Submitted by the San Juan Islands Agriculture Guild

The San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild needs your help to preserve farmland and energize the food system in the San Juan Islands. We are at a critical time as both pressure from development and rising land prices threaten the viability of island agriculture. Many island farmers are retiring, and the majority of beginning farmers and ranchers are unable to afford to purchase land.

The Ag Guild and its project partners the San Juan Islands Conservation District, San Juan Islands Food Hub, Northwest Agriculture Business Center, and WSU San Juan County Extension use a holistic approach to give beginning farmers a leg up through technical assistance, education, mentoring, and help navigating markets and connecting to farmland. This “Farmers-to-Farmland Program” is funded by a USDA Beginning Farmer Rancher Development Program grant.

The Farmers-to-Farmland Program is currently seeking beginning farmers and ranchers (with less than 10 years of experience) who have or wish to create their own farm (full or part-time) to grow a cash crop, as well as landowners who are interested in leasing their land for agriculture.

San Juan County faces an important challenge in self-reliance, and this is a great opportunity to build a more resilient local food system, provide healthy food to the community, and maintain the rural character of the San Juan Islands.

To learn more, please visit the Farmers-to-Farmland website at https://sjiagguild.com -or contact us at farmer@sjiagguild.com.

The San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild is 501(c)(3)nonprofit dedicated to fostering a vibrant, resilient, and sustainable local food system in San Juan County, Washington.