Harper's Farm House

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Harper's Farm House Our sweet little 1924 farm house sits on two acres close to the city. We grow vegetables, starts and a variety of plants & flowers at various times of the year!

You can find vacation rental information on Airbnb with "Suburban Farm House near Seattle". Airbnb Listing: 1924 fully furnished farm house with everything updated. Located 20 minutes to Seattle and Tacoma. Easy access to SeaTac Airport, grocery stores, bus lines and citified amenities. The farm house has a queen bed on the main floor and two twin beds upstairs in separate rooms. You can relax on

the deck and watch the chickens peck about. Des Moines Marina, Saltwater State Park and the Des Moines Creek Trail are nearby. On weekends, we occasionally have plant and vegetable sales on the farm, so keep an eye out for our local signs when we are open and offering locally grown veggies!

Storage questions answered!
29/08/2024

Storage questions answered!

Guidelines and specific recommendations on best storage practices, including temperature, humidity, and optimal shelf life for 16 classic storage crops.

What to do with horseradish leaves!
30/07/2024

What to do with horseradish leaves!

Horseradish, often celebrated for its pungent root, hides a lesser-known secret in its foliage. The leaves of the horseradish plant carry an array of health benefits and culinary potentials that can transform wellness routines and recipes alike. Below, we dive into the myriad of advantages these lea...

03/07/2024

On my to-do list around the nursery is to create habitat specifically for Thamnophus (garter snakes). In addition to being objectively awesome, they are happy to wolf down slugs in your garden. Here is what I think is Thamnophus sirtalis fitchi (what some call valley garter snake) working on a surprisingly large slug along Perry Creek in Snohomish County.

To attract garter snakes, they ideally want a nice rock pile in a sunny spot, a water-source, and zero interactions with lawnmowers.

Snakes do a garden good!
03/07/2024

Snakes do a garden good!

On my to-do list around the nursery is to create habitat specifically for Thamnophus (garter snakes). In addition to being objectively awesome, they are happy to wolf down slugs in your garden. Here is what I think is Thamnophus sirtalis fitchi (what some call valley garter snake) working on a surprisingly large slug along Perry Creek in Snohomish County.

To attract garter snakes, they ideally want a nice rock pile in a sunny spot, a water-source, and zero interactions with lawnmowers.

Pine needle mulch. Genius!!
07/05/2024

Pine needle mulch. Genius!!

Pine Needles don’t make the soil acidic! And they’re a fantastic garden mulch!
This photo shows ponderosa pine needles being used as a mulch around garlic plants. The pine needles were applied right after planting the seed garlic last fall and have been on the soil since.

The gardening myth that pine or fir needles can’t be used as a mulch because they will acidify the soil is commonly repeated. It results in people throwing tons of dropped needles into the city compost bins and then going and paying lots of money for premium mulches like chopped straw.

We don’t blame anyone for believing this, since it sounds intuitive and is often mentioned even by very experienced gardeners.

But studies have proven that Pine Needles do not ever have a powerful effect on soil PH, even when fresh and green.
The fact that soil beneath Pine or Fir Trees is acidic is not because the trees themselves make it acidic, but because these species evolved to grow and thrive in naturally acidic soil.
If there are no small plants growing beneath a pine tree, it is most likely due to the shallow and dominant root system of the tree, along with its shading, which does not allow other plants to easily establish below it.

Fresh GREEN ponderosa pine/Douglasfir needles are acidic, but as they age & microbes decompose them, they quickly turn brown. Once brown they’re PH neutral. At this point, they’re a perfect mulch.
They a dense, long lasting mulch. They don’t compact. Allowing air & water to pass through, while still aiding in shading the soil and keeping seeds from germinating if applied thickly. Once fully decomposed after 1-2yrs they release lots of valuable nutrients.
A thin layer can be used like straw so that larger seeds/bulbs can easily sprout through.
Pine needles also do not blow around or wash away easily. So they make an ideal mulch in spots where other materials might not stay put.

We always recommend utilizing the materials available for free. Why go and pay a premium for bagged mulch if you don’t have to?
You might have a neighbor with a ponderosa pine that throws out bins & bins of needles each year. Ask if you can have them!

Sources:

https://today.oregonstate.edu/news/myth-vs-reality-what%E2%80%99s-truth-behind-some-common-gardening-practices

https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2019/10/do-pine-trees-pine-needles-make-soil-more-acidic

https://northwestmeadowscapes.com/
15/04/2024

https://northwestmeadowscapes.com/

native grass and wildflower seed for pollinator conservation, rain gardens, meadows, and wildlife habitat in Oregon and Washington.

