February-March Newsletter

Dear Friends of Farmer Frog,

February was a challenging month with the move out of Paradise Farm. We are so grateful for all the support we received from the community to make the impossible possible.

We did not leave the land the way we found it.

We did not leave mountains of trash everywhere, hundreds of thousands of pounds in the wetland and forest edges, used by bears and other wildlife to den in. We did not leave hundreds of tires in piles seeping into the headwaters of Bear Creek. We did not leave trash-riddled decades old manure waist-deep in the barn corners.

We did not leave buildings falling over, only held up by blackberries and trees. We did not leave dangerous blackberry covered barbwire fencing in the tree lines. We did not leave rotted haybales hiding mummified rats and mice.

No, we did not leave it the way we found it. We left the land wrapped in our love and gratitude and took with us the gift of memories.

We look forward to new beginnings at BearGrass Farm. We will be having a Farm Raising on April 27 – see below to register if you would like to join us. Also check the calendar on our website for more events, workshops, and volunteer opportunities coming up as the seasons unfold.

Advocacy & Events

Food Sovereignty Advocacy Day

Farmer Frog and The Fresh Food Coalition spent an amazing time in Olympia at the Anti-Hunger and Nutrition Coalition’s annual Hunger Action Day collectively urging our elected officials to increase much needed food assistance funding for both the mainstream food bank system and for non-traditional food assistance programs.

Read More

Plant & Seed Swap

Farmer Frog and Light House Gardens are teaming up for a Plant & Seed Swap, Friday, April 19 from 1:00-4:00 pm.  Tables will be set up for sharing by the green house. Bring your abundance of seeds and extra plants. Leave with new treasures and maybe even make some new friends.

LOCATION: 11305 Old Snohomish Monroe Rd, Snohomish, WA

See you there! EVENT LINK

Join us for a Farm Raising!

WHAT is a Farm Raising? It is much like a barn raising where the community comes together and helps a local farm out. 

HOSTS: Umi Kitada with Farmer Frog & Western Wildlife Outreach

WHEN: Saturday, April 27, 2024 – 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

WHERE: BearGrass Farm, 11201 Old Snohomish Monroe Rd, Snohomish, WA 98290

Please register here so we know how many will be in your party.

Animal Tracker

Bear With Me WA

What’s on the menu in your yard? Farmer Frog and Western Wildlife Outreach joined Snoqualmie Elementary for STEAM night to talk with students about farming, bears, and wildlife friendly farming.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more about this developing education program. By saving bears – one yard, farm, and human at a time – we create resilient communities and a healthy planet.

Lovestock News

Happy 11th Birthday Sirius!

Sirius likes long naps with the sheep in fresh straw, walks around the farm with the Lovestock team, barking at coyotes and bears to keep them away.

He needs some new fencing for his pasture and a big pile of straw to rest in. You can chip in for his birthday gifts here.

Woof! Thanks for your support

The Frog Blog is Back!

It’s been a few years since The Frog Blog has been published. We have grown a lot!

In 2023, we finished putting together the STUDIOS gathering space near our new offices and distribution center in Snohomish. The room is available for community use for small groups. Please reach out if you are interested.

In 2024, we are looking forward to completing our move to BearGrass Farm. From there we will be expanding crop growing and livestock operations to help address regional food security issues.

Check our calendar for upcoming events, workshops, and volunteer opportunities. We appreciate your support.

Advocacy

Hunger Action advocates

Hunger Action Day 2024 in Olympia

Join Farmer Frog and the Fresh Food Coalition for Hunger Action Day in Olympia February 1 to talk with your legislators about food sovereignty. We need funding NOW for food banks and grassroots…

Washington State Food Insecurity Rises

The Fresh Food Coalition, led by Farmer Frog, The Silent Task Force, and The Northwest Tribal Emergency Management Council, has submitted Operation GROW to the 2024 Washington State Legislature…

What’s Hoppin’ at the Farm

Farmer Frog Bear Grass Farm

Farmer Frog is nearing the finish line with our move to the new location at BearGrass Farm, Snohomish. Stay tuned to upcoming issues to hear about volunteer opportunities and other ways to support our growth. In the coming weeks we will be launching The Farmer Frog Store with our partners at Barn2Door.

Animal Tracker

Bear With Me WA

Farmer Frog, Western Wildlife Outreach and The National Tribal Emergency Management Council launch Bear With Me Washington, a proactive conservation initiative to encourage communities, businesses and individuals to take actions to reduce human-black bear conflicts. Check out the new website and stay tuned to our events calendar for upcoming workshops about coexisting with Washington’s wildlife.

Visit Bear With Me

Lovestock News

In the new year, Farmer Frog’s Lovestock team welcomed 11 lambs from 6 Mommas — 7 boys and 4 girls. Soon, sheep, goats and the livestock guarding dogs will be re-homed to BearGrass Farm. If you would like to support our need for feed, hay, and fencing materials to help us get there you can reach out directly to grow@farmerfrog.org to donate materials.

Contribute a cash donation online