BUILDING ON MOMENTUM FROM USDA BFRDP #2016-03316, THIS FARMERS-TO-FARMLAND PROJECT USES A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH TO FACILITATE ENTRY INTO FARMING FOR BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS (BFRS), WITH A FOCUS ON WOMEN AND THE LATINX COMMUNITY, IN THE REMOTE SAN JUAN ISLANDS, WASHINGTON. THE SAN JUANS ARE A TOP TOURIST DESTINATION, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN HIGH LAND PRICES BUT ALSO ROBUST MARKETS FOR LOCAL FOOD. OUR COLLABORATIVE APPROACH WILL MEET BFRS WHERE THEY ARE IN DEVELOPING FARMING GOALS, SKILLS, AND ACCESS TO LAND. WITH SUPPORT FROM AGENCIES AND PEERS, WE WILL OFFER BFRS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, EDUCATION, AND MENTORING, AS WELL AS HELP NAVIGATING MARKETS AND CONNECTING TO FARMLAND. OUR FIRST BFRDP PROJECT SHOWED LACK OF BFR EXPERIENCE AS A BARRIER TO LAND ACCESS. HERE, WE WILL DEVELOP A MODEL FOR LAND SHARING AND COLLABORATIVE LAND MANAGEMENT TO JUMP-START BFRS THROUGH A SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT DRAWS UPON THE EXPERIENCE AND RESOURCES OF PROJECT COLLABORATORS AND SYNCS WITH OTHER BFR SERVICES.THE AVERAGE AGE OF SAN JUAN COUNTY (SJC) FARMERS IS 60.3, COMPARED TO THE 57.5 NATIONAL AVERAGE (USDA AG CENSUS 2017). FOR FARMING TO CONTINUE IN THE ISLANDS, WE MUST ACTIVELY CULTIVATE OUR NEXT GENERATION OF FARMERS. WITH THIS PROJECT, WE WILL SERVE 218 UNIQUE BFRS, OF WHICH 35% WILL BE WOMEN AND 5% LATINX.
Mod # | Description | Reason For Modification | Federal Obligation (Click to sort descending) | Date (Click to sort ascending) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not listed | $304.6k | 8/12/21 |