Land Trust trying to save at-risk farmland

Published 5:00 pm Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Whidbey Camano Land Trust is trying to create public access to almost 10 acres of scenic farmland that sits next to 40 acres of untouched forest.

A few obstacles are still in the way, however.

The Whidbey Camano Land Trust needs to raise a total of $160,000 before March to buy the property. Otherwise, the land will be sold off to developers.

The farmland, which features gently sloping farm fields, unobstructed views of Cultus Bay and forested edges, was owned by longtime Whidbey Island resident Alvin Hammons.

Hammons lived on the property for more than 40 years. When he passed away, he wrote in his will that he wished to donate the land to the community so they could enjoy it as much as he did.

“The land was really important to him,” said Cary Peterson, a member of the land trust’s board. “He loved that land and wanted to see it preserved for others.”

Hammons’ listed three nonprofit groups as possible recipients of the land, on the condition that the property be kept as open space.

But none of these organizations could keep the farm as-is, Peterson said, and they wanted to sell the land.

So the estate offered instead to donate the 9.5 acre farm to the Whidbey Camano Land Trust, whose mission is to preserve and protect the islands’ natural habitats and rural lands.

But there was a condition — the land trust must pay off the property taxes and expenses that have built up since Hammons’ passing.

“We also have to have a substantial stewardship fund in order to have the money to take care of the property,” Peterson said.

In order to complete the project to acquire the property, the trust needs $90,000 for estate expenses and partial owner interest, $10,000 for project expenses, and a $60,000 stewardship fund to maintain and restore the land.

Although this may seem like a lot of money, Hammons’ farm is worth a lot more.

“For 9.5 acres, this is a fraction of its total value,” Peterson said. “So it is a great opportunity to acquire public land at low cost.”

The public could reap addition benefits from the Whidbey Camano Land Trusts’ acquisition of the farmland.

Hammons’ property has an extension that connects to 40 acres of state-owned forestland.

That land was originally slated to be logged. But the land is now in the process of of being transferred from the state to the county and slated for protection.

When and if the Whidbey Camano Land Trust obtains the Hammons’ property, the trust would provide public trail access to the 40 acres of forest.

“The other land is landlocked and doesn’t have any other access,” Pederson said.

Land Trust employees are working to preserve the farmland and respect Hammon’s intentions to keep the farm as undeveloped land.

“His gift of land is very special, as are his wishes that it would become a wildlife refuge,” Peterson said. “We are working to fulfill that legacy.”