Members of the Port of Port Townsend’s Farm Steering Committee will walk the recently-acquired Short’s Family Farm in Chimacum on Feb. 7 as step one of the agency’s plan to develop the property in a way that they say will support local agriculture.

While the walking survey is open to the public, the port’s deputy director Eric Toews said, “This is not a farm tour. It really is a walking farm orientation before the committee members roll up their sleeves and get down to business. It’s really a meeting that is focused on bringing the steering committee up to speed.”

The committee, created Sept. 27, 2023, is made up of six local farmers and one representative each from Jefferson LandWorks Collaborative, Jefferson County Conservation District, and the North Olympic Salmon Coalition.

In addition to forming the steering committee, the port enlisted the help of master’s degree students and faculty from the University of Washington’s Department of Urban Design. According to the port, these students and faculty will help with the visioning process, community engagement and meeting facilitation and will help the committee prepare its recommendations for the port commissioners’ consideration later in the year.

Located on Center Road just south of Red Dog Farm, the 253-acre property was purchased by the port in the summer of 2023 for the appraised price of $1.4 million – about $5,500 per acre – using $400,000 from port coffers and $1 million from the state.

The farm is one of the largest contiguous agricultural land holdings in Jefferson County, and has been the home of cattle operations since 1945. The farm began as a dairy, but in 2003, Roger Short, citing ever more stringent dairy regulations, turned the farm’s focus to beef. Since then, the farm has been a local source of grass-fed beef, compost and Short’s famous “Magical Soil.” With Chimacum Creek bisecting the property north to south, and soils comprised of peat and Semiahmoo muck, the farm floods annually, providing winter habitat for trumpeter swans. In addition, Chimacum Creek is protected salmon habitat.    

The planning period is expected to run from January to July 2024. The first phase, projected to last until March, will focus on understanding site conditions and identifying potential issues – hence the walking tour. From April to June, the committee will develop a vision for future site use, draft a choice of alternatives, and choose a preferred alternative. In July, the committee is slated to present their recommendations to the port commission. All committee meetings are open to the public.

Toews said one port commissioner is currently confirmed to attend the Feb. 7 walking orientation. If another commissioner chooses to go, Toews said, that would create a quorum of commissioners and trigger notification of a special meeting.

The Port wants to hear from all interested parties and encourages participation in this process.  Email ideas and comments to publiccomments@portofpt.com.