Outback Farm 50th Anniversary Celebration

Outback Farm 50th logo

Saturday, May 21
9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 22
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

See Celebration Schedule of Activities for More Details ➡️

LOCATION
WWU Campus
Outback Farm

PRICE
Registration is free but required


 

Brought to you by WWU's Outback Farm and Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies in partnership with the WWU Alumni Association

Come celebrate the Outback Farm's 50th Anniversary! Our five-acre organic farm provides the Western community with veggies fresh from the garden, fruit and nuts from the food forest, honey from our own bees - along with beautiful natural spaces and lots of outdoor learning experiences. Here, students engage with environmental conservation, permaculture, and food resilience in a unique outdoor setting.

And the Outback is home to the best-loved chickens in the world.

We'll be celebrating Saturday and Sunday, May 21 and 22. Join a bird walk, meet the bees, clear some weeds, go foraging, or learn about Indigenous food sovereignty, farm resilience, fermentation, and so much more. All activities are informative and fun for the whole family.

Registration is free, but required.

Celebration Schedule of Activities

In the section below, please click the blue "+" to the left of each date. This will expand the row to show you all the details.

Unless stated in the schedule below, food will not be available on site, but you're welcome to bring your own and picnic in a sunny spot. Please bring a reusable water bottle, water bottles are not sold on WWU's campus. The closest bathroom facilities are in the main Fairhaven Building on the ground floor level.

9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (may run a little longer)
Birding at the Outback and Sehome Hill with John Bower

Spend some time with Fairhaven’s own ornithologist viewing beautiful birds and learning about their complex lives.
→ Meet at the Outback main entrance for a walk through the farm, through the easy trail in the arboretum and back—about 1 mile of trails
Limit of 20 participants


10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Meet the Bees! Hands-on Beekeeping Experience
Come suit up and participate in a hive inspection at the Outback Apiary. We’ll look at laying patterns, early honey production, and talk about hive dynamics.
→ Meet in the Outdoor Classroom to walk over to apiary
→ Limit of 8 participants
→ SAFETY NOTE: Registrants must wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed toe shoes in order to participate! Beekeeping suits and/or jackets with gloves and veil will be provided. Participants assume all risks associated with this event and will be asked to sign a liability release upon arrival. If you are allergic to bees, please attend the Beekeeping talk with Marie’s Bees at 1:00 p.m. instead. 


10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Spring Work Party on the Farm!
Ever wanted to try growing your own food? Miss the old days in the Outback? Just want to come enjoy the sun and good company? Here’s a great chance to dig in and help us with routine farm tasks like weeding, watering, planting, and harvesting.
→ Meet at the Organic Farm toolshed, just beyond the Outdoor Classroom inside the deer fence


11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Harvesting Medicinal Herbs in Late Spring with Barbi Smith
Interested in foraging and plant medicine? Barbi from Raven’s Roots will walk you through harvesting and using common PNW medicinal herbs of late spring. Barbi Smith is an apprentice instructor with Ravens Roots Naturalist School, specializing in herbal medicine, wild harvesting, and permaculture systems.
→ Meet at the Outback Farm Outdoor Classroom
→ Limit of 18 participants

12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Food Security and Farm Resilience with Gigi Berardi
As we grow more aware of our fragile global food system, many are wondering: can we feed ourselves locally? Gigi will talk about farming and food security, the biggest threats to both, and lead a discussion about resilient food systems and what's possible in Western Washington. Gigi Berardi is a professor at WWU and teaches food and geography classes domestically and internationally. She maintains the popular food blog “FoodWISE” and has authored over 300 popular articles - including appearances in the LA Times, the Anchorage Daily News, and BioScience - about food, farming, the arts, and in reference to her popular book, Finding Balance.
→ Meet at the Outback Farm Outdoor Classroom
→ Limit of participants: 30

12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Dancing with Nature with Sionianne O’Neill
An introduction to sensing, listening and dancing with nature, and how we can share that experience through writing.
→ In front of the Outback Farm amphitheater, on path to Forest Garden on the east side of the farm
→ Limit of participants: 12


