Compass Rose Farms
Compass Rose Farms
Acres Preserved:
39
Year Conserved:
2007
Category:
Conservation Easement
Natural Features:
All in all, the Compass Rose Farms project was a big win for all parties. We learned that by working collectively, we could tackle large and complex projects to make a positive impact on our landscape. The land now known as Compass Rose Farms has become a showcase biointensive family farm in Jefferson County.
– Sarah Spaeth, Jefferson Land Trust’s Director of Conservation and Strategic Partnerships
A Birds-Eye View
Beautiful Compass Rose Farms was established on a 40-acre property in the Discovery Bay Valley. Surrounded by lush forest, the farm is full of life: biodiverse gardens, orchards, and a developing food forest. Flocks of shaggy Iceland sheep graze in the pastures, while farm fowl — ducks, chickens, geese — hunt for earthworms and insects amongst the vegetation.
The farmland’s fields, open space, trees, shrubs, wetlands, and water offer habitat for various wildlife species, including native salmon.
With Snow Creek forming the eastern boundary of the property, and Salmon Creek about a half-mile to the west, the protection of the Compass Rose Farms is part of a long-term, landscape-scale effort by Jefferson Land Trust and other agencies and organizations to preserve, restore, and maintain wildlife habitat in and along Snow Creek and Salmon Creek, which contain important spawning and rearing habitat for salmon.
The Preservation Story
County In 2002, the Land Trust expanded its mission to protect Jefferson County’s working farmlands and forestlands. To strategize, we began to meet with key potential partners, including Jefferson County Conservation District, Jefferson County WSU Extension, Shorebank Enterprise Cascadia (now Craft3), the Port Townsend Food Co-op, Jefferson County Farmers Market Association, and others. These partners joined together to form Jefferson LandWorks Collaborative, a nonprofit group focused on supporting local farmers and foresters.
Over the years, Jefferson LandWorks Collaborative has partnered on a number of farm protection success stories, among them Red Dog Farm, SpringRain Farm & Orchard, and Finnriver Farm & Cidery. Facilitating the protection and establishment of Compass Rose Farms was the collaborative’s first major project.
In the early 2000s, the Land Trust had received state grant funding to preserve the property now called Compass Rose Farms due to the ecological importance of its salmon-bearing streams, and had offered to buy a conservation easement from the landowner. However, in 2007, the property was listed for sale, and the landowner was hesitant to sign an easement while it was on the market.
Fortunately, a local realtor who knew of the funding the Land Trust had for the property was approached by Kateen Fitzgerald and her family, who wanted to purchase the property to establish a farm. The realtor approached the LandWorks Collaborative, and the collaborative worked together to support the aspiring farmers and help make this dream a reality.
Shorebank Enterprise Cascadia offered financing for the undeveloped land that was otherwise unattainable through conventional banks. Meanwhile, Jefferson Land Trust was able to purchase most of the development rights in 2007 with the purchase of a conservation easement. This legal agreement permanently protects and preserves the land’s ecological and farming values, wetlands, and salmon habitat.
In the midst of the farm’s protection, the Land Trust learned of a lovely historic farmhouse that was sitting vacant on Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) land, awaiting demolition or relocation. Using a bit of win-win-win creativity, the Land Trust traded an estuary property we owned to WDFW in exchange for the house, and the Compass Rose team had it moved to their property. Once the house was moved, local volunteers helped with wiring and other tasks.
Later, Jefferson Conservation District led a conservation planting along Snow Creek and its tributaries to improve the property’s salmon habitat.
The Protected Property Today and Tomorrow
Compass Rose Farms now has a life of its own — a unique and inspirational one. Founder Kateen Fitzgerald and her family members led the way to homestead the land and establish gardens, orchards, animal flocks, and more, selling produce and farm goods at local farmers markets and stores.
In 2014, Kateen founded the Dirt Rich School at Compass Rose Farms, a permaculture education program with a hands-on internship that teaches permaculture, farming, and homesteading to college-age students. Permaculture design workshops and consultation are also offered to the public. Those who have CSA (community-supported agriculture) shares are invited to enjoy and learn from the farm through an exchange of volunteering. Compass Rose also offers farm tours, “hip camping” and Air BnB space, plus private event rental for weddings and more.
Wool and weaving are important components of life at Compass Rose. Along with maintaining the flock of Icelandic Sheep, whose wool is harvested each spring, the farm offers a cottage wool mill, fiber arts workshops, and more to support a web of regional producers, processors, shearers, shepherds, weavers, spinners, felters, and artists.
More Information
For the most current information about Compass Rose Farms and the Dirt Rich School, visit their website at compassrosefarms.org
