No Clouds at Cloud Mountain...

... but there were more than 200 varieties of fruit and fruit products to taste, including several varieties of Mallard Ice Cream made from fruit grown at Cloud Mountain Farm Center (CMFC). And that was a good thing, as we're still basking in unseasonably warm and sunny weather, so ice cream was definitely an attractive prospect -- not always the case in October!

This was the 23rd annual Cloud Mountain Fall Fruit Festival, which combines education and fun at the farm itself, located about 20 miles from our house. More than 1000 varieties of ornamental plants, tree fruits, vine fruits, and vegetable crops are grown there, using organic practices. In addition to providing training for new farmers, commercial farmers, and home gardeners, the farm staff test tree fruits and vegetables to see if they can be grown in the cool maritime climate found here.

Many of us in this region are interested in increasing local food security by increasing the varieties of fruits and vegetables that can be grown here. Events such as today's help provide answers about which ones will do well, and enable us to taste unfamiliar varieties, such as these cider apples, some of which have been used for centuries in other parts of the world.

Expanding the varieties of wine grapes grown here will eventually increase the types of wine we can buy locally, and trials are underway at CMFC -- each of these rows, and others not seen here, is planted with a specific variety. Wine grapes from northern and eastern Europe, such as the Grüner Veltliner variety seen in the trial rows, are more likely to do well than those from warmer areas of Europe. It was great to be able to taste many types of red and white wine grapes, and imagine how wine made from them might taste!

Among the more unusual local items on display was fresh organic yellow ginger, which I've bought several times at Terra Verde Garden's stall at the Bellingham Farmers Market. It's delicious and tender, and positively addictive for ginger fans like Phil and me.

There was a display of dried beans, corn, and grains from the excellent Backyard Beans & Grains Project, as well. Begun in 2008, this project focuses on seed trials, farmer/gardener education, and seed multiplication (none are hybrids), with the goal of using small-scale, low-tech methods to make locally-grown dry legumes and grains more available.

I've always loved the look of dried beans, as well as the taste, and these are both beautiful and poignant. "Painted Lady" beans are even more beautiful, and I love the idea of the Ely pole dry beans coming over "from Slovenia in a pocket by an immigrant ancestor"! You can see both of these unusual dried beans in this photo.

Despite the educational focus, there was plenty of fun to be had as well, including cider pressing, featured in Phil's journal entry; the inevitable photo calls; special activities for children; and live music.

The fall fruit festival runs through this weekend, so if there are any local readers who didn't get out to Cloud Mountain Farm Center today, I encourage you to do so on Sunday!