About Farmers-To-Farmland
A Path to Local Agrigulture
Farming in the San Juan Islands takes creativity, resilience, and a deep commitment to place. But for the new generation of farmers, finding affordable land, building a viable farm business, and navigating the unique challenges of island agriculture can make getting started feel daunting. Farmers-to-Farmland (F2F) was created to help change that.
Since 2016, the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild has worked alongside WSU Extension, San Juan Islands Conservation District, Northwest Agricultural Business Center, San Juan Islands Food Hub, and local farmer mentors to make entering and succeeding in agriculture more possible for beginning farmers throughout San Juan County.
At its heart, F2F is about making sure there is a next generation of farmers ready to steward the land, grow food, and carry island agriculture forward.
Building a Future for Farming
San Juan County is at an important crossroads
Local farmers are aging, and a significant transition of farmland is on the horizon. The average age of a San Juan County farmer or rancher is 60.3 years old, with nearly half of farmers over 65. Much of that land will need new stewards. Currently, there is no shortage of people who want to farm it: 33% of local farmers are already new to agriculture. But beginning farmers face significant barriers:
The cost of farming is
higher on an island.
Farm inputs often have to travel by ferry, while specialized agricultural services may require farmers to travel to the mainland—adding time and expense to an already challenging business.
Access to land is
increasingly out of reach.
The average value of a farm in San Juan County is $913,345. Combined with high housing costs and a limited local market, purchasing farmland is simply not an option for many aspiring farmers.
The next generation
needs a way in.
Farm succession, land access, mentorship, and business support are all essential pieces of keeping agricultural land productive and ensuring that farming remains part of our islands' future.
What Farmers-to-Farmland Provides
Amplifying access, cultivating connections and providing support.
F2F helps beginning farmers navigate the many pieces of building a farm and finding a place to grow.
Through the program, farmers can access:
- Farmland connections — helping beginning farmers find opportunities to lease, purchase, or otherwise access agricultural land.
- Market connections — helping farmers identify opportunities to sell what they grow and strengthen their connection to local markets.
- Mentorship — connecting beginning farmers with experienced local farmers who can share knowledge, perspective, and hard-earned lessons.
- Peer networks — creating opportunities for beginning farmers to learn from and support one another.
- Technical assistance and education — practical resources and individualized support to strengthen farm skills and decision-making.
- Farm business development — guidance to help farmers build economically viable, environmentally sustainable, and socially resilient farm businesses.
Because becoming a farmer isn’t just about knowing how to grow something. It’s about building a business, finding land, developing relationships, learning from experience, and finding your people.
The Impact
Beginning farmers and ranchers have started farming
Beginning farmers and ranchers have improved their farm's economic, environmental, and/or social success
Beginning farmers and ranchers have developed their farm business
Beginning farmers and ranchers have developed skills through training and technical assistance
Beginning farmers and ranchers have developed peer-support networks
Beginning farmers and ranchers have been connected with financing opportunities
Beginning farmers and ranchers have been connected with farmland
Farmer mentorships have been facilitated
From the Field
Farming Needs a Future
The future of agriculture in the San Juan Islands depends on supporting local farmers and strengthening farming viability. Farmers-to-Farmland is one piece of the puzzle: connecting people to land, knowledge, markets, mentors, and one another so that the next generation of farmers can flourish.
Are you a local farmer looking for resources or support? We’d love to hear from you.
We’re here to help you find the right resources and connections for your farm.