Agricultural Community

​Farming is more than producing a product to sell - creating a compelling story for your farm, building a customer base, and networking with other farmers are all necessary steps to success as well. ​

There are many organizations and resources available to farmers and producers to learn how to market your business, including workshops put on by Goosefoot, Northwest Agriculture Business Center, and WSU Extension - Island County.

Growing your business brand through social marketing, networking groups, and local brands like Whidbey Island Grown can bring more customers to your products.

Sometimes the best advice and support comes from other farmers who are having similar experiences. Whatever your stresses or obstacles are on your farm, you're probably not alone. Reach out to your farm community to find peers or mentors that can help in the hard times and celebrate with you in the good times.

One way to tap into the farm community is by joining the  Whidbey Island Growers Association, a monthly meeting for farmers, farm supporters, and all those interested in agriculture. The Whidbey Island Growers Association meets the first Monday of each month for a potluck and ag-related presentation, offering the local ag community an opportunity to network, share resources, continue learning, and voice their needs to support organizations. The Whidbey Island Growers Association is put on by Whidbey Island Conservation District and WSU Extension - Island County.

Sign up below to receive email updates about Growers Association monthly meetings, and follow on Facebook for local events, resources, and agriculture related information.

Whidbey Island Growers Association Email Sign-Up

District staff also provide technical assistance to farm operators to enhance productivity and protect natural resources.

• Visit WICD's Farm & Ag Assistance for more information on the technical planning services our organization can provide you.
• Visit WICD's Beginning Farmer for more information specific to beginning farmers, or farmers looking to transition their businesses to the next generation.​

Click a Tab Below for More Resources:

whidbey island growers association

Participants of the Whidbey Island Growers Association gather at Case Farm for a summer dessert social in August 2019.

Monthly Farmer-to-Farmer Connections on Whidbey Island 
Are you a farmer interested in connecting with others on Whidbey? Join our potluck group of agricultural producers meeting monthly. ​All are welcome to attend at anytime! The Whidbey Island Growers Association is a monthly networking and learning opportunity for rural landowners, farmers, and agricultural support organizations on Whidbey Island. The group is open to any landowner who considers themselves a farmer and is interested in learning more about local and regional resources and connections for agriculture on Whidbey Island. Staff from the Whidbey Island Conservation District and WSU Extension Island County coordinate the communications and meetings, but topics and activities are guided by member feedback and request. 

​Want to join the Whidbey Island Growers Association email list or would like an updated potluck schedule?  Contact our office at (360) 678-4708 or use our online form here.

• ​To view resources from the most recent Whidbey Island Growers Association gathering, visit here (4 MB .pdf). 
• To view the April 2020 Whidbey Island Growers Association Zoom call, visit https://youtu.be/-EaZA1nURLU.
  
• To view an archive of resources shared via the Whidbey Island Growers Association since its inception in November 2015, visit here (72 MB .pdf).
• To learn more about how the Whidbey Island Growers Association and how it is different than the Whidbey Island Grown brand, visit here.​​

whidbey island grown

Whidbey Island Grown is an island-wide collaborative of people and businesses that work together to promote the finest locally grown and locally produced food, products, services, and experiences. 
WIG members are dedicated to providing these goods and services for Island visitors and residents, while preserving a sustainable rural lifestyle.

​For upcoming Whidbey Island Grown events, visit the Calendar.

Local Fresh Sheet Project with Northwest Agriculture Business Center - click here.

Are you interested in becoming a Whidbey Island Grown member?  To learn more about membership benefits, visit here. If you are interested in seeing current members, click here.

Whidbey Island Grown Brand History: 
The Whidbey Island Grown brand, first established in 2009, was relaunched most recently in 2017 with new enthusiasm and a more inclusive-focus in building membership by connecting local farmers, wineries, restaurants, caterers, event planners, and more, who all share common value in Whidbey Island as an authentic rural, farm, and culinary destination for those who live and come to visit this place. To learn more about the initial relaunch, read the Whidbey Island Farm Tour to Whidbey Island Grown transition letter.

