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Open Farm Day at Wakamatsu Farm

November 16 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Open Farm Day at Wakamatsu Farm | November 16, 2024

Celebrate the rich agricultural heritage of our region at the Open Farm Day event on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at historic Wakamatsu Farm. This free, family-friendly event will run from 10 AM to 2 PM, offering an opportunity to explore the farm’s unique history and the ongoing conservation efforts supported by ARC.

Wakamatsu Farm is not just a beautiful landscape; it is a site of profound historical and cultural significance. The site is the ancestral homeland of the Nisenan and Miwok people, the region’s indigenous inhabitants for thousands of years. In 1869, Wakamatsu Farm became the first Japanese settlement in the United States. Following the Gold Rush, many Japanese immigrants settled in California, seeking new opportunities and contributing significantly to the state’s agricultural development. The Farm was then stewarded for 140 years by the pioneering Veerkamp family until ARC purchased the 272-acre property from them to preserve the site’s natural and cultural resources

Open Farm Day Highlights Include:

  • Tour the Historic Farmhouse – ARC volunteer docents will be on hand to tell you about the history of the 1850’s farmhouse and the people who have made it their home.
  • Wander the Native Plant Garden – Explore the beauty of our native plant garden and chat with some of the volunteers that tend and steward it all year long. And don’t miss the recently added Monarch Way Station!
  • Visit Okei-San’s Grave – Okei was just a teenager when she left Japan for America. Unfortunately due to an illness, she passed away in 1871, and her body was laid to rest on her favorite hill near the huge blue oak.
  • Hike the Lake Trail – Enjoy the 1.2 mile trail that circles our farm pond. Wander the trail and look for signs of the wildlife that calls Wakamatsu home. Don’t forget your binoculars!
  • Shop For Farm Fresh Produce – Just across the road, visit Fog Dog Farm’s farmstand. They offer fresh organic produce for purchase with cash or Venmo.

Wakamatsu Farm is located at 941 Cold Springs Rd in Placerville. The suggested parking donation of $10 contributes to the ongoing maintenance of the farm.

Guests are encouraged to bring picnics and enjoy the scenic surroundings.

Learn more>>

Details

Date:
November 16
Time:
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Event Category: