8a | September 21, 2016
The Miner
FRESH PICK ED FUN !
Visit Green Bluff
7. YARYAN’S ORCHARD
The present day Green Bluff Growers is an association of small family farms, food stands and breweries. Seasonal activities include pick-your-own fruit and annual festivals such as: Blooms on the Bluff, Strawberry Celebration, Cherry Festival, Cherry Pickers’ Trot and Pit Spit and Peach Festival in the spring and summer, and the Apple Festival in the fall and Holiday Memories in the winter. That’s a big change from the earliest days of the growers’ association, which formed in 1902. In those days, the group’s mission was to protect local strawberry growers from outside competition. Now, the association helps local farmers with agricultural tourism. The promise of an old fashion farm experience brings thousands of visitors each year to the rolling hills northeast of Spokane. If you’re from the city and have never had an opportunity to pick your own fruit or simply enjoy a ride on a beautiful day, take a drive up to Green Bluff. There are two loops, the West and East, full of small farms for the adventurous visitor to discover. Part of what makes Green Bluff unique in the entire country is the large concentration of farms – more than 30 – within such a relatively small area of about 12 square miles. The Green Bluff Growers Association may have changed somewhat over the last 100 years, but the country hospitality of its members remains just as warm and friendly as a century ago. The experience and crops you’ll find vary by season. For example, arrive in early August and buy apricots picked less than an hour before. While eating the juicy and still warm fruit, take a moment to examine the beauty of a golden wheat field beside the road. Mt. Spokane is not far away and it affords wonderful views and the perspective of how Green Bluff’s farms dot the landscape. Visit mid-September through October for the Apple Festival. What started a couple of decades ago as a one-day celebration of apples at the Green Bluff Grange has evolved into a six-week, all-out apple frenzy. Just like the old days, Green Bluff’s many growers continue to sell bushel upon bushel of Jonagolds, Granny Smiths and Fujis. But now they also entice families with live music, hayrides, corn mazes, pony rides and petting zoos.
TAKE A DAY TO
PLAY • Live Music • Fresh Produce • Cider • Libations • Great Food
One of a kind greenbluffgrowers.com experience ALL CERTIFIED ORGANIC COLE’S ORCHARD 12 varieties of Apples Carrots • Veggies • Prunes & Pears OPEN TUES - SUN Through October 18423 N. Green Bluff Rd., Colbert, WA • (509) 238-4962
Sundown Brown’s Place, LLC (509) 238-4803 Green Bluff 17425 North Sands Road Mead, WA
You Pick Apples
Green Bluff is located about a half hour drive from Newport and is nestled at the foothills of Mt. Spokane. It is divided into two loops of farms, the East and the West. The farms offer a wide variety of fruits and vegetables either picked or U-Pick. There are also unique items such as a winery, antiques, an alpaca ranch, a landscape nursery, U-Pick lavender, Homemade Italian Food, and U-Cut Christmas Trees. New in recent years are cider and beer breweries. Each farm is run independently with unique hours, events, and produce. During crop seasons, most farms are open to the public, but should be contacted first. Festivals take place only on designated weekends and there is no set location for the events. Each farm does its own thing with some farms open all year round. For info on each farm, check out the ads on this page, or visit www.greenbluffgrowers.com.
Greenbluff Apple Festival Sept. S ept. 24th - O Oct. ct. 30 30th 0th h Festival Weekends • 10 am - 6 pm Produce & Gift Shop 10am-6pm Everyday
509-238-6261 John & Beverly Yaryan - 1/2 mile E. of Green Bluff Store U-Pick & Picked: Variety of APPLES, (Early Gold, Gala, Mcintosh, Jonathan, Honey Crisp, Fugi, Cameo, etc.) Nectarines, Plums, Honey.
2016 Spokane
Renaissance Faire “Where chivalry comes alive!”
October 1st & 2nd Lazy K Ranch
5906 E Woolard Rd, Colbert, WA Benefitting
www.spokanerenfaire.com
Pick Your Pumpkin! and
• Squash • Gourds • Strawbales • • Cornstalks• And More! •
“We Grow All We Sell” 509 • 238 • 9473
www.elevenacresfarm.com Sometimes closed Mondays
Eleven Acres Farm Fresh Beer • Apples • Potatoes • Pumpkins • Garlic • Carrots
16004 N. Applewood Lane, Mead, WA 509 710-2961 • 509 710-2962
The Amazing Corn-Shrub Maze
Train, Wagon, Camel Rides, Pony & Slide
Live Petting Zoo
6 Varieties of Pumpkins All Sizes! Arts & Crafts, Gift Shop Food, Live Music & More!
SIEMERS’ FARM, LLC
11125 E. Day Mt. Spokane Rd., Mead 509-238-6242 www.siemersfarm.com
We also offer house & farm calls! Dedicated to happy, healthy pets! (509) 238-1585 ~ mtspokanevet.net
• Dogs • Cats • Horses • Farm Animals • Exotics