New Thurston County Farm Map Spotlights Need to Protect Farmlandby Caitlin Krenn The 2009 Thurston County Direct Sales Farm Map, released by the South of the Sound Community Farm Land Trust, is now available. The map provides a guide to area farms offering fresh, seasonal products throughout the year. It features a listing of 44 local producers of vegetables, meat, fiber, honey, flowers, fertilizer, berries, and other farm goods for sale directly to consumers. "Finding people to eat what we grow is a huge part of what we do," says Kenari Breshem, who recently launched Phoebe Farm with farmer Aaron Varadi. Theirs is one of eight new farms featured in the 2009 guide. "The farm map provides a vital service by linking community members to local growers." The Purpose of the Farm Map The farm map is produced and distributed each year by the land trust, an Olympia-based organization dedicated to the permanent affordability, agricultural production, and stewardship of farmland in the South Sound area. Its publication is sponsored by producers, other businesses, and organizations that support local agriculture. This year's map also features highlights from the land trust's recently completed Thurston County Farmland Inventory. The inventory suggests that the majority of the county's farmland is at high risk of being converted to other uses. Seventy five percent of the farmland mapped in the inventory is within three miles of an urban growth boundary, and therefore vulnerable to increasing development pressures. In spite of these and other challenges, many local farms are thriving. Thurston County Farmlands Among the 17 counties in Western Washington, Thurston County ranks third in terms of both the amount of certified organic acres – 2,900 – and the estimated value of organic goods sold directly from the farm. Many of the farms listed in the guide are certified organic by the USDA. Others strive to preserve environmental quality and wildlife habitat, and convey these practices through close relationships with customers. The Farm Map and Consumers Direct sales marketing is key to the success of many area small- and medium-sized farms that sell their products at on-farm stands, farmers' markets, and community supported agriculture subscription programs. While many local producers rely on word of mouth as their primary form of advertisement, the farm map provides an avenue for reaching a broader audience. This year 12,000 copies will be distributed. "It's a thrill to see our name in print and know that the farm map is being used by so many people," says Breshem, who joins other local producers in a diversified approach to marketing her goods. She and Varadi grow vegetables, seed crops, and pastured poultry for local restaurants and operate an on-site farm stand. "The map helps people find what they're looking for, locally," she says. "When I first moved to Olympia and was looking for a farm job, I used the farm map to find which farms I could ride my bike to. Now people can find my farm on the map." The Tumwater Town Center Farmers Market One important direct marketing outlet for local farm goods was inadvertently left off this year's farm map – the three-year-old Tumwater Town Center Farmers Market. The Tumwater market opens May 27 and run every Wednesday from 11a.m. to 2 p.m. through October. The market is located at the corner of Capitol Boulevard and Israel Road. For more information, call 360-464-5879 or visit the market's website at http://www.tumwaterfarmersmarket.org Where to Find a Farm Map The 2009 Thurston County Direct Sales Farm Map is free and can be found throughout the county at farmers' markets, restaurants, government agencies, and participating businesses. An online version is available at http://www.communityfarmlandtrust.org For more information or to help distribute farm maps in your community, call 360-402-0302. You can reach Caitlin Krenn at caitlin.krenn@gmail.com.
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