July 17, 2008
To the gardeners and farmers of San Juan County,

The Agricultural Resources Committee works to protect and restore our agricultural resources, by helping farmers in their business needs and by protecting the resource that farming is built upon.

How? Farmers benefit from the Islands Certified Local program to promote locally grown food. The newly created non-profit - San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild - is working on year-round permanent farmers market on San Juan Island. With our partners at WSU Extension San Juan County, we are exploring the possibility of more local food in our schools, and business plans that use island-grown information for new farming enterprises. We are monitoring the regulations that constrain farmers, and suggesting changes.

But throughout these endeavors, we have had only a fuzzy picture of San Juan County agriculture. We know how many acres are enrolled in the Ag Open Space tax program, but not how many gardens feed our neighbors. We have a vague idea of the numbers of livestock, but not how many chickens. We know that we are losing farmland, but we don't know how much is left.

We have started a Foodshed Map of San Juan County to figure out just how much of what is grown where. The information we gather will offer a snapshot of agriculture here and now. From there we can decide where we want to go, and plan how to get there.

For this information to make sense, it needs to be as complete as possible. This is where we need your help. Click on one of the links above to download a questionairre. Please fill this out and mail it back to us. It's simple, and it's quick. The locations of the farm or garden would be extremely helpful in considering new ideas (example: Could Roche Harbor, Islandale, or Olga support a farmers market?). But this information will be used as a whole or average. Above all, we respect your privacy.

You may return the completed survey:

• Mail to Ag Guild, PO Box 1945, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
• Via email to Lovel Pratt, Ag Guild PFM Project Director at lovel@rockisland.com
• Take to the Conservation District office, 540 Guard Street, Suite 150 in Friday Harbor
• Drop off at the Ag Tent at the SJC Fair

If you prefer you can complete your survey by calling the Conservation District office at 378-6621 and giving your answers over the phone or making arrangements for a personal visit to your farm from a representative of one of our organizations, and we’ll note your survey responses for you. We really do want to hear from you!

Please return your completed questionnaire by August 18! If there is some information you prefer not to share, feel free to skip those questions. We would rather receive an incomplete response from you than no response at all. Please know that ALL SURVEY RESPONSES WILL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL.

Thank you for your valuable and much appreciated participation!

Sincerely,

Eliza Buck
ARC Corrdinator

Tim Clark
ARC Farmland Preservation Coordinator