Resolve to help save farmland in 2004

• Shipley Fields update: Final court date February 27
• Big check for farmland from a real estate agent with a conscience
• In Praise of Fertile Land: Community reading in Yakima December 3
• Donor Roster for November 1 — 30, 2003

Shipley Fields update: Final court date February 27

The community group Sequim First has filed suit in Clallam County Superior Court to require an environmental impact statement before Wal-Mart can build a 181,000-square-foot superstore (and a 22-acre parking lot) next door to the Shipley Fields. The location is also over Sequim’s drinking water aquifer and drains into the Dungeness River.

The final court date is February 27. If the judge upholds the City Council’s approval of Wal-Mart’s plan and no other avenue is left for effective opposition, the Farmland Fund will provide an opportunity for everyone who contributed toward a conservation easement on the Shipley Fields to redirect their gifts to other projects. Contributions can be sent to Sequim First, P.O. Box 431, Sequim, WA 98382, 360-460-4016.

Big check for farmland

from a real estate agent with a conscience

Michael Gross of Remax Real Estate donates 50 percent of his commissions to the nonprofit organizations his clients have chosen to support. He has contributed more than $500,000 over the past fifteen years. He says he likes to “do well in life by doing good in the world.”

One day Michael walked into our office personally to deliver a check to the Farmland Fund for half his proceeds from work done for Fund donors Lisa King and Steve Anacker. We were stunned.

He explains that a typical house in Seattle now sells for about $350,000. After deduction of office expenses, insurance and taxes, Michael’s share of the commission may be $8,000. “The receipt of a check for $4,000 is an exciting event for most nonprofit organizations.” Indeed, it is.

“Most people seldom have the opportunity to support their causes with such substantial gifts,” he adds, “especially when they are making large spending decisions.” Keep Michael in mind when you need realtor services. Working with him, you can integrate your real estate transaction with your ideals. He’s at 206-999-9969 (direct) and 206-323-6960 (home).

In Praise of Fertile Land:

Community reading in Yakima December 3

“We had a good reading tonight at Inklings Bookstore. Fifteen people, including several farmers. It was the best hour and a half of my week. The right 15 people were there, people who represent the Valley from Ellensburg to Wapato, a range of about 60 miles, people who will get the word out a bit, people who were moved by the book. In addition, the bookstore had a small story in their newsletter about the book and reading and this went out to 800 readers.”
— Jim Bodeen, poet and publisher, Blue Begonia Press

The PCC Farmland Fund works to secure and preserve threatened farmland in Washington State and move it into organic production. For more information, see the PCC Farmland Fund web page.