Discover Our Newest Peace Vans Campsite
Introducing Happy Little Farm in Beautiful Skagit Valley
One of the many perks of renting a camper van with Peace Vans is the unique opportunity to stay at one of our exclusive Peace Vans Campsites! Our newest Peace Vans Campsite, Happy Little Farm, is a wonderful way to experience a scenic and peaceful organic farm with wide-open spaces and big views—and everything worth exploring is just a short drive away!
Casey and Shelley Schoenberger have a way of making you feel right at home. They truly care that you have a fantastic time during your visit. From food recommendations to live music venues to beautiful hikes—they really know the area and are happy to fill you in on the best of Skagit Valley.
Learn more about their farm and why it’s the perfect getaway to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city.
What’s the history of Happy Little Farm?
Casey: Shelley grew up here with her parents and two siblings. We met as I was taking a deep dive into learning about sustainable farming and permaculture out on Orcas Island. After we got married on the farm in 2006, we returned to the property to live in a small apartment. I had about 20 fruit trees I had grafted out on Orcas with me and they needed a home, so we popped them in the ground while we were looking at buying a little piece of land elsewhere. We started getting comfortable here in Conway and our garden kept getting bigger. We started doing a small Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program with the vegetables and fruits we were growing, while Shelley and I each worked other jobs off the farm. The Happy Little Farm name came about then and was a joke based on the public television painter Bob Ross.
Our daughter, Rue, was born on the farm in 2008 and somewhere around that time, Shelley's parents decided to downsize and sell us a slice of the farm and the big farmhouse. We kept planting more fruit and nut trees and the garden got bigger. Eventually our other jobs and being parents led us to turn the CSA program into a work/trade CSA. People would help us with tasks in the garden and orchards in exchange for produce. That's how we still do it and it feels good. We preserve a lot of our food for use throughout the rest of the year—a lot of fermentation, canning, freezing, drying, wine and cidermaking, etc.
Over time our community has grown with a yurt, apartment and tiny house on the property. We're very lucky to share this space with a stream of kind, creative and hardworking people. A lot of builders, makers, musicians and healers—and excellent role models for our kids! We've hosted musical and circus events for the larger community and the occasional wedding when it feels like it fits into the flow of everything else going on.
You’re now the 5th generation working this land! Why were you interested in continuing this tradition?
Shelley: My Dad's side of the family came from Sweden to Conway (and across the river on Fir Island) where they farmed, built dikes and raised families. Farming was always a part of my life, more on the periphery—setting up the foundation and background of my childhood. Living here on our 20 acres, Casey and I have laid out our own path of what living on a farm means for us that looks different and probably similar to how my ancestors lived. It never felt like a choice to continue the tradition—rather the natural progression of our lives.
What kinds of crops are you growing?
Casey: We really try to grow every fruit, nut and vegetable that is happy to grow organically in Skagit County. What we grow the most of would be apples, hazelnuts, plums and all the brassicas that do so well here (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage). Something fun we have going on is an area of the farm that is dedicated to more unusual fruits from around the world with several different varieties of each. This includes honeyberries, goumis, seaberries, autumn olives, gooseberries, different currants, serviceberries, aronia, paw paws and more. Learning about these unusual fruits was an obsession of mine for a bit.
Another fun "crop" we grow is basketry willow. Shelley has been learning to weave baskets and there are a few living willow structures on the property. Meaning the willow that is woven into the structure is actually still alive. There's a spiral, a hut and a larger tunnel. Shelley puts a ton of work into them and I think they are really cool.
What do you love most about the farm? Any Favorite parts of the property?
Casey: I love the people I get to live with here the most—but that's cheating for these questions. ☺️ The view of Mount Baker never gets old. Our proximity to the Skagit River is an amazing gift, especially in the summer. I like that there's often someone outside doing some sort of interesting project. I think it's fun to graze the property for ripe fruit if a gaggle of children or birds has not already beat you to it.
Shelley: There is not one thing that I love the most about our farm. I love to watch the changes that occur from season to season and from year to year; to see the various birds that have been visiting us (it keeps increasing as the trees grow); the space for silence, reflection, roaming, playing, dancing and creating; the community of folks that share our property; eating the yummy treats from the land; witnessing my own children grow in the place where I did the same … and much more.
What makes Happy Little Farm such a unique place to camp?
Shelley: We are surrounded by rich Skagit Valley farmland, walking distance to the Skagit River and in between the Salish Sea and North Cascades. It’s not uncommon to meet new folks, join a community gathering, buy a coffee from our 11-year-old son Willoughby's cafe he runs out of our kitchen, and just have space to breathe only one hour outside of Seattle.
What can folks experience when they stay at the farm?
Shelley: When we are around, we love to share knowledge, food and answer any questions from visitors. In the growing months, there is always food to enjoy from the garden.
What are your insider tips on how to enjoy the area? Any secret little spots to discover?
Casey: If you've never done the Chuckanut Drive area between Bow/Edison and Fairhaven, I'd recommend a hike and a meal there for sure. Craft Island requires a quick study of the tide chart and mud is inevitable—but the payoff of getting there is worth it every time.
What are your favorite restaurants, sights, and places to hang out and explore nearby?
Casey: I'm on the Board of Directors at the Skagit Valley Food Co-op so I'm a bit biased, but I love our Co-op. It’s a great place to pick up picnic supplies for the rest of your trip—large deli, good coffee and ice cream. Rachawadee is an excellent and very busy Thai restaurant in Mount Vernon. If you're up for a little more of an adventure, there is a quick little walk-on ferry from Anacortes to the Guemes Island General Store. They have great live music 2-3 nights a week during the summer and really good food and drinks. It's a fun, unique experience.
Why is Skagit Valley an ideal year-round destination for camping?
Shelley: In autumn, you can explore and enjoy the many farms during Harvest season. In winter, the snow geese come to visit the farm fields and set a beautiful backdrop for photography, painting, drawing, writing … you name it. In spring, the daffodils and annual Tulip Festival draw visitors from all over the world. And in summer, when you are looking to beat the summer city heat, you can enjoy the lakes, rivers and sea to cool off.
Book Your Next Trip!
We offer more than just a camper van rental. With Peace Vans, you get a team that genuinely cares about your experience out on the road. We love recommending places to see, restaurants to check out, campsites along your route, and more! We take care of our guests like we would take care of a best friend going on a trip—making sure you hit all the spots we love and letting you know we are a quick phone call or text away if you need anything at all.