1:00 to 2:00 p.m.  
Beekeeping: A Cooperative Art 
Local honey company Marie's Bees will discuss bees and beekeeping. Come learn about the equipment involved, the different types of bees and their roles in the hive, harvesting honey and this tasty small business.
→ Meet at the Outback Farm Outdoor Classroom
→ Limit of participants: 30


2:00 to 3:00 p.m. 
Fantastic Ferments with Kamea Black
Learn how to reduce your food waste and fancify your next charcuterie board with home fermented vegetables! This workshop will explain the difference between pickling and fermenting and cover common safety questions. Learn more about Kamea on Instagram, via her newsletter, or her Thyme to Chat podcast.
→ Meet at the Outback Farm Outdoor Classroom
→ Limit of participants: 30


3:00 to 4:00 p.m. 
13 Moons and Food Sovereignty with Anna Cook
Learn about the Coast Salish calendar and the seasonally available plants during those moons, and how this calendar is being implemented today in the Swinomish community. Anna Cook is a Swinomish tribal member and works for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community Environmental Health Program as an associate and outdoor youth educator. She graduated from The Evergreen State College with a bachelor’s degree and focus in Native American Studies. She lives on the Swinomish Reservation and continues her work to promote food sovereignty and helps bring awareness to climate change and its impact on Indigenous peoples. In her work she helps maintain the 13 Moons community gardens; teach Swinomish youth lessons on traditional foods and harvesting methods; helps conduct workshops based off of the 13 Moons curriculum; and distributes fresh produce and plant medicines to her community.  
→ Meet at the Outback Farm Outdoor Classroom
→ Limit of participants: 40


4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Food Justice in Action with Jonathan Stubblefield
Would you like food support? If you’re having a hard time affording enough quality food, come learn about campus and community resources. Students are often eligible for SNAP benefits and an EBT card, but the process can feel confusing and overwhelming. Come get support, answers, and walk through the steps together. Hear from students who have successfully obtained benefits.
→ Meet in front of Fairhaven College, not in the Outback
→ Open to all


5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Celebration! - singer songwriter competition and info fair
Enjoy live music and raise the roof for your favorites in a singer-songwriter competition featuring musicians from our community.
→ Food will be available for purchase

9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (may run a little longer)
Birding at the Outback and Sehome Hill with John Bower

Spend some time with Fairhaven’s own ornithologist viewing beautiful birds and learning about their complex lives.
→ Meet at the Outback main entrance for a walk through the farm, through the easy trail in the arboretum and back—about 1 mile of trails
→ Limit of 20 participants

10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Blues and Brunch
Join talented blues musicians, featuring Fairhaven alumni, while snacking on brunch (bring your own or enjoy the food cart)! This alumni-focused event will also feature open-mic storytelling of tales from the Outback, photo opportunities, and farm merchandise.
→ Food will be available for purchase 

1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
All Genre Music Jam
Bring your instruments to play some tunes with friends old and new!

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Work Party
Ever wanted to try growing your own food? Miss the old days in the Outback? Just want to come enjoy the sun and good company? Here’s a great chance to dig in and help us with routine farm tasks like weeding, watering, planting, and harvesting.

Questions and Accommodations

Contact the WWU Alumni Association for this event. Feel free to call at (360) 650-3353 or email at alumni@wwu.edu if you have any questions or comments.

Advance notice for disability accommodations and special needs is greatly appreciated. Please indicate your special needs on the registration form.

The Outback is traversed by wood-chipped paths on uneven ground. The Outdoor Classroom is located close to a drop off/pick-up point that only requires traversing a couple hundred feet from the paved area; please contact us to make arrangements as needed.

Parking and COVID Information

Free weekend parking is available in the 12A lot just over the ridge from Fairhaven College and in the C lots further to the west. Click here for visitor parking locations and hourly rates if applicable.

No special COVID rules are in place for Western Washington University. Masks are encouraged for those who prefer to wear one.