Just a little bit about us... Nearing our third decade Once in a Blue Moon Farm is still ever changing, and a far cry from what it was when our mother and grandmother started it all. We've always sought to be just a little bit different and always ourselves. Three generations (almost four) of our family are involved in the daily operations. We each have our story as you do yours and in typical fashion there is nothing typical to it. We’ve hosted vacation guests for over 25 years and we were on the forefront of agritourism activities and farm lodging on Orcas Island. In 2011 we were included in a USDA pilot program spearheaded by the Obama administration to promote outdoor activities like agritourism called America's Most Beautiful Farms. We were voted 2nd place nationally! The farm is a multi-generational family business and a living collaborative creative endeavor, one with dreams and intentions, continually evolving with artistic passion and purpose. With backgrounds, degrees, and professional experience in landscape architecture, accounting, medicine and nutrition everyone in the family brings something to keep the farm going. Our farm estate has a rich history dating back to the 1880's and some of the first homesteaders on Orcas Island. Read more about the history of the farm below or visit the Orcas Island Historical Museum in Eastsound where you can find the original pioneer cabin from our farm. Media The New York Times April 2020 The New York Times Sept 2019 Everyday With Rachel Ray March 2015 Seattle Times July 2014 Gardens Are For Living: Design Inspiration for Outdoor Spaces by Judy Kameon 2014 Seattle Magazine Aug 2013 Edible Seattle Sept/Oct 2011


We Belong to the Land Thinking and Acting Inter-Generationally A reverence for our natural landscape and environmental sensitivities drive the way we think and operate at Once in a Blue Moon Farm. Sustainability and living with nature is our way of life. We are intricately bonded to our water, our soil, our air, our future, our health, and our economy. We hope the farm stay will help inspire or compliment your efforts in rethinking the way we all live. Interested in finding out more? It is one of our passions so please ask away! A Tree Grows on Orcas From Farm to You Our farm has a rich history dating back to the 1800's on Orcas Island. Stories and lore from the farm boast how the apricots were too big to fit into a canning jar. Their strawberries consistently won prizes at the county fair and even some first prizes at the state fair. Apples and pears were shipped by boat, then train all along the West Coast and inland over the Cascades and Sierras. This farm had acres of tall growing fruit trees. Rows of Gravenstein and King apples, Bartlett pears, Royal Anne cherries, Italian plums, peaches, and yes, apricots. These were the short lively years in San Juan County that boasted some of the best growing conditions for bountiful produce in the Pacific Northwest. By the 1920's, agriculture boomed in eastern Washington's newly irrigated and richer soils, easier growing climate, and access to rail lines. Orcas Island farms could no longer remain competitive. Legacy trees in our orchard are on standard rootstock and are nearly three stories tall. These majestic trees are over 100 years old. For those who walk quietly under their huge boughs, feelings of peace and awe are sure to overcome. Still, there are many other untold stories and secrets held on this land from the impossible to the unbelievable. In 1954 the horse fell down the well! In the 1980's the owners tried cultivating Black Perigord Truffles with their pot bellied pig! But in the 1930's the farm was bet and LOST at a poker match at a bar in Friday Harbor, San Juan Island. How can you beat that for history!? For more history of the island be sure to visit the Orcas Island Historical Museum.

Just a little bit about us...

Nearing our third decade Once in a Blue Moon Farm is still ever changing, and a far cry from what it was when our mother and grandmother started it all. We've always sought to be just a little bit different and always ourselves. Three generations (almost four) of our family are involved in the daily operations. We each have our story as you do yours and in typical fashion there is nothing typical to it.

We’ve hosted vacation guests for over 25 years and we were on the forefront of agritourism activities and farm lodging on Orcas Island. In 2011 we were included in a USDA pilot program spearheaded by the Obama administration to promote outdoor activities like agritourism called America's Most Beautiful Farms. We were voted 2nd place nationally! The farm is a multi-generational family business and a living collaborative creative endeavor, one with dreams and intentions, continually evolving with artistic passion and purpose. With backgrounds, degrees, and professional experience in landscape architecture, accounting, medicine and nutrition everyone in the family brings something to keep the farm going.

Our farm estate has a rich history dating back to the 1880's and some of the first homesteaders on Orcas Island. Read more about the history of the farm below or visit the Orcas Island Historical Museum in Eastsound where you can find the original pioneer cabin from our farm.

Media

The New York Times April 2020
The New York Times Sept 2019
Everyday With Rachel Ray March 2015
Seattle Times July 2014
Gardens Are For Living: Design Inspiration for Outdoor Spaces by Judy Kameon 2014
Seattle Magazine Aug 2013
Edible Seattle Sept/Oct 2011

We Belong to the Land

Thinking and Acting Inter-Generationally

A reverence for our natural landscape and environmental sensitivities drive the way we think and operate at Once in a Blue Moon Farm. Sustainability and living with nature is our way of life. We are intricately bonded to our water, our soil, our air, our future, our health, and our economy. We hope the farm stay will help inspire or compliment your efforts in rethinking the way we all live. Interested in finding out more? It is one of our passions so please ask away!

A Tree Grows on Orcas

From Farm to You

Our farm has a rich history dating back to the 1800's on Orcas Island. Stories and lore from the farm boast how the apricots were too big to fit into a canning jar. Their strawberries consistently won prizes at the county fair and even some first prizes at the state fair. Apples and pears were shipped by boat, then train all along the West Coast and inland over the Cascades and Sierras. This farm had acres of tall growing fruit trees. Rows of Gravenstein and King apples, Bartlett pears, Royal Anne cherries, Italian plums, peaches, and yes, apricots. These were the short lively years in San Juan County that boasted some of the best growing conditions for bountiful produce in the Pacific Northwest. By the 1920's, agriculture boomed in eastern Washington's newly irrigated and richer soils, easier growing climate, and access to rail lines. Orcas Island farms could no longer remain competitive.

Legacy trees in our orchard are on standard rootstock and are nearly three stories tall. These majestic trees are over 100 years old. For those who walk quietly under their huge boughs, feelings of peace and awe are sure to overcome. Still, there are many other untold stories and secrets held on this land from the impossible to the unbelievable. In 1954 the horse fell down the well! In the 1980's the owners tried cultivating Black Perigord Truffles with their pot bellied pig! But in the 1930's the farm was bet and LOST at a poker match at a bar in Friday Harbor, San Juan Island. How can you beat that for history!? For more history of the island be sure to visit the Orcas Island Historical Museum.