Fwd: [KitsapFarmer] We Won! Tilthy Rich Farms is moving forward!
Ellen Bynum
Ellen Bynum, Executive Director
Friends of Skagit County
110 N. First St. #C
P.O. Box 2632 (mailing)
Mount Vernon, WA 98273-2632
360-419-0988
fri...@fidalgo.net
www.friendsofskagitcounty.org
"A valley needs FRIENDS"
From: "Crystal Rich rich...@native6.com [KitsapFarmer]" <Kitsap...@yahoogroups.com>Date: March 14, 2017 1:14:29 AM PDTTo: undisclosed-recipients:;Subject: [KitsapFarmer] We Won! Tilthy Rich Farms is moving forward!Reply-To: Kitsap...@yahoogroups.com
Just wanted to send an update about our long fought battle for the right to farm our land.
We’ve won! The Hearing Examiner enthusiastically supported our appeal. Not only will our family get to move forward with building our farm, but the rights and future of farming on Bainbridge Island is protected for all! Please act locally to help support us – we fought the battle, but the cost was significant. Our case means that:
- Farming remains a protected preferred use. It doesn’t take a backseat to political agendas or other types of diversionary tactics to discourage people from pursuing their right to farm.
- Nonfarm buffers and the right to manage them are forever protected. Farmers will have the ability to choose what they put in a nonfarm buffer – hedgerows, pollinators, grasses, trees, raingardens – whatever a farm needs for best management practices.
- Farms do not have to be “complete”. Farm Plans are living breathing documents designed with conservation in mind and low impact development in farm operations. They evolve as conditions change. Heavy penalties for not “completing” a farm plan in a year have been overturned allowing farmers the ability to make progress in a reasonable and successful manner to minimize impacts.
- The Department of Ecology is the governing authority in determining the requirement of a Construction Stormwater Permit – not the City.
These are the conditions we appealed, and they are the conditions the Hearing Examiner agreed with us on! He made many references to the importance of following the code, not personal interpretations of those regulations. He also stated the City obstructed our process and made it significantly more difficult than it needed to be. All things considered – it is a huge victory.
I wanted to ask if you are willing to share our story and GoFundMe link. This was a hard fought battle to protect the rights of all farmers on the island, not just provide our own family with a home. The cost and time delays have been significant – over $15,000 for legal fees and almost $25,000 in additional studies. Our kids have put up with “camping out” far longer than we intended. We are eager to get them in a home.
https://www.gofundme.com/rich-family-farm-ag-rights-code
We consider this a win for all by standing up for what is right. We are eager to start the hard work of building the farm now that the legal battle is over. Thanks for the support! Can’t wait for Tilthy Rich Farms to be open for business!
Crystal (and Yurie) Rich
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