Food, Agriculture, Relationships and Markets (FARM) Fund

Investing in Island Agriculture

Providing critical capital to support local farmers and strengthen the local food economy.

Island farmers face extreme financial barriers. The FARM (Food, Agriculture, Relationships, Markets) Fund provides critical capital to farmers, producers, processors and distributors to implement projects that strengthen our local food economy. The Fund is committed to pursuing innovative ways to develop regenerative agriculture, increase the supply and availability of local food, and promote the financial viability of San Juan County farms and food businesses.

How The Farm Fund Works

Helping San Juan County commercial agricultural producers start, strengthen, and grow.

The FARM Fund grant program puts capital directly into the hands of commercial farmers who need it to start, strengthen, or grow their operation. The fund provides up to $2,500 to local commercial growers for projects that strengthen long-term farm viability and land stewardship practices.

Applications Open:

December

Grants Awarded:

Early February

Who's Eligible?

FARM Fund recipients must be commercial growers in San Juan County.

Putting Capital in Farmers' Hands

Since its inception in 2015, the FARM Fund has provided over $270,000 in funding to 60+ San Juan County farms.
Grants focus on projects that strengthen and develop regenerative, commercial agriculture in San Juan County, while increasing the supply and availability of local food.

Past projects funded include:

hoop houses
trellis systems
fencing
farm tools
irrigation equipment
cool storage
and more

From the FARM Fund Recipients

“We truly appreciate the opportunity and support —it has allowed us to expand our operations and make a meaningful difference this year.”

Mia's Garden, San Juan Island

Farmers-to-Farmland participants & 2025 FARM Fund recipients

“The San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild has been instrumental in helping us build a strong foundation for Ladybird Farm's inaugural year. As first-generation young farmers, there seems to be an endless list of new challenges and opportunities to navigate especially in regards to land transfers/land access agreements. The Ag Guild was able to connect us with folks that provided valuable guidance that allowed us to form a non-traditional lease agreement that we hope will be an outline that feels possible for others in the future.”

Ladybird Farm, Lopez Island

Farmers-to-Farmland participants & 2026 FARM Fund recipients

Find the full list of FARM Fund Recipients from years past HERE.

Using Community Dollars to Support Local Commercial Agriculture

The FARM Fund was founded in 2015 by the Orcas Food Co-op and is now a county-wide program managed by the Ag Guild.

Stewardship of the fund transitioned in 2020 in support of its long-range goals to shift management to a neutral third party and scale into a countywide program. This also made it possible to accept tax-deductible donations to support the FARM Fund, helping grow the program’s impact through a combination of private donations and foundation grants.

The Ag Guild and a committee of community representatives from across the islands administer the program together to ensure it evolves alongside the needs of our farmers and food system. Current committee members include representatives from WSU SJC Extension, SJI Grange, SJICD, the SJI Farmer’s Market, Transition Lopez, and local farmers.

Help Grow the FARM Fund

The FARM Fund provides a unique opportunity to give your dollars directly to island farmers. Each gift makes a tangible impact on the local food system, improving local infrastructure, island resiliency and reducing financial barriers for farmers.

Do you have More Questions?

Who is the grant committee and how is this program managed?

The FARM Fund is managed by Ag Guild staff, Ag Guild board members, and a group of community partners. Together, the committee identifies gaps in San Juan County’s food system to best serve the needs of local commercial farmers, distributors and producers. Every year the application is reviewed to make refinements and improvements. The FARM Fund Grant Committee is committed to the principles of good grant-making, due diligence, and applying an equitable and transparent process. Awards are made for projects that are well-conceived and likely to be successful. Awards are made for projects that are able to begin immediately and that will positively impact the current growing season.

How is the FARM Fund supported?

The FARM Fund is 100% supported by the generosity of private foundations and donations. This allows us to directly redistribute the dollars where needed most – without the burden of regulatory limitations.

When does the FARM Fund open?

Applications open in December and grants are awarded in early February

How much money is typically granted to each farmer who applies to the FARM Fund?

The FARM Fund provides up to $2,500 to local commercial growers

Who is eligible for the FARM Fund?

FARM Fund recipients must be commercial growers in San Juan County

How much funds are available each year?

Each year the amount of funds available varies depending on fundraised support. In 2026, amount distributed was $39,770