Organic Farm School plants new roots in Maxwelton Valley

Published 3:19 pm Tuesday, June 21, 2016

The Organic Farm School has found a new home in the Maxwelton Valley, and it’s now accepting applications for enrollment.

The school set up shop on four acres of unused farmland near the intersection of Maxwelton and Campbell roads. Organization leaders are excited about the new location and its partnership with the property owners Ron and Eva Sher.

“We’re excited about this opportunity because it positions us in a very distinct place surrounded by farmers and supported by a community that genuinely supports local farms,” said Judy Feldman, executive director of the farm school.

Previously located at Greenbank Farm, the farm school began searching for new digs following the Port of Coupeville’s controversial decision last year to end its long-standing contract with the Greenbank Management Group, the organization that ran the farm. The split resulted in a loss for school funding, and rather than trying to stay it looked for greener pastures, Feldman said.

The school directors’ search for a new home brought them into contact with Sher, an off-island book store owner and self-proclaimed environmentalist. Sher also has acres of unused farmland on his property in Maxwelton. When approached about the possibility of using his land, Sher welcomed the opportunity with open arms. A land use agreement was signed in January.

“It just felt like the right thing to do,” Sher said. “We’re excited about the farm school coming here. We have a good arrangement for them to start and they have a lot of growth potential with what they’re allowed to do with the land.”

Sher and his wife have been involved with the Whidbey Camano Land Trust for years and are advocates of preserving the farmland and the wetlands of the Maxwelton Valley. It’s something he believes in so much that he has made an agreement with the Organic Farm School for them to use the land free of charge. Feldman says they won’t be charged for rent as long as it’s evident the farm school is serving the community.

The farm grounds are within an old horse racing track that hasn’t been used since before the Shers bought the property. The tilled ground takes up about half of the track’s inside, and there is plenty of room for potential expansion in the future, something Sher is open to if “there is a lot of positive energy around it.”

“As we progress beyond year one, if we need more space then we’ll work with the Shers to figure out how we can expand responsibly,” Feldman said.

Despite free rent, Sher has laid out financial goals for the farm school. He has asked the school’s directors to prove the community supports the program by raising $100,000 by the end of the first school year. He has also requested the school build a reserve fund for stability.

The school never built up a reserve fund while at Greenbank Farm, but Feldman says that is due to their prioritization of hitting the $0 mark financially, owing no money to any entity. The farm school has hit financial balance every year since it was established seven years ago.

The farm school is funded with tuition, grants and profits from produce sales. Tuition costs $6,500, although Feldman says it actually costs $10,000; the school needs to regularly fundraise to keep tuition low for their students. Some of that money comes from the produce the students sell. The profits are always returned to the farm school, Feldman says.

“Yes, it’s a revenue stream, but it’s part of the educational process,” Feldman said. “The students need to know how to sell and interact with potential buyers.”

With the new home comes new aspects of the farm school program. Feldman says this year the farm school will focus more on specifics within the business realm such as building markets, record keeping and how to use loans responsibly. While giving more focus to the business side of things, the program will also include a week-long tractor maintenance segment as well as more livestock training than what was previously taught. Feldman says the school is not abandoning its existing core program, just adding new facets to it.