Creativity, collaboration and community a recipe for success

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There’s a lot going on at Finnriver Farm and Cidery in Chimacum. For me, seeing Finnriver grow over the years has been exciting and gratifying. What began as a 33-acre organic family farm specializing in blueberries has become something so much more—a vibrant farm and craft cidery that contributes to the local economy, enhances the dynamic food scene in Chimacum, and serves as an open and welcoming community gathering place.

The Finnriver story is one of creativity and collaboration. In 2004, two local families—Keith and Crystie Kisler and Kate Dean and Will O’Donnell joined forces and purchased an organic blueberry farm. The Dean-O’Donnells decided to move on and pursue other ventures. Wanting to keep the farm intact and see the cidery come to life, Crystie Kisler contacted me at the Land Trust.

Working with us and many of our Jefferson Landworks Collaborative partners, the Kislers were able to buy out their partners by taking out local low-interest loans from generous farm allies and placing protective conservation easements on the farm, so that the land cannot be developed and will always be open for agriculture. They then partnered with friend and neighbor, Eric Jorgensen, to open and operate the newly formed Finnriver Cidery.

Years later, Finnriver had outgrown its farm and was looking to relocate. Fortunately, we were in the process of working with Gloria Brown and a group of local families to protect Chimacum Dairy.

We’d purchased a conservation easement on the property, including a 35-foot buffer on the bank of Chimacum Creek for salmon. We’d also negotiated a 30-month option to purchase the property with the goals of ensuring it remained a productive farm and eventually finding a farm family to own and operate it.

Finnriver signed a long-term lease and relocated their organic orchard, planting thousands of traditional apple and pear trees over the next several years. To honor the historic dairy operations, they renovated the old sheds and barns to develop their tasting room and outdoor event space. For example, the herd’s feeding trough became a community table.

The folks at Finnriver have won awards for many of their fine craft ciders. Additionally the site is a popular venue for local music, their kitchen serves locally sourced, seasonal food, and they regularly host local food trucks onsite. Today, nearly 70 people work for Finnriver.

I know the crew at Finnriver is grateful to the community for helping them celebrate the “culture” in agriculture and in creating common ground on the farm where people can appreciate the abundance and beauty of Chimacum Valley’s fields.

I’m so pleased that the Land Trust played a role in Finnriver’s success over the last decade and that both farms are protected forever. Finnriver has also contributed to our success. They support us financially as a Save the Land partner, host our Fest benefit dinners, and provide space for us to showcase our work protecting places that matter.

On July 25, the Land Trust hosts its annual fundraising dinner, ForeverFest, at Finnriver. Visit saveland.org/fest to learn more, view the menu, and purchase tickets.

Jefferson Land Trust’s column relating local stories of the land appears monthly in The Leader.

Sarah Spaeth is director of conservation and strategic partnerships for Jefferson Land Trust (saveland.org). She works closely with landowners and community members, as well as governmental and nonprofit agencies to shepherd land projects through to protection.