The Willows Inn Lummi Island
The Willows Inn Lummi Island
The Willows Inn Lummi Island
The Willows Inn Lummi Island
The Willows Inn Lummi Island
The Willows Inn Lummi Island
The Willows Inn Lummi Island
The Willows Inn Lummi Island
The Willows Inn Lummi Island
The Willows Inn Lummi Island
The Willows Inn Lummi Island
The Willows Inn Lummi Island
The Willows Inn Lummi Island
The Willows Inn Lummi Island


REEFNET WILD SALMON | NETTLES FARM | REVIEWS


Riley Starks and Judy Olsen, the husband and wife team that own The Willows Inn, started Nettles Farm in 1992, building it from a west-facing wooded piece of land. Rather than clearing the entire 5.5 acres they cleared only three, leaving the surrounding large trees which serve to shield the crops from cooling winds, and trapping heat during the important spring and early summer months. They began by growing flavorful greens and tomatoes, which at that time could scarcely be found in any store, and added a greenhouse, cold frames, and in 1993 a commercial kitchen to process the washed greens mix they sold at farmer’s markets and retail stores in Whatcom County.

Realizing that the kitchen would be idle for most of the year, Judy purchased used Italian pasta and ravioli machines, and Nettles Farm Pasta was born. Since the single ingredient that makes the greatest difference in fresh pasta is eggs, Riley decided to grow a flock of laying chickens to provide the needed fresh organic eggs, which were hard to find at that time. One thing led to another, and before long Nettles Farm was producing 50 dozen eggs per day, 6,000 pastured chickens for meat, and 500 packages of pasta and ravioli per week. All of this was delivered to more than 20 outlets as far south as Tacoma.

With the arrival of farmer extraordinaire Adam Childs in 2005, Nettles is better than ever, growing enough to supply fresh organic produce, eggs and chickens for The Willows Inn and the Taproot Pub. Visit him at the farm most days, where you can also meet our summer intern. Riley is still reefnetting, and supplies the restaurant with his own catch.

Agritourism

Do you want to experience what working on a small farm is like? Each summer, beginning in June, we allow visitors to follow along and work alongside our farm intern. Harvest greens, pick and wash eggs, or perhaps weed a bed of onions. Ask for our agritourism package when you book your room.

 

Aerial view of Nettles Farm on Lummi Island

Veggies and chicken coop on Nettles Farm on Lummi Island

Nettles Farm provides the farm to table experience at the Willows Inn

Farmer Adam Childs is the farmer at Nettles Farm

Organic produce is what Nettles Farm does

Farmer Adam Childs sells his vegetables at the Farmer's Market

Nettles Farm tomatoes are special to the farm to table willows inn experience