Learn culinary herbs that grow well and how to use them. Talk with the owners about farming in the Skagit Valley and its future.

Retail ($): Food and Dona Flora flowers and products

Farm History: Great grandparents, Isaac and Margaret Jennings arrived in area in 1869, purchasing this farm in 1884. The first crops were oats, hay and potatoes. Over the decades we produced horses, cattle, hogs, chickens, oats, wheat, barley, peas, carrots, potatoes, sweet corn, pumpkins, cabbage seed, clover seed, mustard seed, spinach seed, pasture and hay, nursery stock, and AgriTourism. We place a high priority on rotations, sustainability, and continued investment so that our great grandchildren will have the same opportunity.

AgFARMation: The site of the garden was the first site in Skagit Valley to produce vegetables, which George Calhoun produced and shipped to Seattle by boat.