NORDLAND, Wash.—Dedication of a Marrowstone Island organically managed farm to Washington State University will be celebrated at a public open house from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, at Twin Vista Ranch, 6456 Flagler Rd., Nordland. The press is invited to attend the dedication from 4-6 p.m.
Owner Lisa Painter donated the 26-plus acre Jefferson County farm and property, valued at $800,000, to the university to serve as a center for educational outreach and agricultural development. Painter and her partner, the late Jeanne Clendenon, purchased the farm in 1972 and began diversifying management and on-farm operations to include production of beef and small livestock, honey, fruits and vegetables, grain, pasture and hay.
Painter and Clendenon developed the property to be energy efficient with installation of solar panels, a windmill and solar water heating systems—all of which are still in use. More recently, the ranch has been primarily focused on organic beef cattle production.
Twin Vista Ranch operations will continue but, through the gift to WSU, the farm will serve as an incubator for FIELD (Farm Innovation, Education and Leadership Development) internship graduates and a research space for germplasm maintenance and breeding for area production systems—in particular fruit and nut tree germplasm as well as dryland production. The farm also will be used for classes, workshops, seminars and educational retreats hosted and sponsored by WSU Extension.
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