Forever Farm Projects
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Forever Farm Projects
Learn how we are protecting farms and providing more land access to farmers.
- Forever Farm Project
- Forever Farm and Farm Access Project
Please note that because these properties are working farms and/or are under lease to or are in the ownership of private parties, public access is not permitted.
Surface Nursery
Surface Nursery Becomes a “Forever Farm”
In March 2025, EMSWCD finalized two working farmland conservation easements with Surface Nursery, permanently protecting the land for agricultural use. One of the district’s largest and longest-running nurseries, Surface Nursery was founded in 1925 by Melvin Surface and is now operated by Debbie Surface, honoring her late husband Richard’s family legacy.
These “Forever Farm” agreements ensure the land remains in active farming, with easement terms that include resale restrictions to keep it affordable for future farmers and a ban on residential development.
With deep agricultural roots and strong conservation values, these easements safeguard both the past and the future of farming in the region. Learn more about Surface Nursery.
Crooked Tine Farm
EMSWCD sold this farm to mid-career farmers. Crooked Tine Farm will continue to farm organically.
After sixteen years of farming experience, Saruh Wynes and Bear Carter were ready to buy land—but like many aspiring farmers, they found themselves priced out of the market. That changed when they connected with EMSWCD, which helped them purchase a 10-acre farm in Troutdale through a program that protects farmland and reduces its cost for qualified farmers.
The land had been home to Dancing Roots Farm for decades. When its longtime owners decided to retire, they wanted to ensure the property would remain in farming. By working with EMSWCD to place a working farmland easement on the property, they helped guarantee that outcome—keeping the land in active agricultural use and ensuring it would be sold at agricultural value to qualified farmers.
That made it possible for Saruh and Bear to establish Crooked Time Farm on the site and access favorable financing, including long-term, low-interest FSA loans. EMSWCD also supported them by handling the easement process, coordinating surveys, securing tax assessments, and connecting them to grants for pollinator habitat and water catchment projects.
“There’s not enough that we could say about how helpful this experience has been as we start our farm,” said Saruh Wynes. “This program changed the game for us and gave us a lot of hope about what we are capable of as farmers. We’re also honored to be stewards on this land, which will now have a permanent legacy in farmland.”
Thanks to the dedication of both farm families—and EMSWCD’s support—this land will remain productive farmland for generations to come.
Good Rain Farm
Good Rain Farm Protected for Future Generations.
EMSWCD helped facilitate the purchase of a 14-acre farm in Troutdale by Good Rain Farm. A working farmland easement ensures the farm will always remain in active farm use, even if the property is sold to a different owner in the future. The easement ensures the farm remains in the ownership of farmers and is affordable to future farmers.
Farm founder Michelle Week spent the past five years participating in EMSWCD’s Headwaters Farm Business Incubator Program. The farm’s name in the Arrow Lakes Peoples’ traditional language of sngaytskstx (Sinixt) is “x̌ast sq̓it” (hast squeit).
Says Week, “At x̌ast sq̓it Farm, we explore our relationship with this land, [and] we decolonize and question our notions of ‘food’ and ‘nourishment.’ We begin conversation, build awareness, and look forward to a Good Rain that will feed our ecosystems, community and self.”
The Northwest Native Chamber also provided funding for this farmland access project.
Hawk Haven Farm
Hawk Haven Farm Secured Through Working Farmland Easement
In July 2024, EMSWCD purchased a working farmland easement from Hawk Haven Farm, protecting nearly 20 acres of farmland used for horse training and boarding. This easement ensures the land will always remain in agricultural use, even if the property changes hands.
Angela M. Parker, who has owned Hawk Haven for decades, partnered with EMSWCD to preserve the land and support her equine business.
“I don’t want it to be paved over,” Parker said. “I came to this special place some 40 years ago, and it was exciting to learn I could work with EMSWCD to make sure it stays a farm forever. The easement gives me capital now to invest in my horse boarding and training facilities, while securing the land for the future.”
Gordon Creek Farm
A longtime berry farmer listed his 20-acre property in Corbett for sale in 2018, wanting to help plan for his retirement.
