Meet the Farming Team
We love what we do because creating healthy soils, growing healthy food,
and caring for the communities we live in is at the heart
of our farm's life and mission
Don and Jane
Having a farm has been a dream of Jane and Don’s ever since moving to Seattle in
1976. You could say it’s in their blood. Jane’s Ohio father and grandmother were
master gardeners who loved growing tomatoes, harvesting corn, and canning fruit.
Before Jane’s father died, he and a friend had an acre garden where they raised
beautiful produce mostly for the local food bank. The German side of Don’s family
came from farms in Missouri and Illinois. He too, like Jane, grew up loving the seasons and beauty of the outdoors.
Not having children of their own, Jane and Don have concentrated their energy on making their neighborhood in Seattle (where they have lived for over 40 years) and First Light Farm into communities where friendships are deeply valued.
Now with climate changes affecting our environmental landscapes coupled with the recent population growth of the Puget Sound area, Jane and Don have widened their farm’s mission to more clearly focus on sustainability – deep care for the soil, a financial commitment to farm staff to respect their knowledge and work by paying a living wage, and care for the overall financial health of the farm itself.
1976. You could say it’s in their blood. Jane’s Ohio father and grandmother were
master gardeners who loved growing tomatoes, harvesting corn, and canning fruit.
Before Jane’s father died, he and a friend had an acre garden where they raised
beautiful produce mostly for the local food bank. The German side of Don’s family
came from farms in Missouri and Illinois. He too, like Jane, grew up loving the seasons and beauty of the outdoors.
Not having children of their own, Jane and Don have concentrated their energy on making their neighborhood in Seattle (where they have lived for over 40 years) and First Light Farm into communities where friendships are deeply valued.
Now with climate changes affecting our environmental landscapes coupled with the recent population growth of the Puget Sound area, Jane and Don have widened their farm’s mission to more clearly focus on sustainability – deep care for the soil, a financial commitment to farm staff to respect their knowledge and work by paying a living wage, and care for the overall financial health of the farm itself.
Warren
Farmer Warren was born in Seattle, and spent his years of growth
here and in Japan. He spent many-a-hours watching his Japanese
Mama tend lovingly to their garden, and many more hiking the
trails of the Northwest with his hippie Papa. These experiences
helped ingrain an affection for a variety of natural landscapes which
he sought to explore during his time in China as a Peace Corps
volunteer, and then his time learning about farming in Southern
Arizona.
When he returned to his hometown, the process of readjusting was
a fortuitous blending of some of the different values he’d learned
over his previous experiences. Working for a sustainably minded
farm such as First Light helps nurture a natural ascetic, but doing it with Jane and Don -- his community-minded neighbors for over 25 years -- has helped foster a greater understanding of what it takes to build a sustainable community as well. Perhaps these ideas together can holistically help solve the problem of food and community in the United States.
here and in Japan. He spent many-a-hours watching his Japanese
Mama tend lovingly to their garden, and many more hiking the
trails of the Northwest with his hippie Papa. These experiences
helped ingrain an affection for a variety of natural landscapes which
he sought to explore during his time in China as a Peace Corps
volunteer, and then his time learning about farming in Southern
Arizona.
When he returned to his hometown, the process of readjusting was
a fortuitous blending of some of the different values he’d learned
over his previous experiences. Working for a sustainably minded
farm such as First Light helps nurture a natural ascetic, but doing it with Jane and Don -- his community-minded neighbors for over 25 years -- has helped foster a greater understanding of what it takes to build a sustainable community as well. Perhaps these ideas together can holistically help solve the problem of food and community in the United States.
Farmer Jeremy joined our farming team in 2019 bringing
with him considerable skills as a propagator, planter and
overall farmer. His knowledge base has greatly contributed to
the farm's overall mission. We are grateful to have him as part
of our farming family.
with him considerable skills as a propagator, planter and
overall farmer. His knowledge base has greatly contributed to
the farm's overall mission. We are grateful to have him as part
of our farming family.
Farmer Katsumi first came to First Light Farm several years as a mini farmer. Since being at the farm, his skills and interest have increased greatly. When we were looking for a part-time person to join our team in 2020, he was the perfect person. Welcome Katsumi!
Farmer Reisha has a background in organic agriculture,
permaculture design, Western herbalism and Northwest
Ethnobotany. She loves plants and the great outdoors. Although
she no longer directly farms with us, she continues to share her
permaculture design talents with us and offer classes during the
summer. We are delighted to sell her herbal products from her
medicinal farm, Wayside Botanicals, at our farm stand.
permaculture design, Western herbalism and Northwest
Ethnobotany. She loves plants and the great outdoors. Although
she no longer directly farms with us, she continues to share her
permaculture design talents with us and offer classes during the
summer. We are delighted to sell her herbal products from her
medicinal farm, Wayside Botanicals, at our farm stand.
