Hundreds of islanders celebrated 25 years of supporting local growers at the Vashon Island Growers Association’s harvest party and fundraiser at Flat Branch Farm on Saturday, Oct. 12.

Attendees enjoyed hay rides, yard games, apple pressing, visits from farm animals and dinner made from local ingredients. VIGA sold 340 tickets, the organization’s Development Director Terah Ratheheart said.

”This is an event that VIGA has wanted to do for a long time,” Ratheheart said: “Community building through food security.”

After seeing the event’s success and high attendance, Ratheheart said that “inaugural” is also the right term for the event, as it will become an annual tradition.

Also celebrated at the party: The retirement of Michelle Crawford, who ran the beloved Pacific Potager farm for nearly three decades.

Crawford started Pacific Potager in 1996 and has supplied the island with garden starts and homespun wisdom ever since. She has brought money to the island to support farmers, improved horticulture at Vashon schools and offered countless pieces of advice to growers across the island.

VIGA presented her with flowers and a collage made of photos and kind words and memories of Crawford.

Crawford “has been the ‘go to’ person for plant starts,” islander Catherine Johnson wrote. “Each spring people all over the island wait for Pacific Potager to open. As if the opening of Michelle’s farm stand was the true moment we could claim ‘Spring has arrived!’ … Michelle was beloved by many and now that she’s retiring she’s left many a grower wondering where they will get their starts this coming spring.”

“I just want to say thank you to every one of you who’s ever bought starts or food from me,” Crawford said. “It’s meant so much. I am really grateful.”

With help from The Ruby Brink, Fernhorn Bakery, Matt Dillon and Chris & Jen Roberts, VIGA raised $3,000 in raffle ticket sales and roughly $11,000 total from the event, with donations still floating in, Ratheheart said.

Look out for VIGA’s last community event of the year later this month, when the group will serve grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup from 4-8 p.m. on Halloween (Oct. 31) at The Village Green.

Those interested in supporting VIGA can do so by visiting vigavashon.org/donate1.

Amanda Bowser, of Emerald City Pet Rescue, helped bring a pig named Elvis Pigsley to the Harvest Party. (Alex Bruell photo)

A huge crowd turned out for VIGA’s annual harvest party. (Alex Bruell photo)

Michelle Crawford (left) is presented with a collage for her work by Karen Biondo, who co-leads VIGA’s Food Access Partnership and who runs La Biondo Farm and Kitchen. (Alex Bruell photo)