The mission of The Veg Trials at La Conner Flats is two fold:
- Help Gardeners and producers identify vegetable varieties and cultural practices suitable for the Puget Sound maritime climate.
- Serve as a catalyst in bringing the vision of 'farm to table' to fruition
The Veg Trials at La Conner Flats has grown out of the Skagit Veg Trials that operated for three years (2001-03) at the Washington State University - Northwest Washington Research and Extension Center located in Mount Vernon. Under the direction of Dr. W.C. 'Andy' Anderson, Emeritus Horticulturalist, a large group of volunteers participated providing the energy to carry out extensive vegetable trials. The motto of 'quest for the best' acknowledges that with constantly improved varieties for all horticultural aspects that it is truly a moving target. That is why it takes constant evaluation.
When the Skagit Veg Trials stopped some of the volunteers migrated to Bob Hart's La Conner Flats garden to help him out. The momentum in numbers of volunteers continued to rebound and in 2005 the Veg Trials returned with a sweet corn variety trial.
2006 was a defining year for the Veg Trials. The trials expanded into melons and tomatoes as well as continuing the sweet corn trial. Community interest in the sweet corn trial taste evaluations were overwhelming with an estimated 150 participants in attendance.
In 2006 The Veg Trials partnered with the Seattle Culinary Academy with their summer course on Sustainable Food Systems Practices. Each Monday during the month of July, the students take a bus tour from Seattle to La Conner Flats to learn and work with the volunteers in the areas of planting, maintaining and harvesting vegetable crops. In addition during their weekly visits they tour vegetable, dairy and seafood farm operations in the Skagit Valley. The Veg Trial Volunteers, that have now been affectionately labeled 'The Ole Geezers', think of themselves as catalysts in modifying attitudes of people in Seattle culinary business one person at a time. The impact is potentially huge when considering close interaction with 50 students a year over 10 years will do in changing buying habits in Seattle restaurants and institutions. Through the evaluation of feed back information from the student, extensive planning and adjustments have been done to improve the field laboratory experience.
Normally Monday mornings the Ol' Geezers are working at La Conner Flats. This is an excellent time to visit the gardens as one of us will be pleased to give you a tour of the trials and activities.
When the Skagit Veg Trials stopped some of the volunteers migrated to Bob Hart's La Conner Flats garden to help him out. The momentum in numbers of volunteers continued to rebound and in 2005 the Veg Trials returned with a sweet corn variety trial.
2006 was a defining year for the Veg Trials. The trials expanded into melons and tomatoes as well as continuing the sweet corn trial. Community interest in the sweet corn trial taste evaluations were overwhelming with an estimated 150 participants in attendance.
In 2006 The Veg Trials partnered with the Seattle Culinary Academy with their summer course on Sustainable Food Systems Practices. Each Monday during the month of July, the students take a bus tour from Seattle to La Conner Flats to learn and work with the volunteers in the areas of planting, maintaining and harvesting vegetable crops. In addition during their weekly visits they tour vegetable, dairy and seafood farm operations in the Skagit Valley. The Veg Trial Volunteers, that have now been affectionately labeled 'The Ole Geezers', think of themselves as catalysts in modifying attitudes of people in Seattle culinary business one person at a time. The impact is potentially huge when considering close interaction with 50 students a year over 10 years will do in changing buying habits in Seattle restaurants and institutions. Through the evaluation of feed back information from the student, extensive planning and adjustments have been done to improve the field laboratory experience.
Normally Monday mornings the Ol' Geezers are working at La Conner Flats. This is an excellent time to visit the gardens as one of us will be pleased to give you a tour of the trials and activities.
