6/13/2007 12:02:00 PM Historic Glendale Farm closer to preservation
Jefferson County has allocated $230,000 in taxpayer-generated Conservation Futures Funds to help protect the agricultural future of 180-acre Glendale Farm in Chimacum. With the goal of permanently protecting prime agricultural lands and working forests of East Jefferson County, Jefferson LandWorks Collaborative made Glendale Farm its top priority. – Map from Jefferson LandWorks Collaborative
Jefferson County Board of Commissioners voted on June 5 to allocate $230,000 in Conservation Futures Funds to the historic Glendale Farm. Located just south of Chimacum, Glendale Farm spans Beaver Valley from Center Road on the east side to Beaver Valley Road on the west.
The 180-acre farm is one of the largest parcels in East Jefferson County that is still in active agricultural use. Glendale Farm has been a productive farm since 1857, with a long history of dairy and cheese operations. The farm was originally 880 acres until 1909, when Glendale sold 700 acres.
With the goal of permanently protecting the prime agricultural lands and working forests of East Jefferson County, Jefferson LandWorks Collaborative partners placed Glendale Farm at the top of its list for protection, since it is one of the largest parcels in east county, contains prime soils, habitat value, working forest and scenic vistas, and is potentially threatened by conversion.
"The highly visible, pastoral scenic vistas of this farm define the rural character of our community," stated the partners of the collaborative.
Commercial
Although Glendale Farm and other farms nearby are agriculturally zoned, the proximity to the commercial Chimacum intersection could be a threat to the ongoing agricultural productivity of the farm, according to the partners.
"A number of other farms in the general vicinity have been subdivided for residential development in the last several years," they stated in a release. "One need only travel as far as Sequim to see the effects of subdividing historic farms."
Kirk Salvatore, owner of the farm, "prefers to see the farm stay as one property with its future as farmland preserved forever," but he, as so many other land-rich, cash-poor farmers, is facing an uncertain financial future. Selling the conservation easement could provide financial security to Salvatore, the funds necessary to reinvest in the farm infrastructure, and the knowledge that the Glendale Farm remains an important piece of working land in East Jefferson County forever.
The Conservation Futures Fund was established by ordinance in 2002. All properties, whether in the city or the county, contribute to the fund. For 2007, the conservation futures levy rate is 4.752 cents per $1,000 in assessed value. If all residents pay their taxes this year, for example, the county will collect $184,990 for that fund, according to the Jefferson County Treasurer's Office.
Angus, vegetables
Currently, Glendale Farm is primarily an organic beef operation, with about 60 head of grass-fed Black Angus cattle. Salvatore has also leased some of his acreage to local vegetable growers in need of additional farmland to grow their crops. Interest in locally grown food has increased dramatically in East Jefferson County within the last several years, and the demand for locally grown vegetables, fruits, dairy products and meats outweighs the supply.
"Glendale Farm's preservation is part of the larger goal to ensure that the working landscapes of the county remain available into the future for food and fiber production, providing an economic base in the county that recognizes our rich history of agriculture and timber production," wrote supporters, who "envision Jefferson County becoming recognized as a 'bread bowl' for the region."
LandWorks Collaborative
The Jefferson LandWorks Collaborative is a model of land conservation and rural economic development with a threefold goal: to ensure that there is affordable prime agricultural land in large-enough tracts that the farmer can be profitable; to ensure that the farmers have access to the business training, capital and know-how to be profitable; and to ensure that there are both the consumer demand and robust markets to accommodate the farmers' needs.
Jefferson LandWorks partners include Jefferson Land Trust, ShoreBank Enterprise Pacific Cascadia, Washington State University, Jefferson County Conservation District, The Food Co-op, Port Townsend Farmers Market, Sunfield Farm Land for Learning, and Northwest Natural Resources Group.
The community partners are involved in supporting the preservation of Glendale Farm in this way: Jefferson Land Trust will hold the conservation easement for the farm. Jefferson County Conservation District has been involved with the farm for many years and will participate with the conservation plan for the farm. ShoreBank Enterprise Cascadia might support the farm business through business planning services and a business loan. Northwest Natural Resources Group might advise the landowner on forest practices and potential income from carbon credits.
Jefferson County will partially fund the cost of the conservation easement and might help the farm apply for a State Farmland Preservation Grant.
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