Purple Dead Nettle information.
13/04/2024

Purple Dead Nettle information.

In the world of herbs, few possess the versatility and hidden benefits of purple dead nettle. Often overlooked, this unassuming herb carries a rich history and a modern relevance that extends from nutrition to medicine. Join us as we uncover the nutritional richness, medicinal potential, and culinar...

13/04/2024

Great farming tips!

A few horse activities to do when riding isn't in your cards...
08/03/2024

A few horse activities to do when riding isn't in your cards...

3 experts share their favorite activities to do with your horse when the weather is too poor to ride.

Horses on spring grass can be a dangerous situation. Graze in the morning hours for short time frames and gradually buil...
25/02/2024

Horses on spring grass can be a dangerous situation. Graze in the morning hours for short time frames and gradually build up over the days and weeks until their system has adjusted to the nutrient loads.

Spring is the time when horses are most likely to founder. Founder, also known as laminitis, is a very painful and debilitating hoof condition in horses. It can have a handful of different causes, but the most common is pasture-caused founder which occurs when a horse consumes too much rich grass in a short amount of time

A sudden change of diet from all-hay to all-new-grass can trigger laminitis. It is safer to make sure horses are still eating some hay every day in the spring. It may be tempting to economize on hay and just turn them out when the fields green up, but it’s not worth the risk. The new spring grass is lower in minerals and higher in sugar.

Did you know that the sugar levels in the grass are lower in the morning than in the afternoon? So graze ‘em early in the day.

Here’s a great article that will help you learn more about founder and how you can protect your horse and treat it: nwnhc.com/spring-founder-prevention

Plant hardiness zone changed on you? Here is some information on what that may mean for your gardening plans...
17/01/2024

Plant hardiness zone changed on you? Here is some information on what that may mean for your gardening plans...

The official map that helps gardeners and farmers decide what to plant has undergone a dramatic shift, thanks in large part to climate change. The 2023 update, released in mid-November, shows that about half of the country has moved into a warmer hardiness zone. Overall, the map is about 2.5 degrees...

New Year's resolutions can also include being a better steward for the land, water, air and all living beings dependent ...
31/12/2023

New Year's resolutions can also include being a better steward for the land, water, air and all living beings dependent on it's health for quality of life.

Never use glue traps or poisons to control rodents. It's a slow and painful death for the victims.
16/12/2023

Never use glue traps or poisons to control rodents. It's a slow and painful death for the victims.

As winter puts everything to sleep and dormancy, help Mother Nature take care of her little helpers and leave things to ...
15/12/2023

As winter puts everything to sleep and dormancy, help Mother Nature take care of her little helpers and leave things to natural processes. She knows how to take care of it better than we do, so watch and learn what she has to teach us.

Add some stumpery to your landscape and see who comes to visit!
30/11/2023

Add some stumpery to your landscape and see who comes to visit!

Great resource for planning crop rotations!
16/10/2023

Great resource for planning crop rotations!

Planting the same crops on the same fields, year after year, strips the soil of nutrients and allows pests and w**ds to flourish. In regenerative agriculture, farmers rotate different types of crops over time. This helps limit pest infestations and nourishes beneficial microbes in the soil with a more diverse diet. Rotating between nitrogen-fixing crops like soybeans and nitrogen-hungry crops like corn can reduce the need for fertilizers.
Photo credit.

There's still time to spend in the garden! Here are some to-do items to start buttoning it up for the winter! And rememb...
12/10/2023

There's still time to spend in the garden! Here are some to-do items to start buttoning it up for the winter! And remember to leave the leaves! That's habitat, mulch and fertilizer... all great things.

Check out these 6 must do fall garden chores that can help pave the way for an incredibly productive and w**d free garden next year!

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Our Story

This sweet little 1927 farm house is perfect for a small family or as a romantic getaway for two. It's clean, cozy & updated throughout while still maintaining vintage charm. Enjoy the farm life while still living near the city. The best of two worlds!

The space

This 1927 fully furnished farm house with everything updated. Located 20 minutes to Seattle and Tacoma. Easy access to SeaTac Airport (~ 6 miles away), grocery stores and citified amenities. The farm house has a queen bed on the main floor and two twin beds upstairs in separate rooms. You can relax on the deck and watch the chickens peck about. Drink your coffee and enjoy the relaxation of a comfy farm house while you prepare a meal in the kitchen.

Des Moines Marina and The Beach Park are nearby if you want to visit Puget Sound and look out to the Olympic Mountains. This is a perfect little getaway for families. Enjoy the freedom and privacy of your own little farm house.