I am very thankful that as a community we are able to freely discuss our viewpoints and jointly make a decision about the future use of the central meadow of Tollgate Farm.

I personally don’t think there are any right or wrong views in the matter. I appreciate all the concerns about jobs, open space, taxes, water quality and the like.

When I first heard about Tollgate, my initial reaction was, “What a lousy name!” I apologize to the people I might be offending with that reaction, but talk about images of government scandal and endless taxes! In order to see a visionary future for the parcel, I had to first come up with a new name.

Not wanting to belabor the re-naming process, and in deference to recent events, I decided to refer to it as the Snoqualmie Valley Victory Gardens. With a name that invokes a historic, patriotic and ecological umbrella, I see an opportunity to create a place, a destination, a resource that provides for our current generation, and the ones to come.

In my vision of our Victory Gardens, I see scientific research carried out by our local high-tech veterans in conjunction with our up-and-coming schools and school children. I see biointensive food production, alternative waste treatment experiments, wind generators, native plant nurseries, farm animals, harvest festivals and very cool, relevant jobs for kids and adults alike.

The Victory Gardens become a unifying resource for the Valley by serving the tourist economy as a bridge between the Snoqualmie Falls and the outlet mall. It provides a central meeting place for the business community, a play place for small children, and most importantly, a testimony to our commitment to local self-reliance and a future of peace, beauty and abundance.

I would love to hear all the other visions for this wonderful resource that we presently call Tollgate Farm. I suggest we get a big open-air tent and meet together as a community out in the meadow in mid-October to discuss and record our visions.

I look forward to meeting and working together with everyone who has a stake in the outcome of this historic opportunity.

Russ Kilburn

Snoqualmie