We added 16 groups of two different narcissus flower bulbs a few months ago in the orchard and they are doing great. Narcissus flowers, aka daffodils, may not be native the Pacific Northwest but they help to attract pollinators while deterring pests. And Atlas loves to protect them from any critters! You can also #watchusgrow on Instagram Instagram @seagate_farm and on Facebook at Seagate Farm. @islandgrownsj, @sjiagguild, #sanjuanisland, #visitsanjuans, #savorthesanjuans, #p

We’ve just started planting more fruit trees at the farm. In addition to several new apple and pear varieties, we’re adding a couple new varieties of peach, plum, nectarine, quince, and hazelnut – adding about 70 new trees when we’re done. A special than you to Seagate friend Maurine for helping us get them started! You can also #watchusgrow on Instagram @seagate_farm and on Facebook at Seagate Farm. @islandgrownsj, #sanjuanisland, #visitsanjuans, #savorthesanjuans, #pnwcider

John and Ben built a new pickle patch garden next to the orchard. The enclosed garden is 9’ by 30’ and needed fencing to keep the raccoons and foxes from eating everything. We’ll also need to install a low-voltage solar powered electric wire as we get closer to spring. We plan on growing carrots, onions, cucumbers, and garlic for pickling. You can also #watchusgrow on Instagram @seagate_farm and on Facebook at Seagate Farm. #veggies, #pickling, #garden, @islandgrownsj, #sanju

While John was busy digging drainage trenches, Atlas found a new friend in the back seat of one of Seagate Farm’s extensive “fleet” of abandoned cars. Always on duty, Atlas was barking to let John know of his new discovery. John led Atlas away so the raccoon could escape and no one was harmed during its surprise visit! You can also #watchusgrow on Instagram @seagate_farm and on Facebook at Seagate Farm. #sanjuanisland, #visitsanjuans, #savorthesanjuans, #pnwcider, #nwcider, #

A foot or so of snow means no work on the farm for a couple of days. Atlas enjoys it much more than John though. Great Pyrenees are famous for their love of the cold. Wishing you all a very happy holiday season and a wonderful New Year! You can also #watchusgrow on Instagram @seagate_farm and on Facebook at Seagate Farm. @islandgrownsj, #sanjuanisland, #visitsanjuans, #savorthesanjuans, #pnwcider, #nwcider, @nwcider, #cider, #hardcider, #wacider, #drinkcider, #drinkwacider, #

A wonderful way to top off the Thanksgiving feast is with an incredible Gravenstein apple pie! One of our favorites is made with Gravensteins that grow in our orchard. Of course, you can use other apples for baking, but Gravenstein is best due to their crisp, juicy, and tart flavor. The full recipe is below and have a wonderful Thanksgiving from our family to yours. You can also #watchusgrow on Instagram @seagate_farm and on Facebook at Seagate Farm. Gravenstein Apple Pie Rec

John spent the last few days winterizing the apple orchard. He added wood mulch around all the trees and plants and got the irrigation system winterized using the air compressor to get all the water out of the extensive water lines. Atlas didn’t care for the compressor noise, but he was happy to inspect every step to make sure it was done right. We’re now ready for the upcoming cold weather! You can also #watchusgrow on Instagram @seagate_farm and on Facebook at Seagate Farm.

He’s the newest member of the Seagate family. Atlas is a three-year-old Great Pyrenees and a gentle giant weighing 135 pounds. He needed a new home and absolutely loves following John around the farm all day. Roxy is adjusting but she’s having trouble believing something that big can actually be a dog! You can also #watchusgrow on Instagram @seagate_farm and on Facebook at Seagate Farm. @islandgrownsj, #sanjuanisland, #visitsanjuans, #savorthesanjuans, #pnwcider, #nwcider, @n

Roxy has acquired a taste for Pacific Crabapples and blackberries. No, she hasn’t gobbled up the profits —just the leftover fruit from our recent harvest. Low nibbling is good nibbling! You can also #watchusgrow on Instagram @seagate_farm and on Facebook at Seagate Farm. @islandgrownsj, #sanjuanisland, #visitsanjuans, #savorthesanjuans, #pnwcider, #nwcider, @nwcider, #cider, #hardcider, #wacider, #drinkcider, #drinkwacider, #heritagecider, #pickcider, #drinklocal, #heirloomap

