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matoes from plants growing inside a hoop house. He hopes to lease land somewhere in Oregon or Washington to start a seed farm. Annie Jesperson, a North Dakota native, is hoping to incorporate farming and social work. That way people learn the community and therapeutic aspects of farming while acquiring the skills to feed themselves. The farmer training center in Greenbank was originally funded by the Northwest Agriculture Business Center in Mount Vernon. However, the association cut off support because of funding problems. To ensure the program continued, supporters raised $50,000 and instituted a tuition of $3,000, said Maryon Attwood, who coordinates the training program. “People were very interested in seeing the program continue,� Attwood said. This year’s students are growing such crops as broccoli, corn, tomatoes and zucchini. They sell their crops Saturdays at the Coupeville Farmers Market and they offer a communitysupported agriculture program where 55 Whidbey Island residents have purchased shares. In addition, the center’s crops are available for purchase Nathan Whalen/Whidbey News-Times
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Chicago resident Laura Kinser picks zucchini at the Greenbank Farm.
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