The legacy of farmland: announcing the Agrarian Circle

by Kelly Sanderbeck, Communications and Development Director

This article was originally published in November 2009

The PCC Farmland Trust is beginning to focus more on the long-term planning that will ensure it can carry on its work for another 10, 20 or 100 years — until it’s no longer needed.

We’ve been operating for 10 years and have saved four farms, but our goal is to preserve many more farms across the state of Washington and see them farmed organically in perpetuity.

That’s why we’re pleased to announce the Agrarian Circle — a program that designates the PCC Farmland Trust in your will — so this important work can continue, long after we’re gone. Local, organic farmland is a legacy we are passing on to future generations, and now it can be part of your personal legacy as well.

Why is it important for the Trust to know it’s in your will? First, because we want to celebrate your decision NOW! It also helps enable us to plan for future growth, an endowment, or other new programming to support organic farms and farmers.

We’ll plan to gather every year as a group and celebrate our dedication to a future full of “earthly” possibilities. As Wendell Berry says, “The soil is the great connector of our lives, the source and destination of all.”

Call us for more information (206-547-9855) or visit pccfarmlandtrust.org. Use our online form if you’d like to make a donation. Let’s plan for the future!

Speaking of legacies: To celebrate our 10-year anniversary, please join us in honoring those (listed right) who have been donors since the beginning.

Special thanks to:

 

Steve and Diane Adam
Barbara Culbertson Allen and Joe Leinonen
Patricia Allen
Michael August
Monica Balsly
Martha Beard
Kathryn and Wally Bubelis
Kathy Copeland
Therese Cushing
Duane and Bert White
Debra Daniels-Zeller
Jennifer and Jeff Ernst
Annette Frahm
Kathryn Gardow and David G. Bradlee
Karen Cropsey and Joe Hardiman
Susan Henderson
Elaine Hickman
Melissa Huther and Gordon Hof
Jill M. and Jeffrey Kipper
Teresa and Kurt Lutterman
Julie and Lyle Margulies
Glen McCarthy
Laurie McMillan
Martha Means and Robert Coburn
Bob Messina

Joyce Michelson
Pamela Mullens, Ph.D.
Mark Musick
Don Myhre
Bruce Naftaly
Michael Popiwny
Geralynn and Richard Rackowski
Jerry Rutherford
Christine Sannella
Mary Sebek
Laurel Sercombe
Kimberly Sims
Lisa Strandin
Rene Such
Laurie Swanson and John McKinney
Winifred and Keith Unterschute
Constance and Richard Voget
Betty Wagner
Nancy Waligory
Linda Waterfall and Robert S. Searle
Robin N. Werner
Sarah S. Wilson
Barbara Yocum

 

Also in this issue

News bites, November 2009

USDA to clarify “natural”, USDA restores pesticide database, GE sugar beets stopped, and more

Pledge to eat local

Accept the challenge! This Thanksgiving, Puget Sound Fresh, a program of King County and the local nonprofit, Cascade Harvest Coalition, are asking us to pledge to “eat at least one locally produced food.” It’s fun and easy ­— and a wonderful way to give thanks for the delicious bounty of our region.

Organic cotton: As important as organic food

When you think about supporting organic agriculture and choosing sustainably produced products, don’t forget cotton — the world’s most important non-food crop. Non-organic cotton is considered the world’s “dirtiest” crop by the Environmental Justice Foundation.