Resolve to help save farmland in 2004

by Jody Aliesan, Director, Farmland Fund

This article was originally published in January 2004

PCC Farmland Fund logo

Shipley Fields update: Final court date February 27

The Shipley Fields

The community group Sequim First has filed suit in Clallam County Superior Court to require an environmental impact statement before Wal-Mart can build a 181,000-square-foot superstore (and a 22-acre parking lot) next door to the Shipley Fields. The location is also over Sequim’s drinking water aquifer and drains into the Dungeness River.

The final court date is February 27. If the judge upholds the City Council’s approval of Wal-Mart’s plan and no other avenue is left for effective opposition, the Farmland Fund will provide an opportunity for everyone who contributed toward a conservation easement on the Shipley Fields to redirect their gifts to other projects. Contributions can be sent to Sequim First, P.O. Box 431, Sequim, WA 98382, 360-460-4016.

Big check for farmland

Michael Gross, real estate agent

from a real estate agent with a conscience

Michael Gross of Remax Real Estate donates 50 percent of his commissions to the nonprofit organizations his clients have chosen to support. He has contributed more than $500,000 over the past fifteen years. He says he likes to “do well in life by doing good in the world.”

One day Michael walked into our office personally to deliver a check to the Farmland Fund for half his proceeds from work done for Fund donors Lisa King and Steve Anacker. We were stunned.

He explains that a typical house in Seattle now sells for about $350,000. After deduction of office expenses, insurance and taxes, Michael’s share of the commission may be $8,000. “The receipt of a check for $4,000 is an exciting event for most nonprofit organizations.” Indeed, it is.

“Most people seldom have the opportunity to support their causes with such substantial gifts,” he adds, “especially when they are making large spending decisions.” Keep Michael in mind when you need realtor services. Working with him, you can integrate your real estate transaction with your ideals. He’s at 206-999-9969 (direct) and 206-323-6960 (home).

In Praise of Fertile Land:

'In Praise of Fertile Land' anthology benefitting the Farmland Fund.

Community reading in Yakima December 3

“We had a good reading tonight at Inklings Bookstore. Fifteen people, including several farmers. It was the best hour and a half of my week. The right 15 people were there, people who represent the Valley from Ellensburg to Wapato, a range of about 60 miles, people who will get the word out a bit, people who were moved by the book. In addition, the bookstore had a small story in their newsletter about the book and reading and this went out to 800 readers.”
— Jim Bodeen, poet and publisher, Blue Begonia Press

Donor Roster (November 1-30, 2003)

Anonymous: 13
Michaelene Adams
Jack B. Albrecht
Stephen Anacker & Lisa King
Cedar Acosta Armbruster
Anna E. Armstrong
Emily Bader
Abigail Barden
Kathryn Batson
Martha Beard
Jane Blackwell
Bridgette Boudreau
Arden Clise & Eric Mamroth
Ginelle Cousins
Sally Deneen & Robert McClure
Ruth Dunlop
Diane Eileen
Hilary Forrest
Gladys Fox
Jonathan Freedman
Karen Gardner
Leslie Geller
Karen Hardiman
Esther Hazelet
Antje Helfrich & Nancy L. Shawn
Mary Jane Helmann
Susan Henderson
Betsy & Jerry Hoffmeister
Pamela Hyde
Charles C. Jenner
Janine Jijina
Pam Kalian
Aaron Katz
E. Jane Keyes
Anne & John Leder
Ronald D. Long
Gail Malizia
Emily Mandelbaum
Julie B. Margulies
Deena C. McCloskey & Jay Alan
Robert Messina
Paul Moritz & Jayleen Ryberg

Beth Nelson & Sue Bartels
Virginia Nelson
Tobey Nelson/Gardensmith
Eileen O’Reilly-Miller & Kip Miller
Michael Popiwny
Mary Porter-Solberg
Erin H. Riley
Rollie & Susan C. Roberts
Katy Rubinkowski
Ron & Sandy Ryder
Carla Saulter
Sarah Seltzer & John Larsen
Laurel Sercombe
Gloria P. Sting
Dawne & Mark Swanson
Nancy L. Sweiven
Kelsey Vaughan & David Hale
Ed Waldock
John A. Watson
Susan W. Weinstein
Mary White
Amy Wicklund
Stanley & Anne Willard
Jennifer Winters & Legacy: Jim & Diane Vanden Brook

PCC Staff
More than 100 PCC staff members make voluntary payroll deductions twice a month.

Businesses and Organizations
Choice Organic Teas
Clean Earth/PureAyre
Microsoft Matching Gifts
Safeco Matching Gifts
Salmon Bay Friends Meeting
TalkingRain Beverage Company
United Natural Foods/Mountain People’s Warehouse
Wilcox Family Farms
Wildwood Harvest Foods


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.

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