We have worked with willing landowners to protect more than 1,700 acres of irrigated farmland and another 1,700 acres of open rangeland in the Methow from Pateros to Mazama.
We know that our protection of agricultural lands, however, is only as successful as there are future farmers, ranchers, and orchardists to take over working these landscapes. Simply protecting farmland from development may not be enough to ensure a vibrant, viable future for the Valley’s farmers.
In 2017, we launched an Agricultural Program. After working to better understand the needs of our local farms and ranches and exploring creative ways in which the Methow Conservancy could offer meaningful support to our farming community, we took action.
Here are just a few of the ways we support local farms and farmers:
Online Directory of Active Methow Farms
Looking for ways to source more farm-grown products? Check out our Methow Grown webpage with a comprehensive list of active Methow farms, whose products are available through a variety of retail outlets, or directly off the farm. Product offerings are delicious and diverse: including local meats, eggs, honey, grains, veggies, fruits, fiber, milk, cheese, and a variety of value-added products.
Matchmaking Methow Farmers and Landowners
Access to affordable farmland in the Methow Valley is a struggle for our local farmers. And like most challenges, our producers tackle this one creatively. Many of our Methow farmers and ranchers don’t aspire to own all of the land they work. Instead, they often own a core farmstead, reaching out from there and creating a patchwork of formal or informal lease arrangements on lands nearby.
We see a real and tangible opportunity to help our local farmers expand and strengthen their patchworks of working land. The Washington State Farmland Trust has been building a database of willing landowners who would like to explore the possibility of actively supporting a local farmer and strengthening regional food systems. If you are a landowner seeking a farmer, or a farmer seeking land, please CLICK HERE to learn more about the Farm to Farmer program.
Tailored Workshops for Farmers
We are working to create ongoing opportunities for Methow Valley farmers to access farm-specific resources and technical expertise. To date, we have organized workshops about on-farm conservation resources, soil fertility, and direct marketing. We look forward to working closely with local producers to develop high-quality and highly-relevant workshop content in the future.
USDA-Inspected Meat Processing for Farms and Ranches of Okanogan County
Our work to support a bright future for working farms and ranches of the Methow Valley has led us to an exciting, but unusual collaboration. Read more about our efforts to help bring USDA-Inspected meat processing to Okanogan County here.