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HomeMy WebLinkAbout062025 🌸 WSU Agriculture Newsletter - June 20_ 2025ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them. Events, Farmer Resources, Job Opportunities and more View this email in your browser <https://mailchi.mp/wsu/wsu-agriculture-newsletter-17592769?e=bae7ffec58> June 20, 2025 <https://mcusercontent.com/360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b/images/e9dec2c6-a793-8f98-ec76-7d9e577f4300.png> Agriculture Newsletter The latest workshops, resources, news, job and networking opportunities for farmers and the agriculture community in Clallam, Jefferson and Kitsap Counties. <https://mcusercontent.com/360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b/images/d7708057-12c2-4819-8000-0de32f8d2f4d.png> Regional Small Farms Program Website <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=46a7cf71d6&e=bae7ffec58> In This Edition: * In the News * WSU Workshops & Events * Community Events & Classes * Resources (funding, farmer support, food safety) * Land, Farm & Equipment Listings * Job & Internship Opportunities IN THE NEWS New! Clallam Farmers - Provide feedback on the County’s Comprehensive Plan June 26th, 5 - 7pm at Mighty Pine Brewery (Port Angeles) June 29th, 4:30 - 6:00pm at Barhop Pizza (Sequim) June 30th, 11am - 1pm at WSU Clallam County Extension office Find more info here <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=c8749bb6f1&e=bae7ffec58> . WSU Clallam County Extension is holding several LISTENING SESSIONS during the month of June to gather feedback on what farmers would like to see included in the plan update. We recognize that the timing is totally terrible for all you busy farmers! But in accordance with the County’s schedule for completion of the plan by December, this month is a timely opportunity to provide preliminary input to the County’s Department of Community Development as they are developing the initial draft. There will be further public feedback opportunities to comment on the draft plan during the fall. WSU WORKSHOPS & EVENTS <https://mcusercontent.com/360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b/images/98bea72c-495b-41a4-94c0-48510b7b49cf.jpg> View all WSU events! <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=aefbbabbae&e=bae7ffec58> Monday! Grow Your Farm with Agritourism: A Guided Tour & Class at Jardin du Soleil June 23rd, 5:30 - 7:30 pm Sequim Pre-register here! <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=467a2fa70d&e=bae7ffec58> Discover how agritourism can help your small farm thrive. Join Paul Schiefen, co-owner of Jardin du Soleil Lavender Farm and Farm and Food Business Development Program Manager at the North Olympic Development Council, for a behind-the-scenes tour of a working farm that has built a strong, diversified agritourism model over the past two decades. This practical, hands-on class will explore proven strategies for adding on-farm income through events, animal experiences, you-pick operations, farm stays, processing demos, and more. Presented by the North Olympic Development Council and the WSU Regional Small Farms Program, this session is designed specifically for small farm owners looking to diversify, attract visitors, and build long-term sustainability through engaging customer experiences. New! Dirt Talk Farm Walk: Collaborative Farming July 2nd, 10am-12pm Port Townsend Pre-register here! <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=11c535a699&e=bae7ffec58> Join WSU Regional Small Farms Program for a dynamic and interactive Dirt Talk Farm Walk focused on the theme of multi-enterprise collaboration on a single farm property. This event will explore how farmers working under a shared land model can strengthen their operations through collective practices. Whether raising livestock, growing vegetables, managing florals, or stewarding perennials, each enterprise faces unique challenges, but also opportunities for collaboration. This is an excellent opportunity to learn, share stories, and build practical tools for your own farm or collaborative project. Topics Include: * Identifying biosecurity risks and challenges * Opportunities for improved biosecurity plans and protocols with mixed livestock and crops * Communication and decision-making strategies for working together * Sharing farm infrastructure Participating host farms A subset of Natembea farmers including Soft Step Farm, Mollayo Farm, Fig and Otter Farm, The Hedgerow by Cruising Climate, The Sheep Cooperative, Two Gals and Some Goats. Who should attend? Collaborative farm managers, individual enterprise farmers, ag educators, beginning farmers, farm workers. This farm walk is not open to the general public. New! Practical Pig Keeping for Small Farms July 8th, 10am - 12pm Pre-register here! <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=90df3c6d56&e=bae7ffec58> Join WSU Kitsap and Regional Small Farms for a Dirt Talk Farm Walk on a small-scale, pastured pig farm. Brian Stahl will talk about how Winney Farm was started and how it has grown over the years. Participants will see how pigs are integrated on this farm that also raises poultry, cattle, and diversified vegetable crops. Brian will cover topics such as feeding, breeding, and a unique fencing system that allows them to rotationally graze the pigs. This Dirt Talk Farm Walk is for farmers, especially new and beginning farmers, or farmers who are interested in integrating pigs into their farm and farm business. New! Living on the Land