Whidbey Island Conservation District's Involvement:  
​Staff from WICD have been involved in the Whidbey Island Grown relaunch effort through past participation in monthly Steering Committee meetings and resource support to the brand rebuild. The Steering Committee is comprised of over 17 member businesses representing restaurants, event planners, farmers, lodging associations, and support organizations. The Steering Committee meets monthly and is the driving group of the direction of the brand. John Burks of Kettle's Edge Farm is the current Chair of the Steering Committee.

local AG RESOURCES

Whether you're planning that next stage of your business, looking for opportunities to connect locally with other farmers, interested in financial incentives to increase conservation actions on your property, or something else - below is a selection of local, regional, state, and federal programs that may interest you if you're a farmer or someone who supports local farming on Whidbey Island.

• WSU Extension Island County  
• Goosefoot

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Washington State University Extension Island County's Food & Farm Systems/Master Gardener Coordinator, ​Loren Imes,  is a great resource to farmers on Whidbey Island. Visit the local website here for resources and support on a wide variety of topics.

Goosefoot's mission is to build a sense of place and community, preserve rural traditions, enhance local commerce, and help create a healthy, sustainable future. They offer workshops at minimal cost for farmers and others interested in pursuing a small business, as well as host events in the south Whidbey Island area. They also promote economic development through a variety of endeavors. To learn more visit the Goosefoot website.

• Whidbey Free Range News  
• South Whidbey Tilth

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Chris Williams keeps in touch with the beat of Whidbey Island's farms! This free email listserv is managed by Chris and is a great place to share educational opportunities, or if you're selling a product and want to reach a local audience for free. Check out the Free Range News blog or sign-up to receive regular email updates on everything from cooking classes, gardening tips, events, volunteer opportunities, and personal insights. She's done the investigative work for you, so don't miss this great resource! ​

​The South Whidbey Tilth chapter was founded in 1982 on the mostly rural south end of Whidbey Island. South Whidbey Tilth is a nonprofit corporation whose gardeners and farmers raise crops in the Maritime Northwest cool, wet weather conditions, which often require special measures for success. South Whidbey Tilth's activities include bimonthly member newsletters and business meetings; at least four public educational programs a year; a tour of member's gardens each July; educational booths at public activities like the Whidbey Island Area Fair; ongoing hands-on learning experiences at our developing sustainable agriculture center; and a series of Tilth sponsored gardening classes each winter. To learn more, visit the South Whidbey Tilth website.

• Slow Food Whidbey Island  
• Organic Farm School

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Slow Food is a global, grassroots organization with supporters in 150 countries around the world who are linking the pleasure of good food with a commitment to their community and the environment. Slow Food Whidbey Island is an educational not for profit organization run by an all-volunteer board of directors.  In 2010, Slow Food Whidbey Island was founded and officially got it's 501(c)(3) status in 2013.  We are supported by members and a network of volunteers who help with planning and executing our events. We are here to share the idea that food is good, clean and fair food for all.

The Organic Farm School (OFS), located on acreage in the Maxwelton Valley of South Whidbey Island, offers a full-time, 8-month, expe­ri­en­tial training pro­gram designed for aspir­ing farm­ers to learn and prac­tice the skills they need to run a small-scale organic farm. Through attend­ing weekly lec­tures, dis­cus­sions, and demon­stra­tions on top­ics includ­ing organic crop and livestock pro­duc­tion, soil sci­ence, busi­ness plan­ning, and direct mar­ket­ing, as well as coop­er­a­tively man­ag­ing the eight-acre student farm, par­tic­i­pants receive a thor­ough edu­ca­tion in organic small farm man­age­ment. Par­tic­i­pants also learn to conduct on-farm research through variety trials and group projects, while bi-weekly field trips to regional farms allow par­tic­i­pants to see a vari­ety of farm­ing styles and talk to expe­ri­enced pro­duc­ers. To learn more, visit the Organic Farm School website.

regional AG RESOURCES

• Northwest Ag Biz Center  
• Cultivating Success

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Northwest Agriculture Business Center is based out of Mt. Vernon, but whose services are available to all agricultural producers throughout the region, and provides Northwest Washington farmers with the skills and the resources required to profitably and efficiently supply their products to consumers, retailers, wholesalers, foodservice operators and food manufacturers. For more information, visit www.agbizcenter.org.

