There is more to this farm than I can possibly review here, but I will try. I am writing now not only as a customer, but also as someone that has known George and Kristin since before the farm existed. I have watched their struggles trying to create a dream of cuisine, culture and sustainability and now it has become a standard by which I measure most of my food consumption.
As a business, running a farm is difficult, especially an alternative model such as this. As such, there have been a number of glitches that sometimes make the customer experience variable, but that is also what makes it special. It is real and that frustrates some people. The products, service, availability and experience all change daily because the world changes daily. Sea Breeze has always first and foremost served one goal above all else - to create / raise / grow the most most natural, excellent and nutritious food possible using time honored traditions & methods. That being said, it is very labor intensive. A bad storm may ruin this week's market goods or a simple infection can wipe out your winter's supply of chicken. The farm must continue, the people that work it have to live and eat and heat their house, the prices sometimes go up. You pay a premium, but you get a premium. The philosophy here is pay more, but also get more. More nutrition. More flavor. More community. More tradition. More culture. And for those that complain there needs to be more customer service, did you realize there was not a SINGLE booth at the farmer's market that accepted credit cards until George found a way to make it happen!? How about wine? Meats? Raw Milk? So much more... this farm has innovated not just with regards to food but also in how to bring that food to a market like Seattle and make it accessible and conevnient. But convenience will always take a backseat to the product and to the relationships of the people surrounding it, and that is how it should be.
The products don't always look like what you are used to seeing in a store and the flavors are also often different, but that is because we have forgotten what food actually looks and tastes like. We have been duped into believing that the shrink-wrapped chicken in a store is what chicken looks like. Sea Breeze has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to reviving traditions of raising animals, making cheese, butter, wine, sausage, cured meats, etc... George is driven and he works more hours in a day than most of you. The market stands are often overwhelmed with people. They are tired, but they love what they do, but they can't always cater to you as if you are royalty. You are not. You are just human, as are they. So, be patient and be generous with your time and your spirit. This is not just about buying food, it is about buying into a different way of living within a community.
For the foodies out there, you will have a hard time finding products superior to George's. From the intensive pasture model he uses to raise his animals to the creative curing and cuts of his meat, you will find that the quality here is top notch. His eggs are outrageously priced, but they are outrageously good too. Try it, buy a cheap dozen from Safeway, then buy a good "organic" egg at Whole Foods and then buy some of these eggs. Hard boil each and compare. The same goes for most everything here.
If you truly want to treat yourself, be sure to head out to Vashon Island, stop by the farm and then have a meal at their restaurant, La Boucherie. You can also buy their farm products here, including raw milks & cheese. The dining, the life and the community, it is an entire package and I hoep it continues as a model to others about the type of food industry we should have and should support! read more