Few of us ever have to think about the Western Washington Fruit Research Foundation in Mount Vernon.
And yet, most Western Washington residents, especially backyard gardeners and consumers of fruit grown on this side of the mountains, have reaped the benefits of this organization during the past 16 years.
Although Washington State University’s Northwest Research and Extension Center provides land for the foundation’s display garden in Mount Vernon, all the operations and volunteer-coordinating costs fall on the foundation, which has fallen on hard times recently in terms of funding.
It’s why the group must raise $55,000 by March 30 to keep its 7-acre community display garden program up and running.
WWFRF’s display garden is open to the public and features heritage and unusual fruit trees, berries and plants. Volunteer members from across western Washington, designed and continue to maintain the garden, donating thousands of hours each year.
Members “Sample the Harvest” four times a year at the WSU research center as well as take workshops and seminars on tree fruit care, new cultivars, management techniques and a variety of other fruit-production topics.
Gardeners as well as small-scale commercial farmers in Snohomish County have been able to get their start in fruit trees thanks to WSU and the foundation’s collaborative work together, including the display garden.
Beautiful, long-established and exemplary plantings of local food crops are at stake here.
“It would be a travesty to lose the garden because no one stepped up to save it,” said foundation board member Sam Benowitz with Rain Tree Nursery in Morton. “Anyone who supports local food production needs to write a check and send it today.”
One generous WWFRF member has pledged a matching grant for the project so that contributions will be matched dollar for dollar up to $27,000.
Contributions to save the community display garden can be sent to WWFRF, P.O. Box 9716, Seattle, WA, 98109. See www.wwfrf.org for details.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