The Cultivating Success™ Program offers a series of courses that provide beginning and existing farmers with the planning and decision-making tools, production skills and support necessary to develop a sustainable small acreage farm. The Cultivating Success Program is a collaboration of Washington State University, the University of Idaho and the non-profit organization Rural Roots, and are taught mostly by County Extension educators. Contact Loren Imes at WSU Ext. Island County for questions or to learn more about the program: www.cultivatingsuccess.org & 
​http://smallfarms.wsu.edu​.

• Viva Farms  
• Growing Veterans

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The Viva Farms Incubator started in 2009. The Port of Skagit leases 33 acres to Viva Farms that are subleased to new farmers to launch and grow their businesses. Viva minimizes prohibitive start-up costs by providing access to shared resources: education, training, equipment, technical assistance, capital, land, and markets. Ongoing agricultural and entrepreneurial support from Viva Farms' staff, local agricultural support groups and peers increases the likelihood of early-stage success. Core areas of support include organic production practices, marketing, sales, distribution, record keeping and liability management. Farmers also complete courses in WSU’s Cultivating Success. Each 12 week course is offered annual Sustainable Small Farming and Ranching in the fall, and Agricultural Entrepreneurship and Farm Business Planning in the spring. The farm incubator is not an end point for farmers. It is a starting point to transition them to farm ownership and secure long-term tenure. Once farmers establish stable agricultural enterprises at the incubator, Viva Farms will help them relocate to new land and continue growing their operations. To learn more, visit the Viva Farms website.

Situated in the beautiful Pacific NW, between the Cascade Mountain Range and the Puget Sound, The Farm serves as the cornerstone for all things Growing Veterans. Using the farm as the platform, we engage local veterans and community members- bridging the gap and providing an example of the amazing things Growing Veterans can accomplish when we work together. For veterans, GV create opportunities for personal and professional development. GV often serves as a professional stepping stone, giving vets an opportunity to build their resume and their individual skill sets. Beyond that, GV is also a place for vets to come, help out, and hang out with other vets who share similar experiences. GV aims to provide as many opportunities for our vets to get involved as possible. Opportunities include employment, professional volunteerism, internships, fellowships, and AmeriCorps positions. Your activities with GV do not have to be limited to peer-support and the farm or market- GV has veterans helping out with organizational development, fundraising, business and community networking, and educational projects. For community members, GV provides a means for veterans and the community to work alongside each other. By sowing seeds in the fields together, GV also sows lasting friendships and helps bridge the gap between the military veteran and civilian populations. A day on the farm with GV's vets removes previously held stereotypes and shows our community that veterans are assets and allies in the sustainable agriculture movement. To learn more, visit the Growing Veteran's website.

• Washington Farmlink   
• Other Resources

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​Washington FarmLink - A program of Tilth Alliance
Washington FarmLink is the state’s leading program to link aspiring farmers and landowners and help build sustainable farming operations. FarmLink helps ensure that working farms remain in agricultural production and helps facilitate the transition of farms to the next generation by connecting people with the resources and technical expertise necessary to achieve these goals through:

• a farmer/landowner matching service;
• educational workshops;
• a comprehensive one-stop resource center;
• one-on-one assistance.

Visit http://www.farmlandinfo.org/washington-farmlink​ for more information.

Tilth Alliance - Tilth Alliance, based out of Seattle, has a mission to build an ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially equitable food system. As a non-profit organization, they do their work through trainings, hotlines, workshops, and more. Visit the Tilth Alliance website. 

WSU AgWeatherNet - AgWeatherNet provides access to current and historical weather data from the Washington State University's automated weather station network along with a range of models and decision aids. The weather data, advisories, customized weather alerts, and decision support systems provided by AgWeatherNet and WSU can help improve production and product quality, optimize resource use, and reduce environmental impact. Visit the AgWeatherNet website.

state & federal AG RESOURCES

• Natural Resource Conservation Service   
• Farm Service Agency

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United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service is a federal agency with field offices located throughout Washington state to assist in voluntary conservation on rural lands. NRCS offers voluntary programs to eligible landowners and agricultural producers to provide financial and technical assistance to help manage natural resources in a sustainable manner. Through these programs, the agency approves contracts to provide financial assistance to help plan and implement conservation practices that address natural resource concerns or opportunities to help save energy, improve soil, water, plant, air, animal and related resources on agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest land. Below are a sampling of the financial assistance programs available to rural landowners on Whidbey Island. Click on the link for each program to learn more, or subscribe to receive financial assistance updates directly to your email by visiting here.

