By Jeff Voltz, Executive Director

It was pleasant to see spring popping out in the Methow River Valley in early April. No wildflowers yet, but green grass shooting up in the southern exposures, and the willows and fruit trees showing signs of life.

On my trip to Okanogan County, I met with Natividad Rubio of Rubio Brothers Farms in Brewster, WA, Stina Booth of Booth Canyon Orchard near Carlton, WA, the Stennes Family of Cascade Crest Organics, Methow, WA, Diane and Norm Weddle of River Willow Ranch, Tonasket, and John Butler of American Produce Express, Okanogan, WA. Natividad, Stina, and Diane and Norm were all Stewardship Farm applicants and I visited each of their farms/orchards to review applications. They are all doing a sound job of land stewardship.

Booth Canyon Orchard and River Willow Ranch are both WSDA certified organic. Stina grows apples and pears, with some heirloom apple varieties traceable back to the Middle Ages. Diane and Norm grow wonderful soft fruit and row crops while taking great strides to protect the Okanogan River riparian habitat that borders their orchard. Navidad of Rubio Brothers Farms uses multiple low-impact practices including drip irrigation, no pesticide spray application, cover cropping and sound nutrient management.

The Stennes family of Cascade Crest Organics has been raising tree fruit on the Methow River since 1894. They are a very progressive and environmentally conscious operation as well as nominees for this year’s Vim Wright Stewardship Award. I met with John Butler of American Producer Express to discuss potential transportation to get the Okanogan Producer Marketing Associations product to the new Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market.

During the middle of the month, I attended a meeting of the Kitsap Community Agriculture Alliance in Bremerton, WA. In attendance were Gary Dirks, Marilyn Holt, John and Lisa Hudson, Nikki Johanson, William Looney, Leslee Pate and Peg Tillery. I presented Farming & the Environment’s Stewardship Principles and our new business model of developing Communities of Stewardship Farms. Nikki Johanson of Pheasant Fields Farm was a 2004 Vim Wright Stewardship nominee and is very interested in greater access to direct markets.

We need local grocery chains to play a vital role in providing markets for our environmental Stewardship Farms. I had an engaging and high-energy meeting with Larry Roberts, CEO of Penhollow Markets, a three-store local chain of supermarkets. Larry and his staff are very interested in developing buying and marketing/educational programs with F&E.

The end of the month found me in the beautiful city of Ashville, North Carolina where I attended the annual Food and Society Conference help by the WF Kellogg Foundation. What an awesome and inspiring event! We toured an elementary school where local farmers were helping the students grow community gardens, as well as being integrated into the school’s curriculum and proving produce for the school’s cafeteria. We also toured a local farm that had converted from growing tobacco to growing certified organic row crops and berries. The positive energy and sharing of the 600 supporters of sustainable agriculture and communities is still alive within me.