Meet the 12 Farms awarded Farmer Fund Grants
The Port Townsend Food Co-op is proud to announce the distribution of $79,276 in Farmer Fund Grants to twelve farms across East Jefferson County. These grants will help local farmers invest in critical infrastructure, equipment, and projects that improve food security and sustainability in our community. From mobile chicken coops to vacuum packing machines and wheelchair-accessible garden beds, these grants ensure that farms can grow, innovate, and continue providing fresh, local food to the region.
"We are thrilled to support these hardworking farmers who play a vital role in our community’s food system," said Kenna Eaton, General Manager of the Port Townsend Food Co-op. "These grants are about more than just funding projects; they’re about resilience, sustainability, and ensuring that local food remains accessible to everyone. Supporting small farms strengthens our local economy, protects farmland, and improves food security for generations to come."
About the Farmer Fund Grant Program
The Farmer Fund Grant Program is made possible by donations collected from Co-op members and shoppers from January through September each year. Every fall, local farmers and food producers apply for funding to support projects that will enhance their operations, increase production, and improve food distribution in Jefferson County.
The Co-op’s Community Engagement Committee, made up of three board members, two members-at-large, two Co-op staff, and a committee chair, carefully reviews each application. This year, the committee evaluated 43 applications with grant requests ranging from $1500 to $75,000.
"Choosing recipients is no easy task," said Andrea Stafford, Committee Chair. "Every application represents a farm working hard to provide food for our community, and we take our responsibility seriously. Through rigorous discussion and a scoring process, we aim to distribute funds in a way that maximizes impact. This year’s grants will make a tangible difference for these farms, and we hope to grow the fund even more in 2026 to support additional projects."
The committee granted two full grants and ten partial grants to local farms ranging from $1,500 to $15,000, with funding going toward farm infrastructure, storage solutions, equipment purchases, and accessibility improvements. Farms receiving grants for 2025 are; Chimacum Valley Dairy, Food Bank Gardens, Friends of the Trees Botanicals, Gray Fox Farm, Kodama Farm and Food Forrest, Midori Farm, Mystery Bay Farm, One Straw Ranch, Red Dog Farm, Salish Coast Production and Learning Garden, Spring Rain Farm and Orchard, Woodbridge Farm,
Meet the Farms
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Meet the Farms 🧑🌾
One Straw Ranch
One Straw Ranch, a family-run farm in Chimacum, raises 100% grass-fed beef, ethically raised pork, and high-quality eggs using sustainable and regenerative farming practices. Meet the the Fredericksons - Martin, Charlotte, Eli (8), Vera (6) and Grace (3)
With grant funding, the farm will purchase a mobile chicken trailer, allowing them to rotate their poultry more effectively, improving soil health and egg production.
📍 Find their products at the Port Townsend Food Co-op, Chimacum Corner Farmstand, and KitsapFresh.org.
Gray Fox Farm
Gray Fox Farm, located on 10 acres in Beaver Valley, is a diversified farm cultivating berries, stone fruit, root vegetables, honey, eggs, and artisan jams and jellies. Owner Laurae is deeply engaged in community work, donating produce to local food banks and schools while also offering classes in beekeeping, food preservation, and traditional skills like hide tanning and basketry.
The Farmer Fund will help Gray Fox Farm complete the construction of a high tunnel, which has remained unfinished due to the cost of running electricity. This project will extend the farm’s growing season, increase local food production, and further support food sovereignty in the region.
📍 Find Gray Fox Farm products at the Port Townsend Food Co-op, Chimacum Corner Store, and Key City Fish
Kodama Food and Farm Forest
Kodama Farm, a small farm in Beaver Valley, applies no-till and regenerative farming techniques to grow a diverse selection of fruit and vegetables without the use of pesticides, herbicides, or synthetic fertilizers. The farm also raises Nigerian Dwarf goats, produces goat-milk soap, and is developing a food forest to support long-term sustainability.
The Farmer Fund grant will help Kodama Farm enhance its regenerative farming systems and improve its production capacity, further supporting its mission to grow nutritious food while fostering a diverse ecosystem.
📍 Visit Kodama Farm’s booth at Jefferson County Farmers Market or find their goat milk soap at the Chimacum Corner Farmstand and Port Townsend Food Co-op.
photo credit: Deja View Photography
Mystery Bay Farm
Mystery Bay Farm, a small farmstead dairy, has been producing award-winning goat cheese for 16 years. The farm prioritizes ethical goat care, sustainable land management, and farm-based education, offering public tours and seasonal internships.
With grant funding, Mystery Bay Farm will replace and repair essential dairy appliances, ensuring the continued production of its renowned chèvre.
📍 Find their cheese at Chimacum Corner Farmstand, Port Townsend Food Co-op, and Pane D’Amore.
