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Farm Flash E-News July 2010
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Agricultural Advocacy, Education & Awareness
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Did you get this newsletter from a friend?
Join Our Mailing List!
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Photo Contest Deadline Extended
The deadline for photographer submissions has been extended until 5:00pm July 30, 2010.
Read more about Harvesting Agriculture's Aesthetics. |
Volunteers Needed for Farming for Life Exhibit
It's that time of year again
Looking for a great way to volunteer for community agriculture education? Join us in creating a memorable Farming for Life! Exhibit in 2010 at the Northwest Washington Fair, August 16-21.
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Farm Power Digester Groundbreaking
The First Shovel Full
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Farm Power Digester
Breaks Ground
View the Image Gallery
A diverse crowd gathered on Monday 6/28/10 on Bob Hall Road to celebrate the beginning of the construction phase for Farm Power Northwest's new manure digester.
Visit the Farm Power Blog
Watch a KVOS Video Segment on how Manure Digesters Work
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Centennial Smoothie Debuts at the Fair
The all local berry and dairy Centenial Smoothie is making its debut at this summers Northwest Washington Fair August 16-21. In a cooperative venture between Whatcom Farm Friends, the Washington Red Raspberry Commission and the Whatcom County Dairy Women a really yummy smoothie has been developed.
The actual recipe is still top secret, but we can tell you that it is made from all local Whatcom County IQF Raspberries, Strawberries and Blueberries mixed in with some local All-Guernsey honey yogurt - NO ICE! You just have to try one! They will be sold from the Whatcom County Dairy Women's two locations during the fair. Help celebrate the Fair's Centennial and Local Agriculture with this refreshing, delicious and healthy treat.
Find terriffic dairy and berry recipes at:
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Stanford Article Shows Greenhouse Gas Mitigation by Agricultural Intensification
A recent article published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) makes a case for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation by Agricultural Intensification. Although production of modern fertilizer products contributes to greenhouse gas, the net effect of the net effect of higher yields has avoided emissions of up to 161 gigatons of carbon since 1961.
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Northwest Farms & Food Website
How to prepare your delicious local
food products
Larry Kimmett is everywhere there's local food and farming news! We just ran into him again at the digester ground breaking event last week. Together with his wife he publishes a popular new website that integrates learning where to buy fresh local food products and what to do with them when you get home to the kitchen. The interactive farm map is the centerpiece of the site. Local farms can get a free listing on the site, or opt to add a slideshow to their listing, or online advertising for a fee. The site also offers farm news and gardening tips.
Visit http://nwfarmsandfood.com/
Read the June 2010 Capital Press article about the site.
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 2010 Food & Farm Finder Farm Friends and Sustainable Connections teamed up again this year to produce the Food & Farm Finder guide. This 48 page booklet lists local vendors for farm fresh vegetables, fruit, dairy & eggs, meat & seafood, trees & garden, locally crafted food products, as well as restaurants, caterers, and markets.How can I get a Food & Farm Finder? The Whatcom Food & Farm Finder will be distributed at over 200 local businesses and organizations this year. A few places where you can count on finding them are: Whatcom Public Libraries, Bellingham / Whatcom Tourism, Village Books, the Community Food Co-op, the Bellingham Public Market, the Bellingham and Ferndale Farmers Markets, and Chambers of Commerce throughout the county. You can also visit the Farm Friends office at 1796 Front St in Lynden to pick up a copy, or call 360-354-1337 for more locations.
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Got some News to Share?
Contact Whatcom Farm Friends with your food and farming related announcements, events, or news. We may be able to help you share it in one of our upcoming Farm Flash newsletters!
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Whatcom County's rich farmland has sustained families and communities for thousands of years. Today it is more productive than ever, providing thousands of people around the world with valuable food products.
But farming in Whatcom County provides more than just healthy food. Well managed farms and farmlands means preservation of our rural vistas, our natural resources, and the sense of place we call Whatcom County. As such, all citizens of Whatcom have a stake in leaving a healthy legacy for our children and grandchildren.
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Local Dairy Farmer Featured on King 5 Tomorrow
Tune into King 5 New Day Northwest tomorrow, Wednesday, July 21 at 11:00am and you'll see some familiar faces. Margaret Larson will be interviewing Larry and Cheryl DeHaan as part of the Meet the Farmer focus for Darigold. The DeHaan's have been Darigold shippers since 1973. They farm about 300 acres north of Lynden and milk about 470 Holsteins and Registered Brown Swiss. They will be taking a calf with them onto the downtown Seattle set!
Cheryl is also the Program Manager for Community Education for Whatcom Farm Friends. Go Cheryl!
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Henry Bierlink, Farm Friends Executive Director
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My View
The Importance of Water
Farm Friends was formed 17 years ago as the Whatcom County Agriculture Preservation Committee (WCAPC). Concern over the status and future of agricultural water rights were what prompted the need for such an advocacy organization.
In one sense nothing has changed in 17 years. Water Rights, both agricultural and domestic, are uncertain in their long range status. Few water rights have been granted in the past decades despite over 556 applications from Whatcom County since 1993.
In another sense, much has changed. The endless debates over water between local governments, the Tribes, and water users have initiated several water negotiations that show some promise of putting realistic solutions to work. The debates have been frustratingly lengthy and have consumed farm more time than any of us could have imagined 17 years ago. But they have helped us to better understand each other's perspectives and have established some basis for community constructive solutions to our water issues.
Farmers argue that without water management we really don't have much farmland here. It makes NO sense to commit to farmland protection without addressing the water constraints on that farmland. This means wise and creative flood management. It points to maintaining our drainage systems in a manner that respects the water quality and habitat needs of fish and shellfish. It underlines the need to long range access to irrigation and stock water to support the type of farms that have developed in Whatcom County.
Farmers are not alone in these concerns. We have good company! Local cities and even those seeking to build in rural areas have either already confronted water issues or are soon to. Farmers throughout the nation and world are struggling with similar water concerns (National Geo had an article on the Murray Basin in Australia about 18 months ago). Water is at the heart of land use and rural economic issues both here and around the world.
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Nathan Smit, Farm Friends' Newest Board Member
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Farm Friends Welcomes Nathan Smit to the Board of Directors
Whatcom Farm Friends would like to welcome Nathan Smit of Smit's Dairy Compost to our board of directors as of July 2010. Nate grew up on a north Lynden dairy and remains a vital part of his family business along with his composting business.
The Farm Friends 13 member board of directors is comprised of both farm and non farmmembers who represent Whatcom County's various major Agriculture sectors, as well as higher education, financial planning, and technology.
"Working with a diverse board allows us to address Ag issues in the larger context of the community. The variety of perspectives is a strength in our ability to protect Ag's long term future in Whatcom County," said Henry Bierlink, Farm Friends Executive Director.
As Smit joins Farm Friends we say goodbye to Tom Eckert, the president of Bellingham Technical College, who has served on the Farm Friends board since 2007. Eckert has recently accepted the presidency of another Technical College in his home state of Wisconsin. Many thanks to Tom Eckert for his service to Whatcom County Ag.
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Lynden High School horticulture garden will live on this summer at the Farming For Life Demonstration Garden
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Farming for Life Demonstration Garden
A living garden at the Fair this year!
This year at the Fair Farm Friends is facilitating a living demonstration garden that will be part of the Farming Adventure Center. Raised beds have been constructed at the site and the gardens are growing there now.
In late June Cheryl DeHaan of Farm Friends led a team of volunteers including Barnyard Kids 4-H Club members and leader Joanne Odens, Dorie Belisle of Bellewood Acres, and Dorie's grandson to transplant vegetable plants from the Lynden High School Horticulture student garden to the new AAC fairgrounds garden site Plants included corn, sunflowers, beans and squash. Come out and see us at the Fair in August!
Volunteers transplant plants to the new Farming for Life Demonstration Garden at the Fairgrounds
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County Loses PDR Program Staffing
Whatcom County's budget woes have cost us the support of Senior Ag Planner Dean Martin. Dean has provided valuable support to the ag community from his role in the County's Planning and Development Services Department. He was the lead support for the Ag Advisory Committee , provided assistance to the PDR program, and was the go-to-guy for all internal questions regarding the effect of County decisions on local farmers.
