The Wallingford-based educational gardening and farming group Seattle Tilth has just received a large grant from the government. The grant was given for Seattle Tilth Farm Works, which provides training for immigrants, refugees and low-income families in farming skills and business development in South King County. The group has been awarded $483,160 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, a competitive grants program administered by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Seattle Tilth Farm Works, “provides local refugees, immigrants, and low-income Americans the opportunity to participate in developing a sustainable food system by growing food organically and selling it to local corner stores, farmers markets and other small market buyers in their geographic or ethnic communities.” The group helps immigrants such as Somali Bantu, Ethiopians, and Burundians gain hands-on farming experience and guidance for developing small farm businesses.
In a statement from the group, Seattle Tilth Executive Director Andrea Dwyer says it’s an honor to have their work recognized nationally. “An investment of this magnitude will provide long-term benefits by creating viable small businesses and improving overall public health,” said Dwyer.
Seattle Tilth’s grant is one of 36 awarded by the USDA totaling $18 million to organizations that will, “provide training and assistance to beginning farmers and ranchers to help them run successful and sustainable farms.”
Photo courtesy of Seattle Tilth