Financial Assistance to Rural Landowners

• ​Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to plan and implement conservation practices that improve soil, water, plant, animal, air and related natural resources on agricultural land and non-industrial private forestland. EQIP may also help producers meet Federal, State, Tribal, and local environmental regulations.
• Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is a voluntary conservation program that encourages producers to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by (1) undertaking additional conservation activities; and (2) improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities. Under CSP, participants are paid for conservation performance: the higher the operational performance, the higher their payment. CSP is available on Tribal and private agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest land in all 50 States and the Caribbean and Pacific Islands Areas. 

Easement Opportunities for Partners in Rural Communities

• Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) provides financial and technical assistance to help conserve agricultural lands and wetlands and their related benefits. Under the Agricultural Land Easements component, NRCS helps American Indian tribes, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations protect working agricultural lands and limit non-agricultural uses of the land.

• Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP) is to assist landowners, on a voluntary basis, in restoring, enhancing and protecting forestland resources on private lands through easements, 30-year contracts and 10-year cost-share agreements.

Whidbey Island's closest USDA NRCS field office is in Mt. Vernon. 
Office Phone: (360) 428-7684
Office Address: 2021 E. College Way, Suite 214, Mt. Vernon, WA 98273

The Washington State Farm Service Agency serves the agricultural community through 25 county USDA service centers and one state office, located in Spokane. The Washington FSA State Committee and locally-elected county committees provide producer input to federal farm programs. FSA helps to ensure a stable food supply for the nation by supporting American farmers. This is accomplished through the implementation of farm programs authorized by Congress. The programs currently carried out in Washington State are categorized under: Conservation, Disaster Assistance, Price Support, Farm Loans, and Energy Programs. To learn more about the FSA's services, visit the Washington State Farm Service Agency website.

• Rural Development Office   
• ​Office of Farmland Preservation

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USDA's Rural Development Office is committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in rural America. The office offers loans, grants, and loan guarantees to help create jobs and support economic development and essential services, and supports loans to businesses through banks, credit unions, and community-managed lending pools. Additionally, technical assistance is offered through the office to help agricultural producers and cooperatives get started and improve operations effectiveness.

To learn more, visit the USDA Washington State Rural Development office website.

​The Office of Farmland Preservation (OFP), a program within the Washington State Conservation Commission, works to address the rapid loss of working farm and forest lands in our state. They do this through:

• Support and sponsor agricultural conservation easements.
• Assist localities as they develop and implement measures to retain agricultural lands.
• Provide resources to assist with the transition of farmland and related business from one generation to the next.
• Provide data and analysis on trends impacting farms in Washington.

To learn more, visit the Office of Farmland Preservation website.

• Washington Dept. of Agriculture   
• WorkSource Washington

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​The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has been serving the state's agriculture community and the public for more than 100 years. The mission is: Through service, regulation, and advocacy, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) supports the viability and vitality of agriculture while protecting consumers, public health, and the environment. The nature of WSDA's work falls into three categories:

• Service - Our expertise is recognized as a valuable resource. Services asked for and paid for by industry include quality inspections, certification, laboratory testing and produce grading.
• Regulatory - We offer guidance, workshops and technical assistance to support education for better compliance. Regulatory work includes registration, licensing, permits, inspection, investigation and compliance support.
• Advocacy - We work to raise the profile of Washington's agricultural products and industry. Through policy, planning, partnerships, outreach and promotion, we can be a voice, catalyst and facilitator for a viable industry.

Visit WSDA's website here for access to more information and resources.

​WorkSource is a statewide partnership of state, local and nonprofit agencies that provides an array of employment and training services to job seekers and employers in Washington. Customers access services electronically through WorkSourceWA.com or through a network of more than 60 WorkSource centers, affiliates and connection sites. Here in Washington state, WorkSource helps thousands of farmworkers find jobs and connect with important community resources. To learn more, visit the WorkSourceWA Farmerworkers Resources page.