The county's Ag Advisory Committee sent a letter of concern to County Council detailing their feedback on the impact of the list of Martin's position.
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National Geographic Explores Water
April 2010 Issue Dedicated to Water
This spring National Geographic Magazine explored water as a theme for the entire issue. The NGM website features two pieces that were included in the hardcopy magazine in the pull out insert. In order to view these interactive pieces you'll need the current Flash Player installed on your computer.
The World of Rivers
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/04/water/water-animation
This interactive piece shows that very little land on our planet is untouched by flowing water. At Farm Friends when we talk about why land use and water use policies should be integrated, we think this striking graphic representation makes our case for us. Land and water are literally inseparable.
The Hidden Water We Use
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/embedded-water/
This interactive piece allows you to compare different food products and how much water they take to produce. Click the graphic below to see an enlarged graph of a sampling of the statistics in the NGM piece.
Click the image to see a larger version
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Another View of Food Inc.
Responding to Current Media on Our Food System
Farm Friends encourages our farmers and consumers to participate in the healthy debate over the future of world agriculture and our food supply. Go see films like Food Inc.or read the numerous books about food that have been bestsellers recently. But we encourage you to also read responsible defenses of the current state of American agriculture like this one by the American Agri-Women.
We don't argue that there are legitimate criticisms of the way we produce the food we enjoy so cheaply. Just like in our recent financial meltdown there are places where greed and short term decision-making has left us with systems that are indefensible when you step back and honestly reflect. But we also have respect for landowners who have diligently and honestly worked through the complexities of balancing animal husbandry, crop production, and the environment.
There are not many more important tasks than providing safe and affordable food to the world."
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Randy Bartelds of the Trillium Co. and Tom Westergreen explaining tree species and how good stands of timber are developed and managed. Click the image to see a photo gallery.
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Whatcom Women in Timbers
27th Annual Woods Tour - Another Success
Article by Dick Whitmore
On June 11th the Whatcom County Chapter of the Washington Women in Timber hosted their 27th woods tour. Over eighty guests and 18 resource people boarded two Mt. baker school district buses and headed up the middle fork of the Nooksack river to see how Washington's forests are managed.
The eighteen resource people represented land managers from
The U.S. Forest Service, Washington Department of Natural Resources, the City of Bellingham, the Olivine Corporation, and various sectors of the timber industry.
The main attraction was visiting a logging operation on Longview timberland. The harvesting of the timber was being accomplished by Bill Blockley and Sons. Mr. Blockley and his crew spent a great deal of time setting up the operation so visitors could observe as much of the operation as possible. The visitors were able to see the cutting of the timber, yarding of the timber to the landing, and the loading of the logs onto a log truck. As the visitors observed the logging the resource people explained what was going on in the woods. All questions from the visitors were welcomed and answered. Bill Blockley took time out from running the Skagit BU 80 yarder to talk to the visitors and share his 50+ year career in the woods.
The rest of the tour was spent explaining forest management practices on the various different ownership of land. In the middle fork drainage there is federal, state, and private landowners. Many of the visitors were surprised and delighted to find out that no matter the ownership, protection of the soil, water and wildlife is not only desired but required. Our visitors were also surprised at the multiple uses of this watershed. The uses varied from timber harvesting, wildlife management, water supply for the city of Bellingham, Olivine for refractory, cultural practices, recreation and more.
The tour ended with a great lunch hosted by the Women in Timber at the local senior center. The only part missing this day was the sun. Unfortunately we were not able to see the incredible views of Mt. Baker, the Twin Sisters and, the picturesque Middle fork of the Nooksack River valley.
We hope that next year more of our Farm Friends can join us to see how much of the same pleasures of managing our lands for the present and the future we share. See you next year.
