Farmer mentor program returns to the Valley

Published 12:18 pm Wednesday, February 29, 2012

A meeting for people interested in starting their own organic farms under the mentorship of experienced farmers will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 17, at Jubilee Farm in Carnation.

The last 10 years have seen unprecedented growth in the organic food industry: sales at farmer’s markets, Community Supported Agriculture co-ops, and organic sections in supermarkets have increased faster than the supply of local, organic food products.

With jobs being scarce and demand for local organic food being high, many are looking to organic food production as a source of economic and environmental opportunity.

Sno-Valley Tilth hosts the March meeting for people who have the interest and are ready—with a little help—to get the ball rolling. Also welcome at the meeting are land owners who would like to lease farmable land to new farmers.

The SVT Mentoring Program seeks to help people who are ready to start farming find available, farmable land.  It also matches beginning farmers with experienced, successful, mentor farmers.

Interested people should contact Erick Haakenson, jubileefarm@hotmail.com, 425-829-1865.