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Chrysalis Farm at Tolstoy
Organic Micro-permaculture
 Chrysalis Farm was founded in 1991 by Chrys Ostrander who moved to
Tolstoy Farm in 1990 from Santa Cruz, CA
and operated until 2009. It began as a one-person, quarter acre, intensive cultivation, organic vegetable, herb and flower farm at the very bottom of Mill Canyon, on leased land adjacent to Tolstoy Farm. After five years of growing at that location and selling the produce along side other product from Tolstoy at a public market in Spokane
(and for one season at the Coeur D'Alene Farmers Market), Chrysalis Farm moved to higher ground on the part of Tolstoy known as "The North 80". The farm was moved to a sloping shelf midway up the canyon side allowing for as much as a month longer growing season (if we
were lucky) compared to the canyon bottom.
In 1997, about half an acre of sloping field was transformed into a terraced mini-farm and in 1998, about four acres, including the farmhouse, fruit trees and a 16' x 50' greenhouse, were finally fenced in (against the deer). Chrysalis Farm had 50 four-foot-wide beds
totaling one-third of an acre, however, due to a water shortage, most of
these beds were taken out of production in 2004 and have begun to be
transformed into a small pasture. Chrysalis Farm also had a handful of mature apricot, cherry,
plum and apple trees and we always had hoped to
establish a vineyard and shareholder cow/goat dairy. Alas.
Chrysalis Farm grew certified organic bedding plants, a limited
selection of various fruits and vegetables,
culinary & medicinal herbs, vegetable seeds, etc.
Chrysalis Farm products were marketed through the Tolstoy Farms Marketing
Collective at the Spokane Farmers' Market and to local stores and
restaurants and direct from the farm. Chrysalis Farm has
now ceased operations. Chrys is currently working for a Spokane, Wa-based
non-profit, People for Environmental Action and Community Health, to
establish a non-profit community farm the mission of which is to produce
high-quality organic produce and make it available at below market cost
to low-income Spokane residents in their neighborhoods.
See: www.peachlocal.com |
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