View more photos from the tour day:
Woods Tour Image Gallery
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Save the Date for the Whatcom Harvest Dinner: Sept 26th
Whatcom Farm Friends, Fourth Corner Slow Food, Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA), and Explorations Academy are collaborating to host the 9th Whatcom Harvest Dinner at Boxx Berry Farm at 4pm on Sunday, September 26th. Dinner will feature the best of the local harvest prepared by many of Whatcom County's top chefs.
In past years the Harvest Dinner has been held at the Majestic and at the Village Green in Fairhaven, as well as most recently at the Depot Market Square. This year's event will be held "in the field" at Boxx Berry Farm in Ferndale, WA. This elegant pastoral location is the perfect setting for a meal that celebrates the abundance of Whatcom County.
As always, the menu will highlight the best of the Whatcom harvest from local food producers. You can expect to find local seafood, meats, artisan cheeses, baked goods, and farm fresh produce on the menu. Wine and beer will be available for purchase at a no-host bar.
Ample parking is available at the site, but we encourage attendees to take the shuttle service provided or plan a bicycle ride. The shuttle will pick up passengers at the Village Green in Fairhaven and Depot Market Square in downtown Bellingham before proceeding to Boxx Berry Farm. The $5 shuttle fee includes round trip service after the dinner. Start getting to know your friendly dinner companions as you ride through beautiful Whatcom County!
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Understanding Washington
Water Rights
Trout Unlimited - Washington Water Project (Formerly Washington Rivers Conservancy) recently released a revised handbook for irrigators in Washington State, titled Landowner's Guide to Washington Water Rights.
The revised handbook explains what it means to have water rights, options for changing and transferring water rights, details on avoiding relinquishment, and various options and opportunities that are available to help landowners voluntarily and collaboratively conserve and protect Washington's water resources.
You can download the revised handbook by going to:
http://www.tu.org/sites/www.tu.org/files/documents/2009-2ndEd.-FinalWRC-TUWWPHandbook.pdf |
Memberships and Sponsors July 2009 - July 2010
Many thanks you to all of our supporters! By becoming a member of Farm Friends, you can support a healthy agriculture base in our county.
Become a Member Now.
FARMING FOR LIFE 2010 SPONSORS
FOUNDATIONAL FFL SPONSORS $5,000
Eleanor and Henry Jansen Foundation
Whatcom Community Foundation
SILVER FFL SPONSORS $1000
Darigold Inc. Seattle
Washington Red Raspberry Commission
Washington State Dairy Products Commission
Whatcom County Dairy Women
BRONZE FFL SPONSORS $500
Bogaard Hay Company
Community Food Co-Op
Northwest Farm Credit Service
OTHER FFL SPONSORS
Mt Baker Vet & Embryo Trans Service, Inc.
Whatcom Manufacturing
Holmquist Hazelnut Orchards
Pfizer Animal Health; Michael Ferreira
Elanco Animal Health
Ace Hardware & Sports
Cascade Farms, Inc.
Stormhaven Farm
Cedarville Farm
Bellewood Acres
North Washington Implement
Paul Grey
Stoney Ridge Farm
COMMUNITY EDUCATION MEMBERSHIPS
All who support Ag Education, Awareness & Promotion
BARN RAISER ($5,000+)
Your name here!
RANCHER ($1,000 TO $4,999)
ConocoPhillips Company, Ferndale Refinery
Land O' Lakes Foundation
L.T.I. Inc.
Peoples Bank, Lynden
HARVESTER ($250 TO $999)
Eckert, Dr. Thomas
Port Of Bellingham
Timblin, Chuck
Vlas, Peter & Kim
CULTIVATOR ($100 TO $249)
Antholt, Chuck &Sharron; Three Pheasant Farm
De Waard, Dave; DariTech
Debruin, Pete & Terry; Everson Auction Market
Gillies, John & Marie
Goodman, Merideth
Grey, Paul
Hinman, Holly & Patrick Baker
Jennings, William
Joe's Garden
Jones, Todd & Allison; Fourth Corner Nurseries
Laird, Glen & Jean; Laird's Livestock Hauling
Lecocq, Irwin & Frances
Morse, D. C. Jr
Ormiston, Jim; Ag Appraisal Services
Peterson, David & Susan
Settlemeyer, Earl H.