Don and Rosie Sturm agreed to permanently protect their land for farming by transferring ownership to EMSWCD. Through our StreamCare program, we also improved the habitat of a tributary to Big Creek.
fIn 2023, EMSWCD listed the property and sold it to Black Oregon Land Trust, creating a long-term path to ownership for Mudbone Grown. A Forever Farm easement now ensures the land stays in farming and protects the restored habitat along the creek.
“EMSWCD’s Working Farmland Protection Program helped us plan for our retirement, provided capital for new farm operations, and ensured our properties remain in farming.” – Don Sturm
Full Cellar Farm
A longtime nursery farmer was looking to retire but wanted to ensure his property would always remain a working farm.
EMSWCD acquired this 14-acre property in 2018, making it available in 2019 for a graduate of the Headwaters Farm Incubator Program, which this property directly adjoins.
The habitat value of Johnson Creek – which cuts through the property – was also enhanced in 2019 via EMSWCD’s StreamCare program.
In 2022, EMSWCD crafted a creative and unique approach to make this farmland more accessible. Through an innovative deal and a working farmland easement, an early-career female farmer purchased the property at an affordable price for her farm business, Full Cellar Farm. The easement will keep the land in farming and affordable to future farmers.
“Having access to EMSWCD property and support services has been vital to growing my farm business.” – Emily Cooper
Big Creek Farm
To ensure this 50-acre property would forever remain in farm use, EMSWCD and the owners reached an agreement for EMSWCD to purchase it.
The property was operated as a vegetable farm while EMSWCD considered plans for future ownership, with vegetables produced on site sold at Portland-area grocery stores.
A sale of the property is imminent; the property will be sold subject to a Forever Farm easement that ensures the site always remains in farm use, affordable to and in the ownership of farmers.
Sester / 322nd Avenue Farm
This 20-acre farm property has been permanently protected since 2020, thanks to a working farmland easement.
The purchase of a working farmland easement on this property – owned by a long-standing commercial nursery farmer – provided capital to the farmer for farm operations investments.
The working farmland easement requires that the property remain in sustainable active agricultural use in perpetuity. The easement also helps tackle the growing issue of farmland affordability by prohibiting the construction of any residence on the farm.
“The transaction with EMSWCD allowed us to secure important working capital from our property without having to sell it. And, we know this property will remain a forever farm”. – Ted & Karen Sester
Foltz Property
EMSWCD partnered with Lou Foltz to establish a conservation easement permanently protecting the land’s natural and agricultural values.
Generously donated to EMSWCD in 2020, the easement guarantees that portions of this 16-acre property will always remain available for agricultural use.
The easement also safeguards the collaborative habitat restoration efforts along nearby Johnson Creek, ensuring that this vital work can continue and thrive for generations to come.
Oxbow Farm
EMSWCD acquired this 57-acre property in 2011 when it was listed for sale and at risk of conversion to non-farm use.
After leasing the property for many years to two commercial plant nursery operations, EMSWCD sold the property in early 2019 to Sester Farms, a commercial nursery.
The farm was sold subject to a working farmland easement, ensuring it remains in active agricultural use. The easement also ensures the property stays in farm ownership and includes provisions to help keep it affordable for future farmers.
About 14 acres of the land include forest, steep slopes, and streams that flow to the Sandy River. EMSWCD has invested in restoring this habitat, which the easement now permanently protects.
Headwaters Farm Property
To ensure a future for farming on this 60-acre property, EMSWCD acquired it in 2012.
Located just outside of Gresham’s city limits, EMSWCD created our nationally recognized Headwaters Farm Incubator Program at this site.
The property’s close access to urban markets and infrastructure made it an ideal location. EMSWCD also invested heavily in restoring and enhancing areas along the north fork of Johnson Creek, now named the Dianna Pope Natural Area.
Headwaters Addition
An additional one-acre property was acquired by EMSWCD in 2017. While small, the property offers exciting opportunities to extend the programming and visibility of the Headwaters Farm Business Incubator, which this property directly adjoins.
Are you a farmer or landowner interested in learning more?
Contact Matt Shipkey, Land Legacy Program Manager:
