BVF Awarded Conservation Grant

Great news for the farm arrived recently in the form of a press release and a congratulatory email from Kathy Jacobson at ESD113. We have been awarded a grant through Fish and Wildlife to plant over 2000 trees and restore over 2000 feet of river bank and riparian buffer along the South Fork of the Chehalis river where it wanders through the farm. The ESD113 program's mission; "To help low income youth reach their educational and employment goals". The map below outlines the proposed scope of the planting, those of you familiar with the farm will recognize this lower field and the river.

We are very excited to continue our outreach and involvement with the youth of Lewis county. We already employ a young woman at the Chehalis Farmers Market through this program. She has proven a real asset to the farm, and I believe she really enjoys the real world experience of working at the market. My hat is tipped to Hannah for all her hard work in making this relationship with our community a reality. The press release follows.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2009

Contact:
Don Stuart, 206-860-4222, dstuart@farmland.org
Or
Kathy Marcella Jacobson, 360-464-6722, kjacobson@esd113.k12.wa.us


Local School District Receives Grant:—Students and Community Volunteers Will Save Salmon and Farms

Chehalis, Washington—The Educational Service District 113 (ESD 113) has received a grant that will allow it to help save both salmon and a local farm. The project will use ESD 113 students, and Chehalis River Council and Chehalis River Basin Land Trust volunteers to restore over 2,500 feet of riparian salmon habitat on the Boistfort Valley Farm. The project will provide much improved habitat for salmon while, at the same time, stabilizing stream banks and providing a vegetated (should this be a vegetation) buffer to reduce flooding.

“This is a big gain for both the fish and the farmer” says Kathy Marcella Jacobson, Chehalis Basin Education Consortium Coordinator for ESD 113. “Our work will prevent valuable farmland from eroding into the river and the new trees will create a natural barrier to minimize the damage from future floods. And, it will improve habit for fish and create a wonderful educational and volunteer experience for the children and citizens of this community.”

The grant comes from the Pioneers in Conservation program which pays for projects on farm and forest lands that help both the fish and a farm or forest business. “If we are to save our salmon,” says Don Stuart, of American Farmland Trust, “we need to also save our farms. This program shows how viable farms and healthy salmon go hand in hand – each can help with the survival of the other.” American Farmland Trust is a national nonprofit that helped create the Pioneers in Conservation program and currently assists with its administration.

Funding for the Pioneers in Conservation program is provided through the Washington State Conservation Commission and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). NFWF administers the program. A new round of Pioneers grants has recently been announced for a deadline of March 31, 2009. The new request for applications and details about the application process are available on line at the NFWF website at: www.nfwf.org/pioneers.

For further information about the grant and project, contact: Kathy Marcella Jacobson, Education Service District 113, 360-464-6722; kjacobson@esd113.k12.wa.us. For information about the Pioneers program, contact: Brian Ferrasci-O'Malley, Evergreen Funding Consultants, Phone: (206) 691-0700, Email: bferrasci-omalley@evergreenfc.com, or ▪ Cara Rose, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation – Western Partnership Office, Phone: (503) 417-8700, Email: cara.rose@nfwf.org, or ▪ Don Stuart, American Farmland Trust, Phone: (206) 860-4222, Email: dstuart@farmland.org.

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American Farmland Trust is a national nonprofit organization working with communities and individuals to protect the land, plan for agriculture and keep the land healthy. As the nation's leading advocate for farm and ranch land conservation, AFT has ensured that more than a million acres stays bountiful and productive. AFT’s national office is located in Washington, D.C. The phone number is 202-331-7300.