Woodbridge Farm
Woodbridge Farm, a 24-acre farm in Chimacum Valley, specializes in market flowers, specialty poultry, eggs, and vegetables. Owner Peter Mustin is revitalizing the land, gradually bringing more acres into cultivation.
With grant funding, Woodbridge Farm will construct a portable chicken coop with a solar-powered electric fence, ensuring secure housing and predator protection for 300 laying birds. This investment will improve egg production and farm efficiency.
SpringRain Farm & Orchard
SpringRain Farm is a certified organic, family-owned farm producing berries, vegetables, orchard fruit, and pasture-raised proteins. The farm provides fresh, nutritious food year-round to the community through its farm stand, farmers markets, and local grocers.
With grant funding, SpringRain Farm will install a three-bay reach-in cooler at its farm stand, increasing storage capacity and preserving freshness for customers.
Chimacum Valley Dairy
Chimacum Valley Dairy, a family-run cheesemaking operation, has been a Grade A cheese plant since 2014, producing naturally rinded, raw milk cheeses using low-mechanization techniques. Their handcrafted, semi-hard cheeses retain the integrity of the milk’s chemical structure, ensuring a richer, more flavorful product.
With grant funding, Chimacum Valley Dairy will purchase a vacuum packing machine, extending the shelf life and quality of their artisan cheeses. This investment will help the dairy maintain its commitment to high-quality, small batch cheesemaking.
📍 Find their cheeses at Port Townsend Farmers Market, Port Townsend Food Co-op, and online
Midori Farm
Midori Farm has been growing certified organic vegetables, plant starts, and crafting fermented foods since 2008. Specializing in sauerkraut and kimchi, the farm supports local food resilience through sustainable farming practices.
With grant funding, Midori Farm will purchase a 40-foot shipping container for storing greenhouse supplies, potting soil, and amendments, extending the lifespan of essential farm materials, and reducing waste.
📍 Find their products at the Port Townsend Food Co-op, regional retailers, and at their self-serve farm stand in Quilcene. CSA sign-ups open through February
Salish Coast Production Farm and Teaching Garden
The Salish Coast Production Farm and Teaching Garden is an integral part of the district's Farm to School program, providing students with hands-on learning experiences in sustainable agriculture, nutrition, and environmental stewardship. The garden serves as both a living classroom and a productive farm, growing fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs that are incorporated into school meals. Any surplus harvest is donated to local food banks, further supporting food security in the community.
With grant funding, the Port Townsend School Garden will expand its infrastructure by installing hydroponic systems in the new greenhouse, ensuring that students can continue to engage with year-round gardening activities. This investment will enhance both education and food production capacity, reinforcing the program’s commitment to healthy, locally grown food.
Friends of the Trees Botanicals
Friends of the Trees Botanicals, based at Finnriver Farm & Cidery, cultivates and wildcrafts over 150 species of botanicals, ensuring sustainability and high plant diversity. The farm’s agroforestry system includes medicinal herbs, trees, hedgerows, berries, and even edible weeds like dandelion.
The Farmer Fund grant will help upgrade their herb drying facility with a concrete slab, improving efficiency and processing capacity. This investment supports their 25+ year commitment to providing top-quality fresh and dried botanicals.
Red Dog Farm
Red Dog Farm, a certified organic and Salmon Safe farm, produces over 150 varieties of vegetables, berries, flowers, and plant starts on 23 acres. The farm distributes fresh, nourishing food through its CSA program, farm stand, local farmers markets, and regional grocers.
With grant funding, Red Dog Farm will acquire a BCS Model 749 walk-behind tractor to improve soil preparation and efficiency, strengthening its mission of sustainable organic farming.
📍Community members can support Red Dog Farm by joining the CSA program, purchasing produce at the farmstand and farmers markets, or using Dog Bucks for flexible shopping.
photo credit: David Conklin
Food Bank Growers – Quimper Grange Garden
Food Bank Growers (FBG) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to growing and distributing fresh produce to local food banks and shelters. The Quimper Grange Food Bank Garden is one of thirteen gardens in the FBG network and is the only one producing food year-round, thanks to its hoop houses and winter crops.
The grant will support the construction of a wheelchair-accessible garden bed, making it easier for volunteers of all abilities to tend crops. This project will expand food production while fostering inclusiveness and community engagement.
We want to wholeheartedly THANK our community for donating to the Farmer Fund in Support of Local Farms! We couldn’t do it without you!
Grant opportunities will be available again in fall of 2025.
The Port Townsend Food Co-op is committed to expanding the Farmer Fund and continuing to support small farms, sustainable agriculture, and food resilience.
Learn about the Farmer Fund program: https://www.foodcoop.coop/farmer-fund
