Help save the Sanford's family farm
Donation protected
We are a family of five living on a piece of perserved historic farmland in the Orting Valley that is currently being rehabilitated to organic standards. Our land was purchased by PCC Farmland Trust ( pccfarmlandtrust.org ) an organization that conserves farmland and deems it organic for the rest of that properties lifetime.
Over 60% of the Orting valley farmland has been sold and developed. PCC partners with county and private donors to purchase the development rights of farmland and then sells it to farmers at fair market value. Being organic farmers this is an amazing opportunity for us to take this 120 acre farm and continue its rehab into fertile organic land as it was farmed conventionally for over 50 years.
Our property consists of 6 acres of blueberries that we have opened to the public for u pick, they were planted
pre World War II and are still producing at a massive rate. There is also 40 acres of creek and riparian land that is being rehabilitated and monitored by our local conservation and ecology district and local high school science clubs. We have volunteers who partner with the conservation district ( piercecountycd.org ) and PCC who come to do hedgerow plantings. The head waters of Ball Creek begin on our property and we are in the process of getting ready to be certified Salmon Safe. At the end of the calendar year we are able to certify the entire farm as organic.
For the past two seasons we have been pouring our time and labor into this land and to see it taken away from us so fast is heartbreaking. The countless hours that we have focused on the land have been fueled with the passion to create the peoples farm. We are one of the few farms that want the public to be here and take part in the movement of local agriculture. Our blueberry u-pick has shown the demand for a farm where one can expierence agriculture from a hands on perspective. The vision of the farm is to create an agriculture hub for the surrounding communities to come and take part in one of the many activities from u-picks to teachings and plantings to shopping. The vision is real, the need is real, without the support from our community another farm will be lost to the oversized corporate minded sorts that dont have the community in mind.
This season has been extremely tough for farmers in the region due to the drought. It was not a shortage of water but rather trying to keep the moisture in the soil. We expierenced extreme losses due to the lacking fertility and constant watering of lands that are a sandy loam with no organic content. Needless to say we were not able to save what we had planted and that kept us from being able to plant anything for our fall harvest.
Our blueberries suffered as well from the drought. The season started a week earlier and was over 2-3 weeks earlier than normal. This has greatly impacted the farms finances in a negative way. We are dedicated to keep farming, we just need your help.
In order for us to keep farming we owe a portion of the lease by the end of the month. Farmland with no farmer is just land. With your support we will be able to move forward and make this dream come true for all.
Why is farming in Orting so important to us? Angela makes the 4the generation in her family to farm in Orting, her maternal great grandparents moved here from Nebraska and settled in Orting where they began farming. Angela's paternal great grandparents were loggers in the local area. Her grandparents met and married here in Orting. Jeremy's family has always been in agriculture with farming and rodeo. In todays times people are recognizing the serious impact conventional food full of chemicals is making on our bodies. As parents the best future for our family is to be part of the change, part of the solution and above all teachers for the younger generations to come.
We would like to thank everyone for supporting agriculture, for supporting a farmer. Let our dream be yours and donate today. Every little bit matters when mother nature is the biggest denominator. Again thank you for taking the time to read about us and look forward to providing you with good, local, sustainable food from just down the valley!
Over 60% of the Orting valley farmland has been sold and developed. PCC partners with county and private donors to purchase the development rights of farmland and then sells it to farmers at fair market value. Being organic farmers this is an amazing opportunity for us to take this 120 acre farm and continue its rehab into fertile organic land as it was farmed conventionally for over 50 years.
Our property consists of 6 acres of blueberries that we have opened to the public for u pick, they were planted
pre World War II and are still producing at a massive rate. There is also 40 acres of creek and riparian land that is being rehabilitated and monitored by our local conservation and ecology district and local high school science clubs. We have volunteers who partner with the conservation district ( piercecountycd.org ) and PCC who come to do hedgerow plantings. The head waters of Ball Creek begin on our property and we are in the process of getting ready to be certified Salmon Safe. At the end of the calendar year we are able to certify the entire farm as organic.
For the past two seasons we have been pouring our time and labor into this land and to see it taken away from us so fast is heartbreaking. The countless hours that we have focused on the land have been fueled with the passion to create the peoples farm. We are one of the few farms that want the public to be here and take part in the movement of local agriculture. Our blueberry u-pick has shown the demand for a farm where one can expierence agriculture from a hands on perspective. The vision of the farm is to create an agriculture hub for the surrounding communities to come and take part in one of the many activities from u-picks to teachings and plantings to shopping. The vision is real, the need is real, without the support from our community another farm will be lost to the oversized corporate minded sorts that dont have the community in mind.
This season has been extremely tough for farmers in the region due to the drought. It was not a shortage of water but rather trying to keep the moisture in the soil. We expierenced extreme losses due to the lacking fertility and constant watering of lands that are a sandy loam with no organic content. Needless to say we were not able to save what we had planted and that kept us from being able to plant anything for our fall harvest.
Our blueberries suffered as well from the drought. The season started a week earlier and was over 2-3 weeks earlier than normal. This has greatly impacted the farms finances in a negative way. We are dedicated to keep farming, we just need your help.
In order for us to keep farming we owe a portion of the lease by the end of the month. Farmland with no farmer is just land. With your support we will be able to move forward and make this dream come true for all.
Why is farming in Orting so important to us? Angela makes the 4the generation in her family to farm in Orting, her maternal great grandparents moved here from Nebraska and settled in Orting where they began farming. Angela's paternal great grandparents were loggers in the local area. Her grandparents met and married here in Orting. Jeremy's family has always been in agriculture with farming and rodeo. In todays times people are recognizing the serious impact conventional food full of chemicals is making on our bodies. As parents the best future for our family is to be part of the change, part of the solution and above all teachers for the younger generations to come.
We would like to thank everyone for supporting agriculture, for supporting a farmer. Let our dream be yours and donate today. Every little bit matters when mother nature is the biggest denominator. Again thank you for taking the time to read about us and look forward to providing you with good, local, sustainable food from just down the valley!
Organizer
Jeremy Sanford
Organizer
Puyallup, WA