Sustainability, Business, and Entrepreneurship

Join us for a weekly lecture series where we discuss topics in sustainability, business, and entrepreneurship from local leaders and Evergreen alumni.

Farming is a business, one that can be sustainable. To stay afloat, farmers have to be entrepreneurs and they need community support. According to the 2022 US census, we have seen a 5.6% reduction of farmland in Washington State since 2017, with over 800,000 acres no longer in production. This equates to a loss of over 3700 farms, primarily small farms, overtaken by urban sprawl. The American Farmland Trust predicts that by 2040, we stand to lose another 192,000 acres.

The Community Farm Land Trust was established in 1997 using a model designed to assure affordable land and farming infrastructure in perpetuity. CFLT’s mission is to promote local food and farming systems, farm preservation, outreach, partnerships and diverse opportunities. Rachel Friedman will explore if and how this work can help farmers remain viably in business in our community.

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About Rachel Friedman

I am an eater. For as long as I can remember, I have been committed to eating as locally as possible. Perhaps that stems from my strong environmental ethic, or perhaps it stems from my desire to eat delicious, fresh and sustainably raised food.

For 30 years, I have been an environmental regulator working for the local, state and federal government. I have a passion for protection of the environment which is backed up by a Bachelors in Botany and a Masters of Science in Forestry. Working in the field of environmental protection has its highs and lows. After 30 years, I felt worn out so I recreated my career an opened a small business in fitness and dance. But my concern for the health of the environment, the local economy, and our community lead me to get involved with numerous non-profit organizations such as Sustainable South Sound and now the Community Farm Land Trust. Working with the CFLT is fulfilling a number of passions, healthy local food being one of them.