Congratulations to Mitch and Michelle of Summit Farms for their Snail of Approval award! They are great examples of farmers who intentionally steward the land, even if part of it isn’t being used for crop production. When they purchased their 28-acre farm in 2021 they immediately started working with local, state, and federal partners, since much of the property is designated as wetlands and riparian areas. This provided the opportunity to grow habitat for local wildlife while also growing food for the local community. They have a project with the USDA to promote bat and bee populations, a conservation plan [...]

Last week I had the 🍀 opportunity to deliver two very different presentations to very different audiences, and both were profound in unique ways. The first was to about 300 middle-schoolers, parents and coaches at the Climb The Mountain (😀) debate championship at Seattle University. Yes, the subject was about climbing mountains, but it was more tilted to these very high-achieving young people who have the rest of their lives ahead (and their parents looking after them). I loved the energy and the atmosphere in the auditorium was electric (as right after me they announced the winners! 🏆😊). Three days [...]

THE NIGHT BEFORE THE HOLIDAY MARKET* 2025, 16th Edition * Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from Summit Farms – Mitch & Michelle, and Sadie T’was the night before the Market Holiday, The SUV laden with produce and hay, When all through the land, All the Blue Jays were stirring, English Walnuts in hand. Wishes and dreams were hung by the burn-pile with care, Believing that St. Oly soon would be there. The old folks were nestled all snug in their roles, While visions of veggies danced in their souls. Michelle in her robe, and me in my PJs, [...]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Local Farmer and Author Mitch Lewis to Host Live Reading and Book Launch of "The Vivid Voyage Home" at the Olympia Farmers Market Mischievous Goat Returns for Underwater Adventure in "The Vivid Voyage Home," Concluding Mitch Lewis's Beloved Billy The Baaad Goat Children's Trilogy OLYMPIA, WA – July 23, 2025 – Get ready for a splash! Local farmer, author, and adventurer, Mitch Lewis, proudly announces the release of "Billy the Baaad Goat: The Vivid Voyage Home," the highly anticipated third book in his charming and educational "Billy the Baaad Goat" trilogy. This latest installment plunges [...]

Hey friends—Mitch here! I’m excited to invite you and your little adventurers to a live storytime of my new book, The Vivid Voyage Home. We’ll gather in the peaceful garden area of the Olympia Farmers Market on Friday, July 25th at 10:30 an hour of rhyme‑filled fun. Together, we’ll follow Billy the Baaad Goat and his crew on their vivid underwater journey—full of friendship, courage, and plenty of surprises. I’ll read each page aloud, share a few behind‑the‑scenes tales of how this book came to life, and answer any curious questions along the way. Bonus: Copies of  all three [...]

Hey friends, Mitch here. I want to personally invite you to something special we’re hosting out at the farm on Thursday, May 2nd from 6 to 9 PM — a community movie night and Q&A right here at Summit Farms, in partnership with our friends at Thurston Conservation District. We’ll be screening the powerful documentary Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire, a film that explores how we can better live with fire as part of our landscape — something that's becoming more important every year here in the Pacific Northwest. After the screening, we’ll have a live Q&A session with local experts [...]

Funny how our lives come full-circle … 50 years ago I would have been attending one of these … and now we’re supporting for agricultural high school students looking for volunteer or apprentice work. (Examples of our “competition” haha were the Marines, Coast Guard, WSU, Banks, Hospitals …) We were so impressed with the WA State High School & Beyond Program for all students; including a “Learning Style Assessment” that most of us have had in our later corporate careers.

Hey friends — Mitch here. I’m excited (and honestly, a little emotional) to share that my latest children’s book, Billy the Baaad Goat: The Vivid Voyage Home, is officially out in the wild! This one’s been a joy to create. It’s colorful, it’s a little wild, and it’s packed with heart. In true Billy fashion, it’s got plenty of adventure and a few unexpected life lessons wrapped into the ride. This time around, Billy and the gang are exploring the deep sea aboard the Green Submarine—until things start to go a little sideways. The sub begins to sink, and [...]

At Summit Farms, we believe in connecting students to the source of their food and fostering a deep appreciation for the environment. We’re committed to partnering with local schools and educators to provide engaging, firsthand learning experiences that bring the “seed to stomach” journey to life. Our Educational Initiatives: Environmental Stewardship & Conservation: We’ve established strong partnerships with agencies like the Thurston Conservation District, Partners for Fish and Wildlife, and the USDA’s NRCS to implement sustainable practices and enhance local ecosystems. Students on farm tours witness firsthand our conservation efforts, including wetland development for the Oregon Spotted Frog and [...]

This weekend I had the honor of speaking at Muhammad Ayub’s beautiful, environmental and regenerative farm on the Everest to “Homesteading” (farming/sustainability) journey of learning from others. I’ve been so fortunate to present in many diverse locations - but never in a greenhouse and totally analog… no screen, mike, videos, pics or PowerPoint (!!) But I got to read to the kiddos there a portion from The Mother Mountain and that was cool! We had a super interactive discussion and got to meet some new friends and the full farm tour. Then … Farmer Ayub and his loving [...]