Agriculture
Oxbow supports local food security by operating a 30 acre farm (actively growing on about 12 acres) using sustainable farming practices. Our farm cultivates certified organic produce and, with the help of partners like the Snoqualmie Tribe, Farestart, Hopelink, and Jewish Family Service, distribute it to local communities who otherwise would have inadequate access to fresh, nourishing produce.
The farm has been in operation since 1999.
Farming Practices
We cultivate a variety of different crops well-suited to the Snoqualmie Valley floodplain, and maintain a crop rotation to allow our soil to recover and regenerate. We also strategically remove fields from our production each year and leave them fallowed in cover crop. Fallowed fields protect our watershed and allow fields to rest and build up nutrients, and manage weeds, pests, and diseases.
Our fertility management plan is customized to the deficiencies of specific fields and each plant family’s cultural needs using only certified organic, naturally occurring nutrients. We manage our pest populations with an intricate biological approach, incorporating Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices such as beneficial insect release and insectary habitat plantings. By avoiding the use of chemicals through these methods, we nourish our members and our land.
We also partner with agencies, organizations, and academic institutions to conduct agricultural research that leads to innovative ways to increase crop yields while preserving the local ecosystem. Research promotes growth within the field and the community, which directly impacts King County’s citizens and natural resources.
Food and Hunger Relief Partners