BFRDP Projects

Farming for Prosperity (FFP) for Immigrant and Refugee Farmers in south King County,
Washington, initiated services in October 2021 to prepare new farmers who have been
traditionally under resourced to access capital, farmland, and educational resources. South King
County is the most ethnically diverse region in Washington State. The FFP partnership blends
the resources of an established agricultural education program at Highline College with the
cultural and language support of three non-profit organizations: International Rescue Committee
of Western Washington, Living Well Kent, and Wakulima USA. The project partners have
developed a working alliance to meet the needs of the farmers affiliated with each organization.
Monthly topic workshops on organic production and farm business are complemented with
technical assistance on organic production and business planning and business management.

FFP partners are working collaboratively with the King County Agriculture Land Use
Coordinator in providing land access, field preparation, and irrigation. The project is addressing
priorities in King County’s Local Food Initiative and Equity and Social Justice Initiative as well
as legislative priorities defined in the 2018 Farm Bill: 1) basic crop farming practices, 2)
entrepreneurship and business training, and 3) resources and referral. FFP is meeting five
objectives: 1) build the agricultural and business knowledge of immigrant beginning farmers; 2)
develop practical farming abilities; 3) assist beginning farmers in creating farm businesses; 4)
create pathways for sharing farmer wisdom; 5) maintain farm business sustainability with oneon-one guidance through the historically inaccessible land, market, and funding processes.
Outcomes include beginning farmers completing farm business and practicum workshops;
managing their own farm incubator plots; receiving in-field technical assistance and one-on-one
business planning; starting new farm businesses; connecting to commercial farmer mentors; and
receiving guidance through land, markets, and funding processes.