Member Spotlight

Danielle Gibbs

Danielle Gibbs is owner and operator of Gibbs’ Farm in Leavenworth, Washington, a diversified vegetable and fermentation operation that sells primarily to the local valley community. When not farming or teaching sustainable agriculture courses at Wenatchee Valley College, Danielle spends … Continue reading

Carey Hunter and Albert Roberts

Carey Hunter and Albert Roberts are founders and owners of Pine Stump Farms near Omak, Washington. They produce goat milk and cheese, chickens, rabbits, goat meat, beef, and hay on their farm, partnering with Slow Food Okanogan to operate a … Continue reading

John and Mike Brownfield

Brownfield Orchards was the first farm certified organic when the Washington State Department of Agriculture initiated the Organic Food Program in 1988. As one of its founding members, TPQ shares a recent visit with John and Mike Brownfield who talk … Continue reading

Chris Petry

Late in August, Tilth Producers was able to experience a day-in-the life of Chris Petry, farmer/owner of Oh Yeah! Farms in Leavenworth, WA. Following him from field to bakery to farmers market, it was a pleasure to see this young … Continue reading

Jim Meyer

Last fall, Tilth Producers caught up with Jim Meyer of Cascadian Home Farm in the Skagit Valley. Jim has been a proponent of organic production systems for decades. It was wonderful to talk with another long-time member of Tilth Producers during our 40th anniversary celebration year. Continue reading

Woody Deryckx

In the spirit of Tilth Producer’s 40th anniversary, it seemed appropriate to spotlight one of the original founders of the Tilth organization, Woody Deryckx, owner of Gratitude Gardens in Skagit County. Woody, a long-time farmer and advocate of the Tilth movement shares his perspectives on the roots of Tilth, the progress of the sustainable agriculture movement, and what lies ahead for our organization. Continue reading

Billy’s Gardens

Billy’s Gardens

Tilth Producers caught up with Billy Allstot, founder and owner of Billy’s Gardens in Tonasket, WA, while he was in Imperial Springs, CA. Billy and his partner Stephanie Blackstad were farming there for the winter both to keep their hands in the soil and to warm their bones. In the Okanogan valley, Billy’s Gardens have been a constant on the organic scene for over 40 years. They cultivate certified organic tree fruit and berries, winter squash, melons, flowers, and two acres of greenhouse crops. Continue reading

Northwest Agriculture Business Center

NABC

Lucy Norris is Director of Marketing for Northwest Agriculture Business Center (NABC). Funded in part by a USDA Value Added Producer Grant, NABC and partners have developed a food hub model for farmers to increase sales while sharing resources. Farmers set their prices, and buyers from businesses and institutions purchase from multiple farms online, receiving their orders at one location. Lucy’s work helps to build a strong, local food infrastructure. Continue reading

Little Eorthe Farm

Carrie and Ken Little, Little Eorthe Farm

By Jacqueline Cramer

I caught up with Carrie and Ken Little of Little Eorthe Farm in Orting, Pierce County, amidst August harvest. Little Eorthe Farm strives to improve habitat, community, and connections for all farmers. Carrie manages crop production on ten acres with two excellent interns she found through the Tilth Producers website; Ken works the infrastructure and is also the egg man. Continue reading

Farm At Waters Edge

Sara Roberts

Sarah Roberts works at Farm at Waters Edge, and is a recent graduate of Evergreen State College. The Farm at Water’s Edge (FAWE) is a demonstration farm run by the non-profit Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group. The Farm is a work in progress as staff and volunteers are dedicated to providing the community with a place to acquire fresh vegetables and learn about how agriculture and salmon ecosystems can co-exist. FAWE is currently working toward Organic Certification through WSDA. Continue reading

Healing Hooves

Healing Hooves

Tilth Producer’s own Jacqueline Cramer spoke with member Craig Madsen, owner of Healing Hooves LLC, about his goats, shepherding, and his overall business. Craig lives in Lincoln County, travelling around Washington with his herd, putting them to work for vegetation management and to reduce fire risk. Continue reading

Rosie’s ORGANICS

Jennifer Wengeler

Jennifer Wengeler lives and farms twenty-five acres north of Spokane, moving there three and a half years ago, after working, living, and growing food in Seattle for many years. Continue reading

Central Co-op

Central Coop

The Central Co-op in Seattle is a member-owned grocery store open to all shoppers and located where the densely-populated Capitol Hill neighborhood meets the Central District. Late one mid-January afternoon Amina Parker, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, and Shelby Jors, Produce Manager, sat down with Tilth Producers in the Central Co-op’s offices atop the busy grocery. Beforehand Shelby gave a tour of the produce department, work areas, and modest cooler. Continue reading

Burnt Ridge Nursery and Orchards

Burnt Ridge Nursery and Orchard

Michael Dolan and I talked a day after a November storm raged through Lewis County, creating power outages and flooding. Michael was upbeat nonetheless, still eager to talk about trees, the harvest, the ridge, past storms.

By Jacqueline Cramer Continue reading

Dharma Ridge Farm

Dharma Ridge Farm

Dharma Ridge Farm is a certified organic vegetable farm about 20 miles outside of Port Townsend. Farmers Haley Olson Wailand and Zach Wailand started farming in high school and recently consolidated their operation from multiple leased parcels to a single 100-acre parcel of leased land in the fertile Leland Valley. Continue reading

Arabesque Farm & Bakery

Arabesque Farm & Bakery

Tom and Louise Tuffin are long haul advocates for a healthy local food/agriculture system in the Spokane area. They run Arabesque Farms and Bakery in Spokane, WA. Along with sons Nick & Jake, and Jake’s partner Robin, They sell fresh primarily through farmer’s markets. The Tuffins are developing a new location for the bakery. Continue reading

Maple Rock Farm

Maple Rock Farm is beginning its 12th season on Orcas Island. Farm owner John Steward invited me to the farm-house for breakfast and heart-filled confabulations about his drive to meet the year-round demand for local food in his community, challenges to farming on an island, and the future farmers. Continue reading

Kershaw Fruit

Kershaw Fruit

Dave Gleason is Chief Horticulturalist for Kershaw Fruit in the Yakima Valley. Since 2003, Dave has been managing about 1,000 acres of orchards around Eastern Washington. Continue reading

Bone Dry Ridge

Bone Dry Ridge

Selma Bjarnadottir was born and raised in Iceland. She grew up in the city, though her grandparents and uncles are sheep farmers. At twelve years old, Selma went to work on a sheep and horse farm that became her second home. Selma went to college in Eugene, Oregon, and fell in love with the West Coast of the United States. Eight years after college she bought the 40-acre Bone Dry Ridge farm with her husband Markthor, where they now raise Icelandic Sheep, Scottish Highland cows, pigs, and chickens. Continue reading

Grateful Food Farms

Tilth Producers of Washington May 2012 Member of the Month

Valerie Rose spent her childhood on a 150-acre commodity crop farm in Northeast Illinois. She left for college, and followed up with 12 years in public broadcasting and 12 years in research and health at the University of Washington. Just before Seattle Tilth’s Rainier Beach Urban Farm came to her South Seattle neighborhood in 2010, Valerie moved to Mount Vernon. There she became a Master Gardener and wrote a gardening column for the Skagit Valley Herald. Valerie recently started an exciting new endeavor—leasing one acre of land at Viva Farms, an incubator farm in Whatcom County. On her own Grateful Food Farms, Valerie currently grows snow peas, collard starts and garlic, with high hopes for a hot summer yield of melons, sweet corn and pole beans. Continue reading