Grants from Tilth Alliance Boost WA Organic Farming

From boosting soil health to increasing biodiversity, a fresh crop of Washington farms is unlocking organic and sustainable agriculture’s potential – with support from Tilth Alliance’s Washington State Organic & Sustainable Farming Fund. 

We’re pleased to share this year’s recipients of these critical grants providing over $550,000 in financial assistance to farmers seeking to improve the economic viability, social impacts or environmental sustainability of their farm businesses. 

A Diverse Range of Farms Awarded 

This year’s recipients of the Washington State Organic & Sustainable Farming Fund grants represent the full geographic and agricultural diversity of Washington State. The awardees span 19 counties – from King County to Spokane and Klickitat – and include a wide range of farming operations. Among them are diversified vegetable growers, a dairy farmer, an orchardist, berry farms, producers of culturally relevant crops, poultry and livestock operations, medicinal herb growers, and more. The awardees include: 

Putting Funds to Work for Sustainability 

The grant funds will provide vital resources to recipient farms implementing projects designed to bolster environmental sustainability and regenerative agriculture practices. 

Many awardees plan to invest in infrastructure improvements like fencing, solar arrays, seed saving equipment, and compost system upgrades. Others will use the funds to improve soil health through practices like applying amendments, installing rainwater catchment systems, and transitioning to no-till methods. Some projects being funded include: 

• Goosefoot Farm in Chimacum plans to use their grant funds to establish a weekly vegetable share for diabetic and cancer patients of Jefferson Healthcare hospital. 
• Sound Sustainable Farms in Redmond plans to purchase supplies and materials to implement a system of passive greenhouse heating using microbes in compost heaps. 
• UTOPIA Washington Fa’atoaga in Kent will use their grant funding to help them purchase materials and equipment for growing culturally relevant produce. 
• Lang Boyd Orchard in Yakima plans to purchase materials and equipment for testing the efficacy of biochar in fruit production. 
• Kezama in Kent will use their grant funding to purchase supplies and materials for a small-scale anaerobic digester with biogas filtration system, a natural gas generator, and a new walk-in cooler. 

Cultivating Community Resilience 

The impacts of these grants extend far beyond the farms listed here. Several awardees are investing in shared-use equipment that can be utilized by neighboring farms, reducing both costs and carbon footprints. 

Many farms provide fresh and culturally relevant produce via local food banks, farm stands, and schools – some in areas where access to organic vegetables, meat, and milk is severely limited. These farms help address food insecurity while providing healthy, diverse options. 

“This grant will help us make farming not just survivable, but sustainable,” said Julie, Jane, Noah from Mountain Song Meadows (Marblemount). “[The funds] will help us establish the infrastructure we need to be able to bring much needed nourishment to our underserved community.” 

Several recipients also provide education to their communities and are able to share the benefits of sustainable practices with the public and train the next generation of environmental stewards. Their farms serve as living classrooms connecting people to the land. 

Kim Romain-Bondi of Classroom in Bloom (Winthrop) said, “We will use these funds to dig deep into our programs, inspire experiential education lessons connected with nature, and give the gift of empowering students to grow their own food. We are very excited about building our compost facility and the impacts this will have on our farm, our community, and the students here in the Methow Valley.” 

Join the Organic & Sustainable Movement 

By empowering diverse farmers with the resources to implement organic and regenerative practices, improve soil health, increase biodiversity, and mitigate climate impacts, Tilth Alliance is investing in our farming community’s future. As these awardees demonstrate, sustainable growing methods yield bountiful returns, from boosting food access and economic opportunities to preserving Washington State’s farmland for future generations. 

Tilth Alliance’s work would not be possible without the generous support of partners, donors and volunteers. Together, we can cultivate resilient communities rooted in environmental stewardship and equitable access to healthy, locally grown foods. Ways you can get involved and support Washington’s organic and sustainable farmers: 

• Sign up for our newsletter. Our monthly newsletter features events, resources, opportunities and more for Washington’s organic and sustainable farming community. 
• Join the Coalition for Organic & Regenerative Agriculture (CORA). CORA is a new coalition of farmers, organizations, and activists advocating for policies, programs, and resources that support broad adoption of organic, regenerative, and sustainable agricultural practices. Become a member today! 
• Attend the Tilth Conference in November. The Tilth Conference convenes hundreds of farmers, producers, researchers and food system professionals to connect and learn from one another about sustainable production practices and viable business strategies.