10 Ways You Can Help
Promote & Protect South Sound Farms
1. Become a Member
Becoming a member is the easiest way to directly engage in our work. As a member, you’ll help preserve farmland, create a future that embraces community access to local foods, and promote affordable land and homes for farmers. You’ll also receive regular updates on our work, semi-annual newsletters, and invitations to special events throughout the year.
2. Volunteer
Share your skills and enthusiasm - do you like to talk to people about local food and farms? Have a knack for graphic design? Love to stuff envelopes? Have great ideas to share? Volunteering is a great way to meet your fellow land trust members and create the community support critical for saving farms.
3. Put on a party
Host a get-together for your organization, business, community group, or friends to learn more about the farmland trust. We’ll be happy to come give a presentation and answer questions about our work.
4. Attend a public hearing
And express your support for an effective Working Lands Strategic Plan in Thurston County that will protect farmland and help farmers stay economically viable. Contact us for the location and time of upcoming public hearings.
5. Let Us Know
Are you, or is someone you know, interested in selling or donating land or an easement? Interested in farming on trust land in the future? Contact us today to discuss our programs and opportunities.
6. Spread the word about the land trust and farmland protection
In the last five years, the acreage of actively farmed land in Thurston County has dropped nearly in half, from 74,420 to 38,718 acres. Now is the time to seize the opportunity to protect our remaining farmland for future generations.
7. Come to a Board Meeting
Everyone is welcome to attend our board meetings. In fact, we look forward to seeing you! We meet at 6 PM on the second Tuesday of every month at 1609 6th Ave SW in Olympia. A typical meeting lasts 2 hours and begins with a potluck dinner.
8. Write a guest editorial
Voice your support for initiatives that promote local agriculture and fund farmland protection. Write a guest editorial to your local newspaper or favorite blog. Call us for more ideas and information.
9. Intern
Get credit for supporting local farms and farmers. Contact us to find out about our current internship opportunities.
10. Join a Committee
We’re currently seeking new members for each of the committees below. Please fill out our volunteer interest form to let us know how you’d like to get involved.
Yes, I want to help protect local farms and farmers!
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Farmland Preservation Committee
Responsible for advancing SSCFLT’s farmland preservation goals by developing and applying farmland acquisition criteria, working with farmers and farmland owners to identify their interests and needs, and advancing farmland preservation projects.
Black River Ranch Project Committee
The committee’s work is guided by the Black River Ranch Vision document approved by the board in July 2008, the Draft Black River Ranch Business Plan developed in November 2008 and Strategy A under Goal 1 of our Strategic Plan. Current work involves finalizing funding applications and commitments for property acquisition, developing new project development and management relationships, negotiating a purchase and sale agreement with the current owners, working with the Community Farm Cooperative Steering Committee on the feasibility of a farm cooperative as a potential lessee and–depending on the success of these activities–revising and working on implementation of the Business Plan.
Community Farm Co-op Steering Committee
With assistance from the Northwest Cooperative Development Center, SSCFLT is investigating the feasibility of establishing a Community Farm Co-op to operate the working portion of the Black River Ranch, dependent upon successful acquisition. Several community members and local farms, including Kirsop Farm and Left Foot Organics, are sitting on the steering committee to move this co-op forward.
Legal Committee
Responsible for recruiting legal expertise to serve on the committee, researching models and negotiating contractual agreements with our Black River Ranch partners and re-establishing contact with Equity Trust for assistance in adapting the Model Agricultural Ground Lease to meet our needs for the Black River Ranch project.
Development Committee
Working to maintain and develop diverse and sustainable funding sources including grants, large and small private donations, business support, sales, and other creative funding opportunities.
Finance Committee
Documents all the income and expenses and produces financial reports for the board and membership. Drafts an annual budget for the executive committee and then the board to approve.
Outreach Committee
Cultivates community relationships, educates stakeholders, and helps people engage with the work of the land trust. This committee also oversees board and staff efforts to build and support our membership and promote our mission.