New farmers are focus for Tilth’s annual meeting

South Whidbey Tilth is hosting representatives of the Puget Sound Agrarian Commons.

South Whidbey Tilth is hosting representatives of the Puget Sound Agrarian Commons to speak at its annual membership meeting at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29.

The Commons is affiliated with the national organization, Agrarian Trust. The Commons is currently requesting proposals to farm the 10-acre parcel right next to the South Whidbey Tilth campus on Thompson Road. As stated by Taylor Reid of the Beginning Farmers, “This call for farmers presents an opportunity for restorative, community-centered farming on Whidbey Island. It is a unique challenge—and opportunity—for strengthening food sovereignty in an island community with a long agricultural history.”

These values jive with those of South Whidbey Tilth, an educational nonprofit whose purpose is cultivating living soil and community action to build an environmentally sound and socially equitable agricultural system since 1982. Tilth has worked to demonstrate this purpose on their 11-acre parcel on Thompson Road since 2000. Rhys-Thorvald Hansen, responsible for Puget Sound Agrarian Commons Advancement & Communications, will join with another board member to discuss the Agrarian Trust and plans on Whidbey Island. Learn more about the request for proposals at agrariantrust.org/request-for-proposals-farm-seeking-farmers-on-whidbey-island.

The public is welcome to this free event via Zoom. Contact President Gary Ingram at president@southwhidbeytilth.org, or leave a message at 360-321-0757 to receive a link to the event.