Shumway, Ladd & Paige; Shumway's Berries
GARDNER ($25 TO $99)
Betz, Drew
Bierlink, Aaron
Bierlink, Henry & Evonne
Booth, Terri & Ken
Bratt, Calvin
Burdge, Rabel & Joyce
Eastside Market & Deli
Finger, Mike & Kimberly; Cedarville Farm
Grover, Patrick
Haase, Adrianne
Heinrick, Elsie
Hogan, Bill
Hostetler, Tim
Hovde Tree Farm
Howard, Immy
Hubbard, Bill
Jordan, Nancy & Travis
Koskela, Carl & Peggy; Koskela Blueberry Farm
Kraght, Randy & Barb; Barbie's Berries
Kuelz, Russell & Nancy
Laidlaw. Marge
Long, Michelle & Derek
Marshall, Elizabeth & Mark; Full Bloom Farm
Monjure, Joy
Neulicht, Lisa
Otto, Patricia
Raas, Daniel & Deborah
Stark, Elizabeth
Telgenhoff & Oetgen P.S.
VanDalen, Barbara
Voltz, Jeff & Nita
Warner, Daniel
Whitney, Glenn & Holly
Zylstra, Jerry; Zylstra Tire Center
IN-KIND MEMBERSHIP TRADES
Bellingham Chamber of Commerce
Lynden Pioneer Museum
Lynden Chamber of Commerce
Sustainable Connections
PRODUCER MEMBERSHIPS
Farmers actively involved in agriculture
DAIRY PRODUCERS
Appel Bros. Dairy, LLC
Blankers, Lance, Lazy Daisy Dairy
Blok, Roger & Jackie Blok's Evergreen Dairy, Inc
Bouma, Louis, Bouma Farm
De Boer, Albert
De Hoog, Jake
De Jager, Pete, Doubly Good Dairy
De Jong, Rod, Jon, Jeff & Mark, Eaglemill Farms
Feddema, Ted & Arnie, Feddema Dairy LLC
Langley, Shawn & Clarissa, Fresh Breeze Organic Dairy, Inc.
Larsen, Jim & Chris, Aldergrove Farms
Noteboom, Dan
Paul, C L The Paul Dairy, Inc.
Polinder, Sherm & Phyllis, Ronelee Farm
Smit, Greg and Jan
Smit, Robert & Debbie; Smit Dairy
Stap, Larry & Debbie, Twin Brook Creamery
Steensma, John & Karen, Steensma Dairy
Sterk, John, Alice, Kevin & Debbie, Sterk Dairy of Whatcom County, Inc.
Vande Hoef, Rod & Joan, Vande Hoef Dairy LLC
VanderVeen, Tim & Mindy, VanderVeen Dairy LLC
Van Berkum, Harold, Van Berkum & Sons LLC.
Van Dellen, Jerry
Van Ingen, Ben; Van Ingen Dairy, LLC
Van Mersbergen, Mark; Markwell Holsteiins
Van Middendorp, John, OK Dairy LLC
Vlas, Pete & Kim
Vreugdenhil, Marv, Hillview Dairy LLC
Wolfisberg, Hans & Colleen; Edelweiss Dairy
Zylstra, Kenneth
BERRY PRODUCERS
Allison, Carol, Cleaarian Berry Farm
Bathe, Raj, Bathe Farms, Inc.
Bjornstad, Jim, Bjornstad Farms
Cieslar, Brian
Dickinson, John, Riverland Farms, Inc.
Ehlers, Darryl, Ehlers Farm LLC
Honcoop, Randy
Hoyt, Gretchen, Alm Hill Gardens
Jackson, B.C. & Cheryl, Jackson's BlueBerry Farm
Korthuis, Ken
Koskela, Carl & Peggy, Koskela Blueberry Farm
Maberry, Matt, Curt Maberry Farm, Inc.
Maberry, Marty, Maberry Packing, LLC.
