FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PCC Farmland Fund saves farm in Walla Walla Valley
Fund created by PCC Natural Markets secures land for raising organic livestock
Seattle, WA (January 5, 2004) — No longer in danger of becoming view lot ranchettes, 174 acres of deep silt soil in the Walla Walla Valley is now owned and protected by the PCC Farmland Fund. The Bennington Place, called after a longtime resident family, hosts an abundance of groundwater, an intermittent pond for migratory waterfowl and a well-kept house and outbuildings.
The Fund has leased the Bennington Place to the neighboring Huesby family, with an option to buy. The Huesbys, doing business as Thundering Hooves LLC, have farmed the land across the road for four generations. They raise pasture-ranged and pasture-finished livestock and poultry in an open, natural and low-stress environment with no growth hormones or antibiotics. The cattle eat only pasture grass and alfalfa. The land and operations are in transition to organic certification.
Thundering Hooves sells directly by contract, at farmers markets, to hotels such as the Woodmark, the Marcus Whitman and the Salish Lodge and to Seattle restaurants such as Flying Fish and Essential Baking Company’s cafes. The Huesbys deliver to the Seattle area on a weekly basis during their production season. For their story, visit www.thunderinghooves.net.
The Farmland Fund, an independent community-supported 501(c)(3) non-profit land trust, was created in 1999 by PCC Natural Markets. Thanks to donations from more than 1,400 individuals, families and businesses, in four years the Fund has raised nearly a million dollars and participated in protecting five farms.
“With this project the Farmland Fund steps over to the east side of the mountains, in affirmation of our statewide mission, as we embrace an additional sector of agriculture,” says its president, Jody Aliesan. “The Bennington Place satisfies all four of our criteria: prime quality soil, a functioning landscape, supportive rural community, and opportunities for restoration of wildlife habitat.”
The PCC Farmland Fund works to secure and preserve threatened farmland in Washington State and move it into organic production. For more information, contact the Fund at 4201 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105, 206-547-1222, email or visit www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/farmlandfund/.
Related stories:
- http://www.tricityherald.com/tch/madcow/story/4565455p-4538067c.html
- http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/food/154541_organic30.html?searchpagefrom=1&searchdiff=1
Photographs of the Bennington Place and Joel Huesby as well as logos of the PCC Farmland Fund and Thundering Hooves LLC are available in color or black-and-white as electronic files via email. For information concerning graphic images, contact George Guy at or 206-547-1222 x160. Please specify Mac or PC.