• Puget Sound Energy   
• Other Resources

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Did you know that Puget Sound Energy (PSE) offers free energy upgrades for your farm and agricultural business? If you are looking to cut your energy bills, you should consider visiting PSE's website to learn about the services available at-no-cost to you at www.pse.com/sbdi. ​​

Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA AMS) - The Agricultural Marketing Service is an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture and has programs in five commodity areas: cotton and tobacco, dairy, fruit and vegetation, livestock and seed, and poultry. These programs provide testing, standardization, grading and market news services for those commodities, and oversee marketing agreements and orders, administer research and promotion programs, and purchase commodities for federal food programs. Visit the AMS website.

ATTRA National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service - ATTRA is a program developed and managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). NCAT is a private nonprofit organization, founded in 1976, which manages a series of projects that promote self-reliance and sustainable lifestyles through wise use of appropriate technology. Its programs deal with sustainable and renewable energy, energy conservation, resource-efficient housing, sustainable community development, and sustainable agriculture. ​Check our ATTRA's National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service website.  ​

Better Ground -Better Ground is about taking small stewardship actions at home and in our communities to conserve land, water, forests, wildlife, and related natural resources. "Better Ground" is an effort to increase conservation outcomes in the Puget Sound region and to enroll more citizens in conservation efforts. It's a collective initiative of your regional Puget Sound Conservation Districts, a group of 12 trusted agencies who help you find solutions for your backyard, farm, forest, or property within your community - and all for free! Visit the Better Ground website.

Farmers.gov - Farmers.gov provides farmers, ranchers, private foresters, and agricultural producers with online self-service applications, educational materials, engagement opportunities, and business tools to increase efficiency and productivity while preserving and fostering long-held traditional relationships between local USDA offices and producers. Visit the Farmers.gov website. 

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) -
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) is an alliance of grassroots organizations that advocates for federal policy reform to advance the sustainability of agriculture, food systems, natural resources, and rural communities. NSAC’s vision of agriculture is one where a safe, nutritious, ample, and affordable food supply is produced by a legion of family farmers who make a decent living pursuing their trade, while protecting the environment, and contributing to the strength and stability of their communities. There are some great resources for farmers on the NSAC Publications page.

Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) - Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education is a competitive research and outreach program that advances sustainable agriculture across the whole of American agriculture. SARE is administered through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and is run by four regional councils of producers, researchers, educators, and government representatives that set SARE policy and make grants. Successful SARE grantees are producers, researchers, nonprofit organizations, and educators engaged in projects that simultaneously address the three "P's" of sustainability:

• Profit over the long term;
• Protection of the land and water; and
• People (communities) who depend on agriculture. 

Web Soil Survey (WSS) - Web Soil Survey provides soil data and information produced by the National Cooperative Soil Survey. Operated by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), it provides access to the largest natural resource informatino system in the world. NRCS has soil maps and data available online for more than 95 percent of the nation's counties. The site is updated and maintained online as the single authoritative source of soil survey information. Visit the Web Soil Survey website. 

Island Farmers Markets

Farmers Markets are opening with new COVID19 safety precautions. Check in with the market managers for guidelines on how to prepare to sell at the markets this season.

• Clinton Farmers Market
• Bayview Farmers Market
• South Whidbey Tilth Farmer's Market
• Langley Farmers Market
• Coupeville Farmers Market
• Oak Harbor Farmers Market

July 2020

EVENT HELD ON ZOOM

Our July Growers Association meeting will be held over Zoom this month, so we can still connect and learn as a group!

Climate Resilience in Agriculture

Monday, July 6, 2020
​@ 7pm

Meeting details coming soon.

​Check back here, sign-up to receive direct emails, or follow our new Facebook page for upcoming Growers Association info.

Where can you market your Farm?

Whidbey Island Grown is a collaboration of local producers and businesses that promotes locally grown food, services, and experiences to residents and tourists on the island.

Get on the local farm directory put out annually by Goosefoot Community Fund. This brochure is dsitributed to businesses on the island to promote local farm stands, farm stores, and farmer's markets on Whidbey.

Puget Sound Fresh, a project within the Tilth Alliance, publishes an annual guide for farms in the counties around Puget Sound. Click here to access the 2020 Farm Guide. You can also download the free mobile app for the Farm Guide here.

The Puget Sound Food Hub is a farmer-owner cooperative operating in the Puget Sound region that aggregates, and distributes locally produced food from local farms to restaurants, hospitals, preschools, grocery stores, universities and more.