Piper Road Neighborhood
Rader, Brad, Rader Farms
Samson Farms, Inc
Sterk Berries LLC
Shumway, Ladd & Paige, Shumway Berries
Vander Veen, John, T.J. Veen Acre Farms Inc.
Van Diest, Stan & Kay, Van Diest Farm
Williams, Harry; Williams Farms
CATTLE PRODUCERS
Beyer,Robert & Beth
Chudek, Paul, Second Wind Farms
Deming, Walter
Holden, Dick & Berdell, Har-Hethlon Farms
Kirkman, Joe
Quanz, John
Whatcom Co. Cattlemen's Association
NURSERY / GREENHOUSE
Fast, Marvin & Lynn, Red Barn Lavender
Harrison, Brent, The Growing Garden
Jones, Todd, Fourth Corner Nursery
Pike, Gary & Christina, Tuxedo Garden
Van Wingerden, Mike; Van Wingerden Garden Center
Troutman, Paul, Cascade Cuts
TREE FRUIT
Belisle, Dorie & John; BelleWood Acres
Gavette, Derek & Debi; Stoney Ridge Farm
Gmeiner, Lawrence, Flying B Ranch
Holmquist, Richard, Holmquist Hazelnut Orchards, LLC
ORGANICS
Antholt, Chuck & Sharron; Three Pheasants Farm
Dykstra, Pete & Dorene, Hopewell Farm
Finger, Mike & Kimberly, Cedarville Farm
Harrison, Brent; The Growing Garden
Powers, Steve & Karen; Big Sky Garden
Wagner, Les & Ginny Third Thyme Farm
OTHER PRODUCERS
Ebe, Greg & Mary (Seed Potato)
Barron, Leonard & Gwen (Poultry)
Johnson, Keith; Keith Johnson Fish
WC Farm Forestry Association (Farm Forestry)
Stremler, Ken, Alpine Meadows Tree Farm
Berardi, Gigi (Small Farm)
Boon, Keith; Professional Turf Growers, LLC
Derr, Vernon & Elaine; Fern View Farm (Heifer)
VanDe Garde, Vern (Heifer)
AG BUSINESS MEMBERSHIPS
Agriculture related businesses who support Producers
PLATINUM ($1,000 TO $4,999)
Peoples Bank - Lynden
Larson Gross PLLC
Whatcom Farmers Coop
Versacold Cascade, Inc.
GOLD ($500 TO $999)
Andgar Corporation
Daritech
Northwest Dairy Association
Northwest Farm Credit Services
Northwest Liquid Transport
Northwest Plant Co.
SILVER ($250 TO $499)
Delaval Direct
Kulshan Veterinary Hospital PLLC
N3 Consulting
Northwest Propane LLC
Pea Pod Industries
Reisner Distributor, Inc.
Pacific Pumping
Whatcom Refrigeration Inc
BRONZE ($100 TO $250)
Bogaard Hay Company
Littau Harvester
Northwest Farms & Food
Northwest Propane LLC
Oxbo International Corp.
Watertec, Inc.
OTHER
Dairyline Communications
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Whatcom Farm Friends Board
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Sherm Polinder, President - Dairy
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Chuck Antholt, Vice President - Produce / WWU
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Dorie Belisle, Secretary - Tree Fruit
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Marv Tjoelker, Treasurer - Larson Gross CPA
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Debi Gavette - Agritourism
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Mark DeJong - Dairy
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Nathan Smit - Smit's Dairy Compost
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Brad Smith - WWU
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Paul Grey - Technology
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Marty Maberry - Berries
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John Vanderveen - Dairy / Berries
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Whatcom Farm Friends Staff
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Henry Bierlinnk, Executive Director |
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| Holly Hinman, Administrator |
Cheryl DeHaan, Community Ed Program Mgr |
Cathy Kellett, Office Manager |
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Whatcom Farm Friends Contractors |
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| John Gillies, North Lynden WID |
Heather MacKay, Natural Resources Marketplace |
John Quanz, Wildlife Control |
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Thank you for supporting Farm Friends!
The future of Agriculture in Whatcom County depends on many partners. You are one of them! Become a member.
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