Join us for a virtual tour of Viva Farms to learn more about this innovative farm business incubator and the benefits of being part of the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). This free event is available to all. Space is limited – register below!
- Learn about all aspects of Viva Farms in Woodinville, WA, through this immersive virtual tour.
- Explore the student farm, see essential farm tools, tour their farm’s infrastructure, and get an inside look at their wash pack facility.
- Staff from Tilth Alliance, Washington State University, Viva Farms, USDA TOPP, Washington State Department of Agriculture and Edge Perma will be on-hand to answer all of your questions about transitioning to organic production.
This virtual tour is brought to you by Edge Perma and Farm Walks, a collaboration between Tilth Alliance and Washington State University (WSU) Food Systems Program. Farm Walks are farmer-to-farmer educational opportunities hosted by organic, sustainable, and innovative farm and food businesses throughout Washington State.
About Viva Farms
Viva Farms’ mission is to empower aspiring and limited-resource farmers by providing bilingual training in holistic organic farming practices, as well as access to land, infrastructure, equipment, marketing and capital. With locations in both Skagit and King counties, this TOPP regional partner is helping build a more resilient agriculture in Washington through their Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture, farm business incubator program, Farm Training Center, and more.
About the Presenters
This free virtual farm tour was supported through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP is a program of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative and is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP).
The Northwest Transition to Organic Partnership Program (NW TOPP) offers a mentorship program for farmers interested in organic certification to learn from certified organic mentors. The mentorship program is now coming into its second year and is beginning to see the tremendous impact it has on participants. Farmers working with a mentor gain confidence in the certification process, learn how to manage their farm using organic practices, and build connections with the organic community. Certified organic mentors find new exuberance with farming by working with their mentees and find mentorship brings added value to their work.
Dr. Andrew Corbin
Dr. Andrew Corbin is a regenerative agriculture and natural resources educator and the Director of Farm Programs at Tilth Alliance. He specializes in field education and training in sustainable agriculture, especially as it relates to the use of organic matter, compost, residual organic resource recovery, reduced tillage, and organic farming practices.
Kate Smith
Kate Smith is an Associate in Research in the Washington State University Food Systems Program. She leads work across Washington State for small scale and beginning farmers through the WSU Cultivating Success and Farm Walks Programs with a focus on bilingual English and Spanish programming and technical assistance. She prioritizes serving historically underserved farmers to gain access to knowledge, resources, capital, land and markets.
Hanna Deacon
Hanna Deacon is the Organic Transition Program Manager with Oregon Tilth and the Northwest Transition to Organic Partnership Program (NW TOPP). Hanna spearheads the NW TOPP farmer-to-farmer mentorship program and technical assistance services for farmers transitioning to organic.
Micah Anderson
Micah Anderson is the Farm and Education Manager for Viva Farms King County. In addition to designing and facilitating organic farm training programs in King County as Education Manager at Seattle Tilth Farm Works and adjunct faculty at Highline Community College, Micah joined the team at Viva Farms in 2019. He continues to encourage and empower new generations of farmers who aspire to enrich the soil and their local farming community.
Mary Marshall and Andrew Tuttle
Mary Marshall and Andrew Tuttle are co-founders of Edge Perma, stewards of Pragtree Farm, and instructors at Edmonds College. Together, they are dedicated to revolutionizing regenerative agriculture education through innovative design, immersive virtual farm education, and hands-on learning.
Brenda Book
With the Washington State Department of Agriculture since 2002, Brenda Book leads the agency’s organic certification program and supports a team of dedicated certification experts. Brenda has been involved in the organic industry since 1996 as a farmer, researcher, retail produce manager, farmers market manager, and organic certifier. In addition to managing the WSDA Organic Program, Brenda has proudly served on numerous regional and national committees focused on food systems and organic production.