John and Ben spent the last few weeks picking the Pacific Crabapples at the farm. Even though the other apples and pears didn’t like the cold and wet spring, the crabapples did great. The Pacific Crabapple is also known as the Western or Oregon Crabapple, and it is the only native crabapple in the Pacific Northwest which can be found along the Pacific Coast from southern Alaska to northern California up to about 1,000 feet in elevation. This small and tart apple is about a c

After getting the FARM Fund Grant from the Agriculture Guild in May to regenerate the San Juan Islands, John and his nephew, Shane, planted 15 new lavender and 16 comfrey plants. The new plants will attract more bees and help with pollination in the apple orchard. A big thank you to #Thornbush and @pelindabalavender farms for supplying the plants. With the grant, we’ll also be planting new seeds of several additional beneficial plant varieties in the spring. You can also #wat

After chasing a few deer out of the orchard, Shane (John’s nephew) spent the last few weeks improving the deer fencing for the farm. Now we’re much safer from unwanted visitors who damage the young apple trees. We’re very thankful for having such wonderful help – thank you Shane! You can also #watchusgrow on Instagram @seagate_farm and on Facebook at Seagate Farm. #islandgrown, #sanjuanislands, #visitsanjuans, #nwcider, #cider, #wacider, #drinkcider, #drinkwacider, #heritagec

When you’re playing in a big sandbox, you need big toys. John had a lot of fun learning to operate the excavator this past week at the farm - leveling dirt piles and clearing out brush. Now we have extra space to plant more great things…#watchusgrow. #islandgrown, #sanjuanislands, #visitsanjuans, #nwcider, #cider, #wacider, #drinkcider, #drinkwacider, #heritagecider, #heirloomapples, #Seagatefarm, @Seagatefarm, #organic_practices You can also follow us on Instagram @seagate_f

Back at work after being away for a while and the apple trees are doing great! Several of the Brown Snout apple trees have fruit and many of them are now eight feet tall. The grafted Major apple tree is doing great too. A special thanks to Kevin C. for taking such good care of the farm while we were away. You can also follow us @seagate_farm on Instagram #watchusgrow, #islandgrown, #sanjuanislands, #visitsanjuans, #nwcider, #cider, #wacider, #drinkcider, #drinkwacider, #herit

After a cold, wet spring, the new apple trees are loving the beautiful weather. Especially the Brown Snout, Harry Master’s Jersey, and the three varieties of crabapples. And summer wouldn’t be complete without the mandatory field mowing – so here’s one of Ben enjoying the ride. #watchusgrow, #islandgrown, #sanjuanislands, #visitsanjuans, #nwcider, #cider, #wacider, #drinkcider, #drinkwacider, #heritagecider, #heirloomapples, #Seagatefarm, @Seagatefarm

On A Clear Day… It was so beautiful and clear yesterday that you could see the tops of both Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker from the farm. The views made it hard to stay focused in the orchard! You can also follow us @seagate_farm on Instagram. Mt. Baker (above) Mt. Rainier (above) #watchusgrow, #islandgrown, #sanjuanislands, #visitsanjuans, #nwcider, #cider, #wacider, #drinkcider, #drinkwacider, #heritagecider, #heirloomapples, #Seagatefarm

We’re proud to announce that we completed our 2022 planting with a total of 228 cider apple trees! Thank you to our volunteers and everyone who helped along the way! #Seagatefarm #watchusgrow

After just five days, we planted 192 new cider apple trees! We couldn’t have done it without such an awesome crew of family, friends, and neighbors! Thank you all so much!! ❤️🌳 #pnwcider #washingtoncider #watchusgrow #cider

First day at Seagate Farm and we got 42 apple trees planted! Thank you to all our volunteers, friends, and family for a fun and productive time! #Seagatefarm #watchusgrow

Check out our new orchard! Seagate Farm has been focused on building our infrastructure this winter. We just finished putting in the gravel paths for this spring’s planting area. It may not look like much yet, but this part is essential to becoming a successful farm and orchard. In about a month, this area will be filled with new saplings! Stay tuned. #watchusgrow, #islandgrown, #sanjuanislands, #visitsanjuans, #nwcider, #cider, #drinkcider, #Seagatefarm