Washington FarmLink is the state’s leading program to link aspiring farmers and landowners and help build sustainable farming operations. FarmLink addresses barriers that farmers face in keeping their land in farming and answers the call for more technical assistance and education.

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.

Since becoming the home of the program in 2002, over 800 individuals have requested information, enrolled in the program, and/or participated in one of nearly 30 educational workshops, we have helped keep over 300 acres in agricultural production, and have provided hundreds of hours of one-on-one assistance.

Enrollees help support the program with an annual program fee of $35. (To pay fee online, go to http://www.cascadeharvest.org/product and scroll down to FarmLink Program Fee.)

If you would like more information, email Sarah Wilcox at sarah@cascadeharvest.org. To download and enrollment form, click on one of the following links.

Enrollment Form: looking for land / Available in Spanish

Enrollment Form: landowner/current farm operator / Available in Spanish

Upcoming FarmLink Workshops and Events
 
WA FarmLink Networking Event & Open House
March 10th, 2012; 10am - 1pm
Sturgeon Farm, Orting, WA
FREE. Registration at Brown Paper Tickets. (Registration required)

Hosts: FarmLink/Cascade Harvest Coalition and PCC Farmland Trust, in partnership with the Trust for Public Land.  This event is sponsored by the WSDA/USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

Join us on Saturday, March 10th to learn more about Cascade Harvest Coalition's FarmLink program, where landowners and farmers seeking land are connected as well as the work of PCC Farmland Trust to preserve and maintain working organic farmlands. The open house will showcase the Sturgeon Farm, a great 102 acre property available for purchase, right next door to PCC Farmland Trust's Orting Valley Farms.  There will also be an opportunity for land seekers and landowners to network with a simple speed dating activity.

We will have sandwiches and drinks available.  Please feel free to bring a side, salad, or snack to share.  Please bring appropriate footwear for touring the farm and outerwear for weather.  We'll be outside.

Learn more about PCC Farmland Trust's work to preserve organic farmland, visit http://www.pccfarmlandtrust.org

Past Workshops and Events

Landowner Workshop - September 22, 2011 @ Everett WSU Extension

Carnation, WA, June 22, 2011 - The FarmLink Matchmaking event for Landowners and Land Seekers had fantastic attendence with just under 50 folks coming out to Full Circle Farm.  It was potluck style, and boy, was it a beautiful spread!  We also heard from Jason & Siri of Local Roots, Adam from Oxbow, and Andrew Stout of Full Circle about how they found land and started farming.  We'd like to have another event like it soon.... Next time we may event try our hand at a little "speed dating" between landowners and land seekers. 

Resources

Washington State Office of Farmland Preservation

Washington State Conservation Districts: Find your local conservation district for land management assitance and natural resource protection.

King County Farming and Agriculture Incentives: Ways to reduce taxes and protect farmlands.

Tilth Producers of Washington: The premier organic farming and sustainable agriculture organization of Washington State... Farm Walks, opportunities, directory, and great fall conference in Nov.

Land Trust Alliance: Find a Land Trust near you.
General information on land trusts

Washington Young Farmers Coalition: A grassroots organization both for and by young farmers in Washington state, made up of young growers and their supporters living, learning and working in Washington.

Westcoast & Nationwide Programs:
Oregon - iFarm, Friends of Family Farmers
California - California FarmLink
Nationwide Directory