Blog - Tilth Alliance

September 22, 2026

By Melissa Spear, Executive Director I don’t know that I can add much to the outpouring of love, grief and reverence that has flooded my inbox over the past week in response to Wendell Berry’s passing. I am among those committed to his vision of a food system rooted...

Stories | Tilth Alliance

September 11, 2026

By Mark Musick, Tilth Alliance Board Member I was saddened to learn of Wendell Berry’s passing on August 31, but comforted by the knowledge of his enduring legacy, especially here in the Pacific Northwest. I first met Wendell on July 1, 1974, when I was serving on the documentation...

Our Work | WA Farming & Agriculture | News

August 31, 2026

Tilth Alliance has created a new Bridge Fund to help expand access to the Climate Smart Farm Equipment Grant (CSFEG) offered by the Washington State Dept. of Agriculture. Farmers who may face financial barriers to making upfront equipment purchases can apply for Tilth Alliance’s Bridge Fund. Funding will be...

Our Work | WA Farming & Agriculture

August 20, 2026

A project of Tilth Alliance with funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). Organic agriculture has grown from a grassroots movement rooted in Indigenous stewardship and mid-century soil-health advocacy into a formalized, federally regulated national program. Washington State has been a...

Our Work | Urban Agriculture

August 6, 2026

I’ve been working at Tilth Alliance for the past 18 years, and one of the things I’ve loved most during this time is the ability to help increase connection, stewardship, and access to our local food system for young people, new gardeners, local community groups, and everyone in between....

News | Tilth Alliance

July 29, 2026

Melissa Spear has led our work as Executive Director at Tilth Alliance for the last eight years. She guided us through the integration of three distinct organizations into the largest sustainable food-system nonprofit in Washington State. She supported us in navigating the pandemic, evolved programming in response to community...

Our Work | Environmental Stewardship

July 17, 2026

This year, we are celebrating a big milestone: 40 years of Seattle’s Master Composter / Sustainability Stewards (MC/SS) program. What started as a small idea from a handful of volunteers has grown into a program that has shaped how our city handles waste for four decades. Where It All...

Food & Nutrition | Our Work

April 8, 2026

Chef Nurhaliza Mohamath on Cham cuisine, food sovereignty, and keeping culture alive through food & storytelling. On March 15, we came together at Rainer Beach Urban Farm & Wetlands for My Cham Tongue: A Community Iftar — a celebration of Cham cuisine and history through the eyes of Chef Nurhaliza Mohamath....

Our Work | Events

April 6, 2026

Tilth Alliance has been happily coordinating with local growers for many years to grow and supply edible plants for both of our annual Edible Plant Sales. We purchase from farmers and growers who use certified organic or regenerative and sustainable methods. Over the last few years, we have added...

Our Work | Environmental Stewardship

April 2, 2026

Every year, our Soil & Water Stewardship program brings together 40 community members for a comprehensive, nine-month training in sustainable food production and natural resource conservation. This year, we received an incredible number of applications, and the enthusiasm and support from this community means everything. We began our first...