Midnight's Farm
Join us in Lopez Island, Washington for a week of farming, learning and building community, with a focus on soil carbon. This week-long farm experience is part of the Climate Farm School learning program.
About the farm
The property
Midnight’s Farm is a 100-acre property on Lopez Island, Washington, part of a thriving island agriculture community in the San Juan Island chain. Located on the ancestral lands of the Coast Salish people, there is a long history of ocean and land-based food production in the region. The farm hosts the only Department of Ecology-certified community-scale compost operation in San Juan County. The farm has also experimented with supplementing cattle feed with asparagopsis seaweed in collaboration with a start-up to better understand the methane emissions reductions from cow burps as a result of this feed supplement. This farm is constantly researching, educating, and expanding practices in the regenerative farming direction.
- Lopez Island, Washington (USA)
- Part of Terra.do's Climate Farm School
- midnightsfarm.com
Farm team
Host farmers David Bill and Faith Van De Putte are passionate and experienced land stewards and lifelong learners. They are constantly experimenting with compost processes and soil amendments to boost soil health and sequester carbon. They have received numerous research grants in collaboration with local Washington State University Extension professionals on topics such as biochar co-compost and clay addition to compost for improved climate mitigation.
Glimpses from the farm
Hands-on activities
Prepare to get your hands dirty with a wide range of activities offered at the farm.
Farming and forestry
- Vegetable cultivation in the 1/2 acre market garden
- Animal husbandry and moving/feeding the cattle
- Work with perennial crops (e.g. blueberries, orchard trees, raspberries)
- Soil carbon workshop and on-farm ecological restoration with local soil science experts
- Forestry work (thinning trees, building nurse logs, basic forest health assessment)
- Community scale compost operation tour
- Visits to other island farms and the mainland to tour larger farming operations, regional wheat research lab, and innovative farm incubator program (Viva Farms)
Food and cooking
- Local wine and beer tasting from Lopez Island Vineyard and brewery
- Group meal preparation and basic food preservation lessons with resident chef
- Meal out at local farm to table restaurant in Lopez Village (Setsunai Noodle Bar)
Pricing and expected commitment
US $2200 – $3200
*Pricing varies based on lodging. For this course, the range is $2200-3200. Exact details are provided in the application form and follow up communication to applicants.
Hear from Climate Farm School fellows
Mitch Rubin
"The week living at Midnight’s Farm through the Climate Farm School was a special combination of insights, in-field learning, intellectual nourishment, and fun. During my time, I studied soil science, helped rotationally graze cattle, thinned trees in the forest for wildfire mitigation, visited five farms, heaved compost, and reflected on the food system at large. I highly suggest this program for anyone interested in deepening their knowledge of regenerative agriculture."
Sumant Gupta
"A truly unique eye-opening experience that upends long held common agricultural tenets and shines light on a sustainable path forward. We got our hands dirty and our minds fed. We didn’t need to be farmers to come away significantly better informed and hopeful about climate change solutions. "