Workshops: From Egg to Hen- Raising Chickens for Beginners July 15th, 10am - 12pm Pre-register here! <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=aeabcfa2de&e=bae7ffec58> Living on the Land Workshops are for people living on small acreage, backyard growers, and anyone interested in connecting with their local food systems. This Living on the Land Workshop will take place at local animal rescue Happy Grounds Farm & Sanctuary in Poulsbo, where participants can see how chickens are cared for in a diverse livestock setting. This class will be taught by farm owner Karissa Holcombe and WSU Kitsap Extension coordinator Clare Menard, a former farmer with extensive chicken experience. Topics covered will be how to raise chickens from when they arrive all the way into their adulthood, feeding and housing them, and keeping them safe and healthy. Karissa will also talk about her chicken first aid kit and her methods for treating various injuries in her flock. New! Cultivating Success: Explore Your Farm Dreams Date: Monday, August 18th 6-9pm Location: Virtual, statewide with Spanish interpretation Cost: $15 per person – Scholarships available to anyone for whom the class fee is a barrier Registration: https://www.cultivatingsuccesswa.org/courseregistration <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=c2bd905d0e&e=bae7ffec58> Dreaming of beginning or expanding your own small farm? The WSU Cultivating Success™ series of courses combines workshop and farmer-direct learning experiences to help foster the success of new and existing farms. First up in the series is Explore Your Farm Dreams, a 3-hour workshop designed to help you explore the development of a small farm enterprise. New! Cultivating Success: Whole Farm Planning Dates: This series runs every Monday from Sept. 22nd through Nov. 3rd,  from 6-8pm Location: Online course through Zoom with regional in-person opportunities Cost: $200 registration per farm (up to 3 participants). Scholarships available for anyone for whom the course fee is a barrier. Visit the Cultivating Success website for more information and to register: https://www.cultivatingsuccesswa.org/courseregistration <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734621548 b3598b&id=d1cd2580b4&e=bae7ffec58> This Fall 2025 course will cover a broad range of topics including production and markets for today’s small farm! Whether you are just exploring the opportunities available or already have an existing operation, you’ll learn what it takes to create, sustain, and grow a viable small farm. COMMUNITY EVENTS & CLASSES Save the Date! Kitsap Farm Tour Sunday, 8/10 from 10am - 4pm See full event description <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=7aded72f0d&e=bae7ffec58> . Save the Date! Jefferson County Farm Tour Saturday and Sunday, 9/13 and 9/14 from 10am - 4pm See full event description <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=18e26dab1d&e=bae7ffec58> . RESOURCES Funding & Business Seattle Wholesale Growers Market Publication - Floral Standards, A Practical Guide for Harvesting and Delivering Professional Quality Products <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=d1b92723f9&e=bae7ffec58> This comprehensive guide <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b359 8b&id=28c392d6a7&e=bae7ffec58> for purchase provides detailed insights into the proper harvest stages and care techniques for processing cut flowers and foliage for wholesale floral sales. This reference book for specialty cut flower growers sets a high bar for quality and offers the granular detail necessary to produce and deliver a diverse array of floral products. Written by farmers for flower farmers, it contains a general section on best practices and product specification sheets for over 230 crops grown by Seattle Wholesale Growers Market (SWGM) Cooperative members. Information for each crop includes harvest stage, post-harvest care, stem counts, heights and bucket packs, expected vase life, recommended varieties for cutting, and shipping notes. Farmer Support and Information New! Peninsula Farmers - Olympic Cougar Project Seeking Participating Farms for Livestock Pen Study We want to know which fence designs and other tools are effective in keeping livestock safe in cougar habitat, and relatively cheap to implement. With your help, we can inform state wildlife managers, politicians, and everyday people about how best to protect their animals and coexist with large carnivores in rural landscapes. Learn more at panthera.org <https://wsu.us19.list-m anage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=c76a529ff4&e=bae7ffec58> or contact Matt Mahan at mmahan@panthera.org <mailto:mmahan@panthera.org> or 360.774.2825 Soil Moisture Sensors for Clallam County Farms <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=94064008f8&e=bae7ffec58> WSU Clallam County Extension in partnership with the Clallam County Conservation District, are installing Irrometer WATERMARK soil moisture sensors <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360 ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=cd16247973&e=bae7ffec58> on farms this season. These granular matrix sensors report how much water is available to plant root systems at varying depths in the soil, indicating if over (or under) watering has occurred. Clallam County farmers interested in these sensors, contact samantha.grieger@wsu.edu <mailto:samantha.grieger@wsu.edu> to learn more! Scholarship Opportunity to attend Compost Facility Operator Training, WSU