2005 Bennington Place challenge grant

(February 2005)

• 2005 Bennington Place challenge grant
• The Bennington Place news
• The Delta Farm news
• Local cookbook benefits farmland
• More gifts that save farmland
• Double your gift through your employee matching gift program
• Buy a Chinook Book and $10 goes to save farmland
• Donor Roster for December 1-31, 2004

2005 Bennington Place challenge grant

Thanks to our longtime supporter, Leona Bronstein, the PCC Farmland Fund is launching a campaign over the next two months to pay down the Bennington Place loan.

Last year, the Fund raised $70,000 from a combined challenge grant that went to pay down the $250,000 loan. The loan has been reduced to $135,000. Now, Leona has pledged a $20,000 challenge grant to be matched dollar for dollar for a total of $40,000. “My mission is to leave this kind of legacy for all generations,” says Leona. “I consider it my reward.”

Bennington Place is the Fund’s second farm located in the Walla Walla Valley and leased to the Huesby family. They raise pasture-grazed and pasture-finished livestock and poultry in an open, natural and low-stress environment with no growth hormones or antibiotics. They’re currently undergoing transition for organic certification.

The Bennington Place news

People — a natural resource

One of the premises of sustainable agriculture is that people are considered one of the resources of a given place — just like sun, water, air, soil, plants and animals. Three of my children and niece are part of our farm here at the Bennington Place.

They began changing sprinkler pipes for the first time last summer. I was about the same age myself when I began doing this. Our children work, walk through the fields, play around the haystacks or down at the creek in the pasture. These are also my experiences growing up on the farm.

It has been said that the most valuable input farmers can give the land are their footsteps or eyes. Firsthand observation enables organic farmers to balance the relationships between all the natural resources available. Other farming models tend to separate the farmer from the land in his care. Can an absentee landlord manage the sundry day-to-day details as well as a tenant landlord?

The Delta Farm news

by Nash Huber and Kia Kozun

February is not as slow as one might think on a farm. Nash and the crew are still harvesting carrots, kale, squash and parsnips, and are keeping the food moving to the markets.

This is a time when the crew also begins planting starts for the greenhouses. Delicate plants such as tomatoes and artichokes will be planted first.

February and March also are a time to reassess the last year, what worked and what did not with process and infrastructure. This is a time to reflect on what training may or may not be appropriate for staff who will have time to attend a conference or seminar. February is busy with seed ordering, too, and the crew must carefully consider what they ordered last year. This process includes many adjustments throughout the year.

Local cookbook benefits farmland

Debra Daniels-Zeller enjoys teaching others the joy of cooking with whole-grains and locally grown and produced foods. She has been a longtime instructor for PCC Cooks and a contributor to Vegetarian Journal, Delicious Living, Veggie Life and Sound Consumer.

Debra will donate proceeds from her new cookbook, “Local Vegetarian Cooking: Inspired Recipes Celebrating Northwest Farms” to the Farmland Fund. It’s available for $19.95 at all PCC stores.

More gifts that save farmland

“In Praise of Fertile Land” is a beautiful anthology of poetry, parable and story. Everyone who has seen this book loves it. It’s available at all PCC stores for $12.95. All proceeds go to the Farmland Fund.

Double your gift through your employee matching gift program

1. Ask your company’s personnel or community relations department for a copy of their matching gift form.
2. Complete your portion of the form.
3. Submit the completed form with your gift to the PCC Farmland Fund.
4. We’ll do the rest.

For more information, contact the Farmland Fund at 206-547-9855, or farmlandtrust@pccmarkets.com

Buy a Chinook Book and $10 goes to save farmland

Save money and show your support for sustainable businesses with the Chinook Book. The book features more than $5,000 in money-saving coupons and is filled with ideas and resources for smart, healthy living. It makes a great gift and is available for $20 at all PCC Natural Markets. Learn more at www.chinookbook.net.

The PCC Farmland Fund works to secure and preserve threatened farmland in Washington State and move it into organic production. For more information, see the PCC Farmland Fund web page.