In October 2012, the Jefferson County community celebrated the donation of Twin Vista Ranch to Washington State University. The 26-acre site, which was a strawberry farm in the 1920s, was purchased by Lisa Painter (left) and Jeanne Clendenon in 1972.
They raised cattle, chickens, bees, fruits and vegetables, and supplied food locally as well as to the nearby food cooperative. After Clendenon died in 2011, Painter started looking for ways to protect the land from development and ensure it would continue to be managed organically and sustainably. She chose WSU and the Jefferson County Land Trust.
The farm sits on the Olympic Peninsula’s Marrowstone Island about 30 minutes south of Port Townsend. It will be managed by WSU’s Extension program in Jefferson County and will host a variety of educational and research activities.
Martin Fredrickson (left) is the Farm Manager for WSU Twin Vista Ranch. We are continually growing this new and exciting Farm on Marrowstone Island.
Martin grew up in a family farm just outside of Port Townsend, graduated from PT High, then the University of Washington in Landscape Architecture. He served in the Peace Corps in Morocco, worked with large animals in Eastern Washington and is delighted to return to his roots in Jefferson County.
Martin now serves as the Farm Manager at Twin Vista Ranch, and has contracted with WSU as a Landscape Architect to facilitate development of a Master Plan for TVR, and looks forward to contributing to the development of this unique community resource and visionary gift. The goals are to foster economic development in the local and regional agriculture sectors, and engage in locally relevant agricultural research, education and outreach. WELCOME MARTIN!
If you’d like to know more or volunteer, contact our Director below.
We hope you enjoy this video made by WSU in October, 2012.
Video: Twin Vista Ranch donated to WSU (left)
Contact Laura Lewis at WSU for more information, laura.lewis@wsu.edu or 360.379.5610 x 202.