Heritage Farm Master Plan Update - Clark County Washington · Survey of Business Development Ideas...

Heritage Farm Master Plan Update Refreshing the Farm’s future plans

Patrick Lee, Legacy Lands Program Coordinator

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Adopted in 2010, the master

plan proposed allocations

for future spaces and uses.

The update process will:

• Review changes-to-date

• Review, validate or revise

plan elements within

guiding principles

• Review farm priorities

Adopted Master Plan

4/24/19 Heritage Farm Master Plan Update 2

• Celebrate our agricultural heritage

• Maintain WSU’s presence through programs, research &

office facilities

• Showcase & promote sustainable agricultural & building

practices

• Support agricultural research that supports sustainable

farming practices

• Enhance community wellness & inspire life-long learning

• Promote community volunteerism

• Integrate a variety of activities & resources that provide

community access

Guiding Principles for Master Plan


•Major capital improvements will require

outside funding

•Move Heritage Farm towards financial self-

sufficiency

•Do not reconstruct the silo

Guidance from County Council


• Boundary line adjustment

for Hazel Dell Park

• New parking lot constructed

west of Admin building.

• New greenhouse

constructed

• Living farm constructed

elsewhere

• Cemetery boundary

delineated

• Farm placed on Washington Historic Register, National Register of Historic Places & Clark County Historic Register

• Interpretive Trail Plan completed 2011

• Preservation and Maintenance Plan completed in 2018

• (Bud Van Cleve Community Room reducing need for community space.)

Changes Since 2010 Master Plan


Farm land is currently used by:

• WSU Extension

• Clark County Food Bank

• Master Gardeners

• Partners in Careers

• Community Gardeners

• PacNW Queen Bee Rearing Club

• Clark College

Current Farm Land Uses


Interpretive Trail Plan – 2011

• Provides content for interpretive

signs and proposed locations along

the trail

• Helps commemorate Clark County’s

agricultural heritage

Interpret the Farm’s Unique History


Preservation & Maintenance Plan

completed in August 2018

• Identifies which historic structures

should be preserved, adapted for re-

use, etc.

Preserve the Farm’s Unique History


Community input guided the project:

• Online Survey – mid-January to mid-March 2019

• Community Meeting #1 – January 31

• Community Meeting #2 – April 10

• Heritage Farm Advisory Team #1 - January 9

• Heritage Farm Advisory Team #2 – February 28

• Heritage Farm Advisory Team #3 – March 28, 2019

• Email blasts & social media

Public Engagement Process


Survey of Farm & Garden Priorities


93% prioritized more WSU Extension & Master gardener programs

13.2%

20.4%

39.0%

40.7%

41.7%

52.4%

57.5%

64.0%

38.0%

40.4%

44.7%

45.1%

44.6%

32.7%

32.2%

29.0%

35.9%

29.1%

13.4%

10.8%

11.4%

11.8%

8.2%

5.6%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Experiment with and promote cultivation of crops beyond food uses,such as fiber and dyes.

Identify appropriate animal/livestock uses on the farm.

Expand greenhouses on the farm.

Add more community garden plots, including in an area near 68th Street.

Create hillside plantings consisting of berries, grapes and other terracedfarming.

Enhance existing wetland areas for water quality restoration for CougarCreek and for rain water management demonstration projects.

Continue to demonstrate composting techniques and uses for organicwaste.

Expand the partnership with WSU Extension and Master Gardeners tooffer additional nutrition and gardening classes.

High Priority Medium Priority Low Priority Not a Priority

Survey of Business Development Ideas


82% prioritized establishing a farmer’s market on the Farm

4.3

%

11.6%

11.6%

30.1%

30.2%

31.1%

38.3%

46.7%

54.3%

56.1%

12.0%

27.9%

30.0%

34.5%

35.4%

33.3%

42.5%

35.5%

31.2%

25.9%

31.5%

37.0%

40.7%

23.8%

24.4%

23.6%

15.5%

15.2%

9.8%

12.3%

52.2%

23.5%

17.7%

11.6%

10.0%

12.0%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Lease some land for commercial crop production.

Establish a signature or specialized crop for commercial sales.