Puyallup <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=d34e92ab9d&e=bae7ffec58> Training is held in person from October 13th - 17th in Puyallup The training is four full days at the Washington State University Puyallup Research and Extension Center and one day touring commercial compost facilities. The current curriculum consists of classroom training, hands-on interactive sessions, field trips, and a written examination. Topics covered include: * Compost Use in Agriculture and Horticulture * Biology of the Compost Pile * Feedstock Management * Regulations * Odor Control and Response * Sampling and Testing * Compost Quality * Compost Facility Operations This scholarship provides an opportunity to help minimize the cost of attending CFOT for people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend, including post-graduate students, non-profit composters, and emerging industry professionals. This enriches our collective training experience and the Washington composting community by welcoming people with diverse backgrounds who deserve to contribute to our shared mission, regardless of cost. Apply for Scholarship <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=029fd78b0e&e=bae7ffec58> Food Safety New! WSU Extension offers additional Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training (remote option) July 22nd and 23rd, 9 am - 1 pm PST both days Requirements: In order to participate, individuals must have video and audio capability, and will be required to have both operating during the entire training. The Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training provides an in-depth overview of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734 621548b3598b&id=9aa9e17b0a&e=bae7ffec58> , Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety. It satisfies the FDA's training requirement for covered farms under the Produce Safety Rule. LAND, FARM & EQUIPMENT LISTINGS New! Matsuda Farm Requests for Proposal (RFP) open on Vashon Island After 10 years of owning and operating Matsuda Farm, the Vashon Land Trust is inviting proposals and ideas from farmers in the Vashon community and beyond who would like to be part of the farm’s next chapter. The Land Trust will continue as owner of this historic property and will collaborate with this new leasing manager to maintain our original commitments to regenerative agriculture and habitat restoration on the farm. View RFP and information <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=f36de121eb&e=bae7ffec58> . Find - Sell - Lease Farmland Washington Farmland Trust Farm to Farmer Program aims to support landowners in the farm transfer process while helping create land opportunities that allow local producers to succeed in farming. The Farm to Farmer website allows participants to post listings about their land or farm business interests in Washington State. Browse listings or list your land here <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=6aad59f78b&e=bae7ffec58> . Want to include your listing in this newsletter? Email Kellie a link to your listing or attach a pdf, to kellie.henwood@wsu.edu. JOB & INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES New! Field Crew and Picking/Weeding Crew, Red Dog Farm, Chimacum See full job descriptions <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=50b134a0d4&e=bae7ffec58> . Want to include your job listing in this newsletter? Email Kellie a link to your listing or attach a pdf, to kellie.henwood@wsu.edu. You made it to the bottom! We strive to include as many newsletter requests to the best of our ability. Please email us <mailto:kellie.henwood@wsu.edu?subject=Newsletter%20request> with questions or inclusion requests. WSU Regional Small Farms Team Kellie Henwood, Jess Sappington, Clea Rome, Amit Sharma, Laurel Moulton, Clare Menard, Sallie Constant, Sammi Grieger WSU Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local WSU Extension office. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and special needs who contact your local WSU Extension office at least two weeks prior to the event. <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=ff0f4073b0&e=bae7ffec58> <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=ea95ca7bda&e=bae7ffec58> <mailto:kellie.henwood@wsu.edu> <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=a93d66a528&e=bae7ffec58> Copyright © 2025 WSU Extension Regional Small Farms Program, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: WSU Extension Regional Small Farms Program 121 Oak Bay Rd Port Hadlock, WA 98339 Add us to your address book <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/vcard?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=9e764ecf8d> This email was sent to jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us> why did I get this? <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/about?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=9e764ecf8d&e=bae7ffec58&c=ce0afb7fa0> unsubscribe from this list <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/unsub scribe?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=9e764ecf8d&t=b&e=bae7ffec58&c=ce0afb7fa0> update subscription preferences <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/profile?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=9e764ecf8d &e=bae7ffec58&c=ce0afb7fa0> WSU Extension Regional Small Farms Program · 121 Oak Bay Rd · Port Hadlock, WA 98339 · USA <https://wsu.us19.list-manage.com/track/open.php?u=360ae1ff3a734621548b3598b&id=ce0afb7fa0&e=bae7ffec58>