Graysmarsh Farm is a locally-owned lovely 1,000-acre lavender and berry farm just northeast of Sequim, next to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Settled by 1897, the farm is still a working farm where you can pick berries (or buy pre-picked flats on a first-come-first-served basis), as well as preserves, honey, and a few assorted veggies. The strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, loganberries and blackberries are huge, plump, juicy and so sweet. It’s hands-down the best berry picking place around here. 

U-pick sign hung on a madrona tree (or madrone, or pacific madrone, or arbutus tree) at the entrance to Graysmarsh Farm.  The orange-y color and peeling bark make for fun photography. 

Berry picking at Graysmarsh Farm. 

Raspberries, blueberries, loganberries and even a few blackberries. I admit, I’m a bit lazy and prefer to get the pre-picked flats, especially when making jam.

Acres and acres of lavender.  Spanish Otto Quast, Provence, French Grosso, Royal Purple, Royal Velvet, White Spike, Hidcote – I had no idea there were so many different types of lavender! The sound of the bees humming and smell of the lavender was amazing.

Fresh cut lavender bundles hanging in the sun. No need to cut your own, unless you want to!

Some glossy, colossal onions were available too.

Yes, I think these do look like candy onions!

Curious about this house, I zoomed in with my camera. Eureka – this is the house in the old photo below.

Graysmarsh Farm (formerly Straits Dairy Farm), date unknown. Photo courtesy of the North Olympic Heritage — Bert Kellogg Photograph Collection.

None of the nice young men and women at the farm stand could tell me anything about the house, other than that it has been in the current owner’s family since the mid 1940s. It was surprisingly hard to dig up information on the house, other than it was built in 1908 by Alfred Horace Anderson (1856-1914).

The house in 2021, from the Clallam County Asesssor’s file.

Things to keep in mind:

• Availability of berries is seasonal. Check the website before you go!

Links of Interest:

• Graysmarsh Farm website
• The Deserted Mansion blog article, from the Betty MacDonald Network, that mentions Graysmarsh
• Alfred Horace Anderson, obituary and Agnes B. Healy Anderson obituary

Location:

Graysmarsh Farm, 6187 Woodcock Road, Sequim, WA 98382