Sunday, July 26, 2015

Local economies and their special needs are reasons for inventions to take place.


Ridgefield: April Thatcher of April Joy Farms demonstrates her creeper tractor for a tour group from the Washington State Conservation Commission. ()

July 25, 2015
By The Columbian

Ridgefield — For the first time since 2006, (click here) the Clark Conservation District hosted a tour for the Washington State Conservation Commission, bringing local, state, federal and tribal leaders to Ridgefield to discuss natural resources conservation and agriculture. 

The group toured farms in Ridgefield, including Arwana Farms and April Joy Farm, where the farms' owners met with the group and talked about how Clark Conservation has helped them. 

Bill Kennedy, owner of Arwana, told the group how Clark Conservation covered part of the cost to install a manure solids separator and storage shed.

April and Brad Thatcher of April Joy Farm discussed the challenges that they and other small farms face in Clark County with urban development, and running a successful community supported agriculture program, delivering boxes of fresh, organic produce to local clients from June through November....