We’re excited to share that Fishline has signed a lease to begin farming a 2-acre plot at the historic Petersen Farm in Clear Creek Valley. The project will turn a portion of this recently preserved farmland into a source of fresh, locally grown food for neighbors experiencing food insecurity — and we are the first tenant since GPC acquired the 142-acre property in January 2025.
Petersen Farm’s roots run deep in the Clear Creek valley. The property includes parts of the original homesteads of the Levin and Holm families, who settled the area in the 1880s. Gerald and Dorothy Petersen bought what was then known as Meadowlark Farm in 1948, running its dairy operation before shifting to grass-fed beef cattle in 1970. Gerald had a strong desire to preserve the farm’s legacy, and included in his will his wish that the land remain a working farm. GPC first placed an agricultural conservation easement on the farm’s core acreage in 2014, and in 2025 formed Kitsap Conservation Lands, LLC — a separate legal entity — to purchase the farm and develop an affordable farm lease program supporting beginning and underserved farmers, and our local food system.
“Partnering with a local food bank in growing food for the community is the exact sort of thing that we are hoping to do in reactivating this farm,” says Monica Montgomery, Conservation Project Manager at GPC.
Fishline’s decision to lease two acres at Petersen Farm reflects both a growing community need and a long-standing belief in the value of local food production. The organization has already seen what’s possible through the Swank Grow & Share Garden, where volunteers cultivate nearly 10,000 pounds of fresh produce each year on just a quarter-acre of land.
“Growing food locally is about far more than produce — it’s about building resilience, strengthening community connections, and ensuring our neighbors have access to healthy, nutritious food close to home,” said Charlie Thompson, Executive Director of Fishline. “We’ve seen what’s possible through the incredible success of the Swank Grow & Share Garden, and as food insecurity continues to rise, expanding our ability to grow food locally is a natural next step in our commitment to the community.”
To help guide the future of the property, Fishline has established a dedicated Petersen Farm Task Force made up of board members, staff, volunteers, agricultural experts, and community stakeholders — including individuals from Kitsap Conservation District and the Washington State University (WSU) Kitsap Extension Program. The group will evaluate opportunities for sustainable food production, educational programming, volunteer engagement, and community partnerships, all while ensuring the land is stewarded responsibly.
“The opportunity to cultivate two acres at Petersen Farm represents a natural evolution of our investment in local food systems,” Thompson added. “By bringing together diverse voices and expertise through the Task Force, we can thoughtfully explore how this land can best serve our mission and help meet the growing needs of our community for years to come.”
This partnership has been years in the making. The Kitsap Farmland Preservation Coalition first identified Petersen Farm as a priority for protection in their 2023 publication, In Our Hands: The Future of Farming in Kitsap County, which analyzed local farmland preservation strategies and offered specific recommendations for the county. When the property was listed for sale in 2022, GPC began working with a coalition of partners and funders to protect and revitalize it — including Kitsap Conservation District, WSU Kitsap County Extension and the WSU Regional Small Farms program, Business Impact NW, the WA State Housing and Finance Commission’s Farm Protection and Affordability Investment (FarmPAI) program, the WA State Conservation Commission’s Farm Protection and Land Access program, and The Russell Family Foundation. Together, these partnerships are creating a pathway for the next generation of farmers to access farmland in Kitsap County — and, in turn, supporting community access to locally grown, nutritious produce. The partnership with Fishline is a natural step toward that goal.
“The Fishline Farm at Petersen will be an important source of fresh, nutritious, and culturally appreciated produce for our community,” says Diane Fish from Kitsap Conservation District. “This aligns with the farm and food system support offered by Kitsap Conservation District’s GRACE Program for school, community and food bank gardens, and farms. We are excited to help Fishline get growing!”
“A partnership with Fishline is one piece of the larger vision for Petersen Farm,” Montgomery explains. “GPC and our partners are developing a farm lease program that will support beginning and underserved farmers with access to affordable farmland and shared agricultural infrastructure, with a public application process expected in the future.” The Fishline lease is separate from that program, but it shows what’s possible: a once-threatened farm, reactivated to grow food for the very community that fought to save it.
This expansion is a major step toward Fishline’s long-term vision of growing more food locally, reducing reliance on outside supply chains, and ensuring families have access to healthy fruits and vegetables. To bring the expanded farm into production for the 2027 growing season, Fishline must raise an additional $35,000 in operational funding for irrigation, equipment, seeds, and ongoing farm operations. Thanks to generous support, $11,000 has already been raised.
“We are incredibly grateful to Great Peninsula Conservancy and the donors who have already invested in this vision,” said Charlie Thompson, Fishline’s Executive Director. “Together, we are creating a sustainable source of fresh food that will benefit our community for years to come.”