Cloud Mountain Farm Center, a program of Sustainable Connections, is streamlining operations and channeling its focus in the coming years. The organization has announced the desire to sell its Lawrence Road property, a valuable site that has played a crucial role in supporting local agriculture over the past decade with a farm incubator program.
The site is separate from Cloud Mountain Farm Center and Nursery located at 6906 Goodwin Road, which will continue operations in the same capacity with its workshops, retail nursery, Puget Sound Food Hub aggregation site, food storage, WSDA certified processing center, and more. This separate Lawrence Road property includes 20 acres of land, a greenhouse, and a two-bedroom house. Since the house is currently occupied and the land is being farmed, interested parties are asked to make an appointment to view the property.
The process for the sale is evolving as conversations with likely partners and potential buyers happen in the coming months. Staff and the Board of Directors have been and will continue to work as a team, to evaluate options and communicate with partners and funders.
Dedicated to fostering a resilient, accessible, and equitable regional food system, Cloud Mountain Farm Center merged with the nonprofit Sustainable Connections in 2019. The two collaborative nonprofits have a long history of supporting a thriving local food economy and together provide education and assistance to help connect farmers, fishers, home gardeners, value-added food producers, distributors, restaurants, caterers, grocery retailers, farmer’s markets, consumers, and food serving institutions.
Cloud Mountain Farm Center is at the forefront of regional food systems development. Their commitment to promoting sustainable farming practices and supporting farm viability continues to be instrumental in Whatcom County. A vital part of this mission was their farm incubator program, which found its home at the Lawrence Road property, providing resources and training to newer farm businesses over the past decade. Due to funding and staffing capacity, Cloud Mountain Farm Center and Sustainable Connections have decided to end the farm incubator program and focus on programming at their primary site on Goodwin Road.
By simplifying operations and finding new owners for the Lawrence Road property, Cloud Mountain Farm Center can redirect essential resources toward its Agricultural Career Exploration program, distribution & aggregation operations, value-added processing, perennial fruit production, community education, and nursery sales. The focus remains on supporting local farmers, both established and aspiring, and strengthening the regional food system.
Cloud Mountain Farm Center is currently seeking strong stewards for the Lawrence Road property, individuals or entities that will continue to use the land productively and organically to benefit the regional food system - including the possibility of supporting newer, underserved, low-income, or minority farmers to find a welcoming space to cultivate their growing businesses. This process will take time, as Cloud Mountain searches for a new owner and explores creative solutions. The anticipated timeline for this transition is 1-2 years.
While the Lawrence Road property has been an integral part of nurturing beginning farmers over the past decade, Sustainable Connections and Cloud Mountain Farm Center remain steadfast in their commitment to supporting local agriculture. The organization wants to ensure that the legacy of the Lawrence Road site lives on in the hands of responsible and sustainable stewards.
Interested parties are encouraged to contact Derek Long to schedule an appointment to view the property: Derek Long, Executive Director at Sustainable Connections, 360-647-7093 x101, derekl@sustainableconnections.org.
