The Sweet Retreat

At Greenbank Farm's Whidbey Pies Cafe, a lattice of pastry strips ads the final touch to a cherry pie, before it's moved to the freezer until pie baking day. © 2008 Russell Sparkman

Just call it the sweet life. Whether it's a sentimental scent or a tantalizing taste, there are plenty of ways to expand your senses on the islands.

Jan Gunn started making pies in the mid-80s when she co-owned Whidbey Fish & Pies in Greenbank. Although the restaurant has since closed, Jan has been producing pies ever since.

These days, headquarters for Whidbey Pies and Whidbey Pies Café is the Greenbank Farm. Once the largest loganberry farm in the world, the sweet 'n tart berries are still on site, although in much smaller quantities.

Jan Gunn, founder and owner of Whidbey Pies, with one of her award-winning Loganberry pies. © 2008 Russell Sparkman

Jan's commercial kitchen and café are both located here. And Jan's artisan pies, thanks to four full-time bakers, include a number of seasonal offerings: Cherry, Granny Smith Apple, Wild Huckleberry, Marionberry (the most popular), Strawberry-Rhubarb and Apple Cranberry Crunch.

Known locally as "The Pie Lady," Jan also sells her pies to Metropolitan Market, making all the fruit pies for the small Seattle-based gourmet grocery chain. That's 25,000 pies a year

Further up the island in Coupeville, it's sights, scents and tastes at the Lavender Wind Farm. Owner Sarah Richards bought her nearly nine-acre spread in 1998, and transformed the former hayfield into a riot of purple.

Wearing the color purple ("It's my uniform!"), Sarah says the dirt is similar to where she grew up on Martha's Vineyard. "It's sandy loam," said Sarah, who worked for years in the mental health field before switching to a farming career.

Abby Anderson harvests lavendar. The cut sprigs will be bundled, dried and offered for sale through the gift shop.

The setting of Lavender Wind Farm is one of the most spectacular on Whidbey, overlooking Admiralty Inlet with a sweeping view to the Olympic Mountains in the west. Walk the lavender labyrinth or enjoy the gazebo overlooking the pond. In the gift shop, you'll find everything from foodie items (jam, honey, mustard, baking mixes, ice cream) to numerous items for well being (lotion, bath salts, spritzer and even kitty sprinkle!).

All the items use lavender grown on the farm. You may think you're in Provence!

Sarah is most proud of her "new, old" copper lavender still that produces essential oils and "linen" water. And every August, the farm plays host to the Lavender & Wind Art Festival.

Some of the handmade chocolate truffles available at Island Angel Chocolate shop in Langley. © 2008 Russell Sparkman

Mona Newbauer's passion for chocolate is contagious. It's not just another food item for her, it's a way of life. Her foray into the world of chocolate started when she was asked to make some truffles for a local bakery. "I didn't even know how to spell them!" says Sarah about the popular delicacy.

Mona Newbauer is the owner of Island Angel Chocolates, in Langley. © 2008 Russell Sparkman

Three years later, as the owner of Island Angel Chocolates and 1 Angel Place Chocolate Bar in Langley, she says she's had her nose in a bowl of chocolate ever since. And she's lovin' every spoonful.

She's also come a long way since that first attempt at truffle making when it took her three days to make 149 truffles. "I'll have charge 20 bucks each!" recalled Mona of her truffle-making debut.

Her enthusiasm spills over into her reasons for being a chocolate maker. "Chocolates bring memories," said Mona. "They're good for the spirit and soul."

Her shop now has more than 50 products, from dozens of types of truffles to the popular Truffle Shot. It's a customized hot chocolate drink made with fruit purees and extracts and topped off with whipped cream or homemade marshmallows.

"We have a good time," says Mona. "We've learned how to live the sweet life."

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Whidbey and Camano Islands are only 25 miles north of Seattle, and 2 hours south of Vancouver. See Directions and Maps to learn more about how to get here.