The Great Island Grown Festival, Oct. 1-31, offers a glimpse inside the unique world of food and farming in the San Juan Islands. Farmers, restaurants, members of the community and visitors can attend classes and workshops and celebrate pastoral landscapes, food and the island way of life. There will be everything from farm tours to talks on the wizardry of permaculture to scarecrow making; to old island historic barn tours and farm-to-table feasts; sheep dog demonstrations and how to farm with horses, vineyard harvests, a barn dance, pig-roast and more.

“It’s bound to be a deliciously good time on Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Islands,” say organizers.

Highlights include:

Sat., Oct. 6 – The Fall Farm Parade in Friday Harbor features tractors, old farm trucks, and horses.

Sunday, Oct. 7 – Harvest Meal on the Village Green is the day after the last outdoor Orcas Island Farmers’ Market. A host of well-known Orcas Island chefs, led by premier chef and author Christina Orchid, will be serving a meal of the island’s finest dishes made with local ingredients.

Saturday, Oct. 13 – Shellfish Farm Tour and lunch. Visit the Sweetwater Shellfish Farm on Lopez to see how oysters, mussels, and clams are raised.

Throughout October –  Westcott Bay Ciderworks and San Juan Distillery will host tours and tastings of cider and distilled spirits as well as an apple picking party, which will be held on select weekends.

“We’re using locally foraged ingredients to make a high-quality natural product for islanders, and if that makes us a tourist attraction too, that’s awesome,” said Suzy Pingree, partner in San Juan Island Distillery.

Chef Christina Orchid, of Red Rabbit Farm, will be offering a series of four cooking classes.

For the full calendar of events, visit www.islandgrown.net/islandgrownprogram.