Meet Tate Brumsickle of Roche Harbor Farm! You’ll pass the colorful rows of Roche Harbor Farm on the right side of the road just before you enter Roche Harbor Resort on San Juan Island. The farm initially began as an employee-run market garden for the resort, but after trying it the first year, the resort decided to lease the land instead of run it themselves. Tate Brumsickle took over the space in 2019 with minimal farm experience and only a few books and tools under his belt. It was a year of trial and lots of error, but he enjoyed it and could see that there was a promising future if he could keep learning and practicing his techniques.
Tate and his partner of 11 years, Kate Fenley, both grew up on San Juan Island. They run the farm together, with Tate doing the day-to-day and Kate helping on weekends at the farmers market and with office operations. Tate was inspired to work in sustainable food systems when he left the island and attended Western Washington University. He went through the Environmental Science Program, which gave him a wide range of information from soil science to waste water management. But he often found himself looking through the lens of food – where it came from and where it went. When he finished school, he worked for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. When he realized that line of work wasn’t for him he reached out to Roche Harbor and they told him they were looking for someone to take over the farm.
Tate now grows a wide variety of vegetable crops, such as radishes, turnips, beets, cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, spring mix, zucchini, tomato, and assorted herbs. The farm sells primarily at the San Juan Island Farmers Market and through the SJI Food Hub, but you can also find their produce featured at Westcott Bay Shellfish Farm, in delectable dishes at McMillan’s Dining Room at Roche Harbor Resort, and in the Roche Harbor Company Store.
He says “My goal for Roche Harbor Farm is to show the results of sustainable and regenerative soil practices. Proper soil management is not only about ethics and sustainability, but also can provide the highest quality vegetables with the least amount of work. I would like to show people that soil management is the most critical part of gardening and farming.” He is committed to sustainability and wants people to know how much he cares care about his crops and soil. “I use No-Till techniques to preserve the soils structure, and biology. I supplement my soil with local compost made on site and I never use any pesticides or herbicides! I want people to know that they can trust my product; that it was grown ethically and with care,” he says.
Tate also said they are excited to announce the construction of a roadside produce stand, which will allow consumers to stop by and grab what they need right from the farm. In addition, this year they’ll be growing flowers for cut flower bouquets – we can’t wait! Be sure to follow @rocheharborfarm on instagram and facebook.
