Tilth Alliance is proud to announce the 70 recipients of this year’s Washington State Organic & Sustainable Farming Fund grants. These awards provide critical financial assistance to farmers in support of projects that will enhance the environmental sustainability as well as the economic viability and social impact of their operations.

“We are incredibly honored to continue offering this essential financial support to Washington farmers,” said Rae Russell, a Farm Program Manager at Tilth Alliance. “Choosing awardees from a pool of so many deserving applicants, all of whom are striving to contribute to a resilient, sustainable local food system, nourish their communities, and steward their land and the environment, is a truly humbling experience. I’m grateful to be part of this community and to do my own part to help uplift such important work.”

Diverse Farms Across Washington Awarded

Recipients represent 20 out of Washington’s 39 counties, with strong representation from King, Thurston, Jefferson, and Skagit counties. Other awardees are located as far east as Spokane County and Pend Oreille and as far south as Klickitat and Clark. Most awardees are either certified organic or follow organic practices. The majority are diversified vegetable operations, with additional operations including mushroom cultivation, orchards, fiber farming, cultural produce and poultry production, and livestock operations.

Notably, 11 awardees are establishing new businesses, and nine projects involve collaborations between multiple farms. An impressive 48 awardees belong to historically underserved communities (BIPOC, Immigrant, Veteran, LGBTQIA+, and Woman-Sole Proprietors).

Funding Sustainable Practices

From investing in vermicomposting, to fencing for improved pasture management, to building solar arrays or purchasing seed saving equipment, these grants will support a wide range of projects across Washington. Many focus on soil health through compost system upgrades, soil amendments and transitions to low and no-till farming methods.

Other projects will improve water efficiency with irrigation system enhancements, while some dedicate resources to pastured poultry support or invasive plant removal and habitat preservation. All share a commitment to environmental stewardship and agricultural sustainability.

Spotlight Projects

• Sonder Farmstead (Deming): Building a solar-powered walk-in cooler for post-harvest storage. This LGBTQIA+, women-run farm focuses on feeding their community while helping, not hurting, the environment through no-till methods.
• Bahati Farming (Kent): Scaling up operations for this BIPOC, immigrant, woman-owned farm. The founder, who learned sustainable farming practices after fleeing conflict in Burundi, will expand to a full acre at Horseneck Farm to grow more cultural produce and increase community impact.
• San Juan Island Fiber Collaboration: Three farms (4th Seed Farm, Lum Farm, and Orcas Moon Alpaca Farm) are joining forces to purchase shared wool pelletizing equipment, transforming waste wool into a valuable soil amendment for farmers and the community.
• Blu Rooster Farm (Gig Harbor): This veteran-owned farm is establishing a new silvopasture system, strategically replanting fungal-resistant broadleaf trees and creating fencing and irrigation for their rotationally grazed sheep, chickens, turkeys, and pigs.
• Larsen Farm & Joon Farm (White Salmon): Implementing a more efficient and resilient irrigation system to reduce groundwater reliance by shifting to a spring-fed source from the Mt. Adam’s watershed.

Community Benefits

The impact of these grants extends beyond individual farms. Several farmers are purchasing equipment or building infrastructure they’ll share with neighbors, and many provide fresh, culturally relevant produce to food banks, farm stands, and schools – some in areas where access to organic products is severely limited.

Many farms provide education to their communities, sharing the benefits of sustainable growing methods with the public.

Farmer Reactions

The announcement generated excitement and gratitude from grant recipients:

• “I can’t believe it, I’m in shock. Thank you. The funds will help my farm in big ways.” – Ann G., Rolling Bounty Farm (Port Orchard)
• “I am so thrilled to be awarded this grant. It is a wild time to be a woman, neurodivergent egg farmer right now, so this win was a welcome light in life right now. I can’t wait to complete this final step of my solar-powered feed setup!” – Sarah G., Spotted Frog Farm (Olympia)
• “We are full of gratitude for this award and deeply appreciate Tilth Alliance’s commitment to supporting farmers and contributing to a more sustainable agricultural community.” – Angie C., Helsing Junction Farm (Rochester)

Investing in a Better Food Future

By empowering farmers with resources to implement organic and regenerative practices, Tilth Alliance continues investing in Washington’s agricultural future, yielding returns from improved food access and economic opportunities to preserving farmland. See the full list of grant recipients below and learn more about the Washington State Organic and Sustainable Farming Fund here.

Grant Recipients