Deal Protects Ebey’s Reserve Farmland
For Release – April 30, 2009
Whidbey Camano Land Trust
Contact:Chris Hilton, Land Protection Specialist (360) 222-3310
Coupeville, WA
More than 80 acres of rich farmland in Ebey’s Landing Historical Reserve will be preserved for agriculture through a creative transaction announced today by the Whidbey Camano Land Trust.
The deal involves land owned by Freeman Boyer, descendant of a pioneer Whidbey family that farmed the land for three generations, and Erin and Mark Borden, relative newcomers to the island.
The Land Trust signed an agreement with Boyer to purchase four lots, totaling 45 acres, then assigned the agreement to the Bordens. The Bordens took ownership of the 45 acres and simultaneously sold a conservation easement to the Land Trust to protect that property along with 38 acres of adjoining land they already owned. Together, the easement will protect a total of 83 acres of prime agricultural land from future subdivision and development.
The Land Trust used two competitive grants to buy the easement, including a farmland preservation grant from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program and a federal farm and ranchland protection grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Land Trust will co-hold the conservation easement with Island County.
Boyer’s grandfather arrived on the island and began farming the land in 1890. Boyer’s father continued the tradition and Boyer himself followed suit, farming and raising sheep until he retired in 1987. Boyer’s own children pursued other professions, leaving him the last of his line to farm the lands.
For Erin and Mark Borden and their children, Konrad, Riley and Drake, the transaction opens the way toward serious farming. Mark, director of the emergency department at Whidbey General Hospital and an emergency room doctor, also has a background as a successful orchardist in California, plus a deep interest in nature and native birds. He is a master falconer of some 25 years. Erin holds a PhD in entomology from Washington State University and has done research in integrated pest management at the University of California - Davis. She serves on the board of the Whidbey Island Conservation District.
The Bordens currently lease their fields to other Ebey’s Reserve farmers and grow hay for their own livestock, and to sell. With the new options made possible by additional land, they are looking into other ideas such as organic farming, setting aside space for an orchard, marketing the “Whidbey brand,” and promoting agri-tourism.
“The Land Trust is very excited about completing this first of many agricultural conservation easements it is working on in Ebey’s Reserve,” said Chris Hilton, the trust’s land-protection specialist. “Freeman wanted to sell as he had retired from farming, the Bordens wanted to expand their farm acreage, and the Land Trust wanted to hold the conservation easement to ensure all 83 acres are forever protected for farming. In doing this, we limited development on the property to one house instead of the eight homes that could have been built.”
More of Boyer’s land soon will be protected in a larger deal still developing with other land owners.
“When Island County joined the unique partnership which created Ebey's Reserve, it was with the commitment to protect the beauty and living landscape of this treasure,” said Island County Commissioner Helen Price Johnson. “We are grateful to the Whidbey Camano Land Trust and the property owners for helping us to achieve that goal. This acquisition will preserve precious agricultural lands for future generations.”
“This is an outstanding example of a great partnership which resulted in permanently protecting critical land with prime agricultural soils in Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve,” said Fran Einterz, chair of the Sustainable Agricultural Committee and vice president of the Ebey’s Reserve Trust Board. “Whidbey residents and visitors alike will benefit from these efforts to save land within the Reserve for agriculture.
