Redtail Edge Park
Andrew Tuttle
Pudget Sound Public Park Demonstration combining stream bank restoration, wildlife habitat perennial cropping and a farm incubator in a community hub that shows how multiple regenerative land uses can be compatible on an 8 acre public site.
Design drawing, narrative, budget, timel
In the northwest corner of Washington State sits an old farmhouse on eight acres. Just outside of Bellingham, the farm is tucked into the county approximately 1.5 hours from both Seattle, Wa and Vancouver, BC. It is bordered by Smith Creek, a salmon-bearing seasonal stream that is part of the Nooksack River Watershed.
Our goals are to build a restoration agriculture park, restore the degraded stream-bank and convert the mon-culture hay field into a diverse 3 acre incubator farm. The park will become a vibrant community hub where the public can explore the entire farm and learn about permaculture and restoration.
Proposal for PINA funding
The larger vision for the site will take years of development. Funding from a PINA award would be used for the installation of park infrastructure. Upon completion of phase one, the park will be used to host permaculture related gatherings.
Park Infrastructure (Phase 1), summer 2019, $5,000
The funds will be maximized by using materials harvested from the land, reclaimed materials and harnessing volunteer labor of friends and family.
Playground: Harvest trees from the farm for construction of jungle gym, stumps and mounds. Harvest whips for living willow tunnel.
Pavilion: Utilize lumber from the farm and reclaimed materials to build pavilion and picnic tables.
Entryway: Build and install park sign and entryway garden.
Plants: Design and install edible landscaping through park space.
Privies: Construct basic shallow pit privies in accordance with County code.
Andrew Tuttle is a 28-year-old plant nerd from Bellingham, Washington. He served in the Marines as an Airframe Mechanic working on and maintaining the President’s helicopter, Marine One. After leaving the military Andrew returned home to study permaculture at Alderleaf Wilderness College. Upon completion of the Wilderness Certification Program and Permaculture Design Course, he worked in organic vegetable production, interned on a permaculture farm, worked and taught at plant nurseries, and co-instructed 4 PDCs.
Mary Tuttle also completed her Permaculture Design Course at Alderleaf, worked as the store manager at a local plant nursery and interned at a biodynamic permaculture farm. Andrew is now pursuing a diploma of design from the Permaculture Institute of North America while he and Mary both study Landscape Design at Edmonds Community College.
The Tuttles, recently bought a farm near Bellingham, Washington where they plan to convert the land into a restoration agriculture park and education center, Redtail Edge Park. They plan to launch a permaculture design/install company in 2019 that operates out of the park. Ultimately, their goal is to build an advanced permaculture design curriculum where students can earn an income while studying, designing, and implementing permaculture systems full time.
Here is an article Andrew wrote while working at Cloud Mountain Farm Center:
https://www.cloudmountainfarmcenter.org/permaculture-plants/
Andrew Tuttle