The Orcas Island Garden Club presents “The Homestead Tour” of five farms and gardens on the east side of Orcas, with emphasis on beauty, history and the sustainable horticulture of fruits, vegetables, herbs and livestock.

The tour is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, June 23-24.  Three of the homesteads  – the Doe Bay Garden, Orcas Farm, and Cherry Hill Farm – date back to the 1880’s.  The other two gardens, Seaview Farm and the McCoy Garden, are more recent homesteads but committed to sustainable ecology. Included in the tour are lectures on Orcas Island history, composting, seed saving, and elimination of noxious plants.

Eastside restaurants Cafe Olga and The Doe Bay Cafe are preparing box lunches available by pre-order no later than June 8 with an online purchase of tour tickets or participants can bring their own picnic lunch to enjoy at selected garden sites. Tickets are $20 (tour only) or $30 (by online order through June 8 plus box lunch).  Order tickets online any time at brownpapertickets.com or at OrcasIslandGardenClub.org or at Driftwood Nursery and Darvill’s Bookstore.