"The land … will be farmed in perpetuity, by us in this case, as long as we can, and for sure by someone else after that. The community can rest assured that this piece of property . . . will be producing food for the community, forever."
- Colin Barricklow,
Kirsop Farm
Scatter Creek Farm & Conservancy
Established: October 2013
Location: South Thurston County
Farmer Partners:
South of the Sound Community Farm Land Trust owns the farmland at Scatter Creek Farm & Conservancy in south Thurston County, WA. We offer qualified farmers long-term, inheritable leases that free them from a lifetime of debt. Colin Barricklow and Genine Bradwin, owners and operators of Kirsop Farm, lease 60 acres of our land on which they produce vegetables, grains and poultry for farmers markets and CSA customers in Olympia and Seattle. They have the pride of ownership of the historic house and barn and several other farm buildings. The land trust takes the fluctuating price of the land itself out of the equation, keeping access to the land affordable for Kirsop Farm and future farmers on this rich farmland.
The non-profit Enterprise for Equity leases 30 acres for a farm incubator program. In 2016,4 beginning farmers are using a portion of the land as part of the new farmer education and training program for low income households
In the several years since creating the farm, the land also supports other small farm enterprises. Joseph Gabiou, whose Wobbly Cart Farm is located just a few miles away, owns "Building 8" as a curing shed for their onions, shallots and garlic. Later in the fall, they use that same space for storage of winter squash and pumpkins. The dry space means Wobbly Cart Farm can provide proper storage for crops sold at the Olympia and Chehalis Farmers Markets, the Olympia and Portland area food co-ops, and to restaurants in the Portland area. And they lease part of the facility for other local farm related businesses to use for dry storage.
Watch the video for a story about Colin Barricklow and Genine Bradwin or Kirsop Farm
Colin Barricklow and Genine Bradwin at their Scatter Creek Farm & Conservancy fields.
Property Description:
Nearly 100 acres of prime farmland with water rights owned by SSCFLT, dedicated to sustainable local food production, plus an additional 48 acres bordering on the Chehalis River owned by Creekside Conservancy, dedicated to conservation for wildlife and the protection of salmon habitat and water quality in perpetuity.
Nearly 100 acres of prime farmland with water rights owned by SSCFLT, dedicated to sustainable local food production, plus an additional 48 acres bordering on the Chehalis River owned by Creekside Conservancy, dedicated to conservation for wildlife and the protection of salmon habitat and water quality in perpetuity.
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Major Funding Sources & Partners: Thurston County Conservation Futures program, Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board, Creekside Conservancy, and Kirsop Farms. |
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Additional Support:
The Community Foundation of South Puget Sound, Squaxin Island Tribe, Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Nisqually Indian Tribe, Tides Foundation, Olympia Food Co-op, and the membership of South of the Sound Community Farm Land Trust all contributed toward making this community farm a reality. In addition, SSCFLT received crucially important discounted or pro bono professional assistance from Equity Trust, Trout Unlimited, Capitol Land Trust, PCC Farmland Trust, Pacific Groundwater Group, ADESA Consulting, Foster Pepper PLLC, and Jessica Jensen Law. This community farm is the result of a community effort. Thanks! |