Small Farm Program

In March 2007, this Grange made it our official policy to:

“be an active advocate for Small Farm Stewards and small farm agriculture in our area”

To do this, we are to “contact these Small Farm Stewards to determine their problems so we can help them with coordinated corrective action,” “keep an ongoing contact with other Grange in our area to enlist their aid and to offer our help where appropriate,” and “enlist the aid of the Washington State Grange” (who has it’s own lobbyist to get legislation passed to benefit farmers.”

Sammamish Valley Grange, of all Granges, is taking the lead in this are, and here is our program:

The Sammamish Valley Grange is aiding the small producer by doing the following:

· We are working with the Sammamish Valley Alliance in setting up a networking and marketing group to get our small farmers to sell more of their products.

· We have fought to keep the Sammamish Valley from being developed, thus preventing an increase in property taxes that would drive away the small producer.

· Sammamish Valley Grange members were involved in creating a statewide discussion group to propose legislation that helps to advance the cause of the small farmer in the legislative arena.

· We give assistance to such local sustainable, small-producer programs like 21Acres and the Root Connection.

In order for us to effectively aid the small farmer, we need to have the input as to the needs of small farmers—especially in regulatory burdens which may work for large producers, but clearly appear designed to drive the small farmer out of business. Thus, you can either contact us and ask us what you would like to see us do, or, you may join Sammamish Valley Grange so you can help make policy - which ultimately should make it easier to do your job as a farmer, and less costly and burdensome as well. In fact, the more small producers we have, the more accurate a policy we can design that will best fit your needs.

Having a small farm provides many more challenges to overcome than an individual or corporation who has a large farm. A small producer must face the same regulatory, environmental, and market costs that a large farmer has, yet has less acreage, less product, and much smaller income that those same large farms. And no large organizations wish to commit to support the small producer.

Until now.

The Sammamish Valley Grange is committed to aiding the small farmer. We have helped landowners with their needs for a century, and we have the clout to aid the small farmer no other organization can.

For more information, you may email Frank Baker.

Small Farm Program

SAMMAMISH VALLEY GRANGE #286

Working to preserve the Sammamish Valley’s rural heritage—since 1909!

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