Initiate fiber crop production for bamboo, hemp and other fiber-producing plants.

Build a commercial kitchen and cooking classroom.

Establish a food hub, a central place where local farmers couldclean, process, store and distribute local produce and agricultural…

Establish a food cooperative (a community-owned grocery store).

Include a start-up incubator/learning program for new farmers.

Accommodate seasonal or specialty events, such as Farm to Tabledinners and tastings of locally-grown products.

Establish a produce stand/storefront to sell local produce harvestedfrom the site.

Establish an on-site farmers market.


Survey of Educational Priorities


91% prioritized farming education programming

19.4%

20.7%

20.7%

42.5%

45.2%

47.0%

48.2%

52.9%

55.0%

60.3%

32.2%

21.4%

30.4%

31.7%

39.4%

38.9%

35.3%

35.3%

33.1%

31.1%

31.3%

35.0%

31.2%

18.8%

14.1%

11.9%

13.5%

9.4%

8.2%

7.1%

17.1%

23.0%

17.7%

7.0%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Provide arts and crafts programming using natural products, such asfibers.

Build a viewpoint/shelter that showcases the views of Mount. St.Helens, Mount Hood and Mount Adams.

Build a small outdoor amphitheater for events and educationalprograms, like the one at WSU Vancouver.

Install a trail that includes interpretive signage explaining the historyand agricultural practices used at the site.

Expand agricultural research use of the farm with partnerships tosupport the local farm economy.

Establish demonstration gardens to educate people about agricultureand farm production.

Use the farm as a staging area for local agricultural youth programs,such as 4-H Clubs, Future Farmers of America, etc.

Provide nutrition, food preservation, canning and cooking classes.

Accommodate outdoor events and festivals, such as a HarvestFestival, to promote exposure to the heritage farm and its programs.

Continue to teach commercial and personal farming throughprograms coordinated by Clark College and WSU Extension


The master plan update

acknowledges recent

changes and directs future

improvements for the

historic farm.

Proposed Master Plan Update


The Farm’s infrastructure is concentrated in the northern portion along 78th Street. Potential infrastructure expansion is driven by demand and fiscal support for capital improvements. Wetlands are restored for enhanced water quality value. Connections provide access to the perimeter public trail loop.

North Section - Enlarged


• Continue & increase agriculture &

horticulture programs

• Provide space for potential

infrastructure to support farm

produce marketing, harvest events,

etc.

• Expand greenhouses as demand

increases

• Provide more community garden

plots

Maintain and expand agricultural uses


• Create a wider natural wetland buffer

• Actively convert land cover to native

wetland landscape

• Interpret the value of wetlands and

their relationship to water quality.

• Install boardwalk across restored

wetlands for access and

interpretation

Improve water quality – Restore the wetlands


Loop trail will connect the farm to the neighboring community and encourage healthy physical activity.

The interpretive signs along the trail will help connect the visitor to the County’s agricultural heritage.

Walking the historic farm


• Farm capital improvements will require outside funding

• Some improvements may be subsidized or supported by

grants, gifts and sponsorships

• Potential users and their available resources may drive

the timing and implementation of phased improvements

• A future master plan for Hazel Dell Park would help

identify best connections to the Farm and 68th Street.

A Phased Approach


• Introduce additional public amenities through grants and

volunteer efforts

• Increase social media marketing

• Review lease provisions and fee structures

• Work closely with the Friends of Heritage Farm to strengthen

their capacity to support the farm

• Work closely with non-profit partners to attract grants and

sponsorships

Short Term Financial Steps

8/9/17 20

• Host additional special events at the farm with a fiscally

neutral or profitable sponsorship/vendor structure

• Support Friends of the Farm Foundation in building a broad

membership/donations/sponsorship base and stewardship

endowment

• Engage public/private partnerships in constructing significant

new capital improvements, such as the flex space, in order to

broaden programs and public access to the farm

Longer Term Financial Steps

8/9/17 21

Thank you!


Comments and questions

Clark County Public Service Center

1300 Franklin Street • PO Box 5000

Vancouver, WA 98666-5000

Heritage Farm Master Plan Update - Clark County Washington · Survey of Business Development Ideas...

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