Fresh Connections – The Parfitt Way Blog

Charles Schafer instructs us on the fun of Bee Keeping

We know Charles Schafer better as the pub’s illustrious garden maintenance man extraordinaire. However, we recently visited him at home where he was gracious enough to show us one of his bee hives. My Dad, youngest son and I spent a really enjoyable hour or so checking out one of Charles’ honey bee hive. Suiting up in beekeeper’s whites, we got to see first hand how the hive was constructed and what the bees were doing inside. An amazing site.

If you would like more information about bee keeping you can visit the State’s Beekeeper’s Association website to be a wealth of information http://www.wasba.org/

It was almost a century ago when steam whistles blew as mosquito fleet boats pulled away from the old Winslow Wharf loaded with fresh strawberries for Seattle. In trade, they brought supplies and labor for the island’s lumber mills, shipyards and farms.

The docks at Eagle Harbor once again play host to water-bound commerce. Farmboat, a newly launched sea-faring farm goods merchant, is working to re-establish traditional maritime trade routes on Puget Sound. Utilizing historic vessels as floating markets, the organization aims to provide specialty foods and crafts to port communities around Puget Sound along with fascinating lore of days gone by.

Before roads and automobiles, hundreds of steamboats crisscrossed Puget Sound–forming a vital transportation network. Every community had a municipal dock where people would congregate to receive mail, stock up on supplies or ship out to other ports of call. The docks were often a buzz of excitement for local residents.

Farmboat is bringing back the century old tradition with a modern twist. Customers can see what’s available online and place orders before the boat comes into the Harbour Marina in front of the pub.

Farmboat is also there to facilitate trade for Bainbridge food growers wanting to send their products to other ports. For more information, please visit: http://www.farmboat.org/

Read more: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/apr/09/new-blood-brings-bainbridge-grange-back-to-life/#ixzz0kiKX8MIM

Bainbridge Island Grange Vice President Jay Wiggs leaves the historic 1930s-era Grange building on Bainbridge Island. Residents are trying to revive the Grange, and they’ve managed to double the membership in the last three months.