A Message from the Agrarian Trust—Tilth’s Next-Door Neighbors
by Rhys Hansen
Thank you for your warm welcome to Whidbey Island. The last couple of months have seen the Puget Sound Agrarian Commons gain momentum and lay down the foundation work for our local organization and systems. We wanted to take the time to introduce ourselves and share a bit about the next steps for the Gardener Farm, the land next door to the Tilth campus.
What is the Agrarian Trust? We are a national nonprofit that supports community-held land and agrarian property for sustain-able food production, ecological stewardship, community vitality and equitable land access for the next generation of farmers and ranchers. The Agrarian Trust launched Commons projects in 10 regions this year, including in Washington State with the Gardner Farm.
What is unique about this model? While the Agrarian Trust provides over-sight, legal support, and funding, each Commons is governed by a majority of local stakeholders, including community members and the leasehold farmers. A commitment to ecological stewardship, regenerative stewardship, equity and removing barriers to farming and ranching are the common values, but regional Commons have the independence to shape the project as best fits local needs and capacities.
The Puget Sound Agrarian Commons (PSAC) is starting with the Gardner Farm on Whidbey but will likely include other farms as the project grows capacity. You can find the list of current board members on our website.
What is happening with the land on Thompson Road? We are doing some preliminary land restoration work, as well as investing in some basic infra-structure to set up any future leaseholders for success, including a well. Plans include care for the native prairie remnant, invasive species removal, planting for soil maintenance and more.
When will you begin looking for farm stewards? As soon as is feasible. The Commons board has begun drafting the application materials and process to evaluate possible leaseholders. We expect to release our Request for Proposals by Spring. If you would like to be notified when the application opens, please contact us at the email below.
How can I get involved? Thank
you for your enthusiasm! We really value having Whidbey Island community members engaged in the process. None of this will be possible without your input and support. Reach out to us at the contact below to learn more about opportunities to support this project. You can also join our email list or follow the Agrarian Trust on Facebook and Instagram to learn more about the Agrarian Commons projects locally and around the country.
We welcome your ideas, knowledge of local needs, interest in being a lease-hold farmer, and look forward to when we can safely gather and celebrate the beginning of this project with you. Until then, be well.
–Your neighbors at Puget Sound Agrarian Commons
Contact: rhys@agrariantrust.org