San Juan Islands Ag Summit 2024 was a great weekend for farmers, homesteaders and the farm-curious. We networked, attended workshops and generally got to know each other and share notes. This year Lum Farm hosted an in-depth tour of the farm, highlighting the different areas that we have leaned into over the past years. At the end of the workshop, Amy asked a participant what her biggest takeaway was, and she responded "How much work can be done when a group of people work well together." We were delighted that this was clear from our tour!
As part of the workshop, we compiled a list of our favorite resources -- websites and books offering instruction, supplies and resources for farming in Washington state. We often get calls from folks asking for mentorship and advice -- and since we usually are too busy trying to keep our own farm up to speed, sharing this list feels like a good start.
ONLINE RESOURCES
Washington State Dept of Agriculture
All the nitty gritty details essential for running a farm business in Washington state: licensing, information about agriculture/dairy and grant opportunities.
WASCA: Washington State Cheesemakers Association
Washington State Cheesemakers Association works to support Washington cheese and cheesemakers through education, promotion, and collaboration.
Maryland Extension Small Ruminant Program Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MDSmallRuminant
Excellent information and resources for raising and managing sheep and goats.
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Excellent resource for information about raising livestock.
Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory
Need testing for your herd/flocks? They are very helpful when you call.
Islands Grown Farmers Cooperative and Northwest Local Meats https://www.nwlocalmeats.com/
The farmers cooperative has a mobile slaughter unit that comes to farms in the region and the San Juan Islands for USDA meat processing.
Microdairy Designs
“Committed to small dairies with big dreams”
Hamby Dairy Supply
Everything you need to start milking.
Street Cheese Seattle
The cheese business of the executive director of WASCA, and a great resource if you want to learn more about cheese and the art of cheesemongering.
Premier Fencing Supply
Where we buy our electronet fencing, shearing equipment and some animal veterinary supplies
Backyard Chickens
We get a lot of inquiries for advice about raising chickens. This online community is where to start.
Powerscrub Egg Washer
The magic egg washing machine! And before we had the Powerscrub, we used the Little Egg Scrubber, which served us well: https://thelittleeggscrubber.com/
BOOKS
The following list of books are used by all of us here at the farm quite often, as there is always something new to research. We have endless gratitude for a good book and a good veterinarian! Head to your library or favorite local bookstore:
Storey’s Guide to Raising Sheep
Breeding - Care - Facilities
By Paula Simmons and Carol Ekarius
Hands down the best reference book we have on the farm for raising sheep; the basics of raising them, housing them, and pregnancy and lambing. I refer to it for goat pregnancy too sometimes.
Storey’s Guide to Raising Goats
Breeds - Care - Dairying - Marketing
By Jerry Belanger and Sara Thomsen Bredesen
A helpful guide for the beginner.
Sheep and Goat Medicine, second edition
By D.G. Pugh and A.N. Baird
An essential handbook for figuring out what is going on with the health of your sheep and goats. We reference this book very often.
The Veterinary Book for Sheep Farmers
By David C. Henderson
This book has a ton of very helpful information, but it is written for farmers in Great Britain, so some of the information and medicines are different than how we manage our flocks in the US.
Storey’s Guide to Raising Beef Cattle
Health - Handling - Breeding
By Heather Smith Thomas
An excellent reference for raising cattle.
The Chicken Health Handbook
By Gail Damerow
Very helpful when you are trying to figure out what might be wrong with your chickens!
The Small Scale Dairy: The Complete Guide to Milk Production for the Home and Market
… and…
The Small Scale Cheese Business: The Complete Guide to Running a Successful Farmstead Creamery
By Gianaclis Caldwell
Very helpful books that gave direction to this farmstead creamery dream
Humane Livestock Handling
By Temple Grandin
Anything written Temple Grandin is gold.
Two Amazing Books about how to cook with the meats we raise here on the farm:
The River Cottage MEAT Book
By Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
MEAT: Everything You Need to Know
By Pat LaFrieda and Carolyn Carreno
Wonderful reads for the end of the workday:
The Shepherd’s Life
By James Rebanks
The Farmer’s Wife: My Life in Days
By Helen Rebanks
So many books, so little time!! We could keep going but don’t want to overwhelm you. You’ll find them!
Marketing
Examples of farmers and producers who have found the sweet spot of farming and marketing (links are for Instagram):
@lumfarmllc (All things Lum Farm and Island Agriculture)
@sheepishly.me (large sheep operation)
@herdyshepherd1 (cattle & sheep farmer and author James Rebanks)
@wetwool_theluckyewefarm (Lopez island sheep farmer and fiber artist)
@oakknollfarmsji (San Juan Island sheep farmer and fiber artist)
With all these resources at your fingertips all you need to do now is begin!