Nov. 15 — Farmbudsman will help aid farmers, preserve land

There’s no question that East Pierce County is a great place to live. We have views of Mount Rainier, wonderful schools, a proximity to Seattle and Tacoma, yet enough distance that allows for relaxing open space. That appeal is attracting more and more people to the area, making it one of the fastest growing regions in Washington. And along with that population growth comes the disappearance of precious farmland. That’s exactly why the county created the FARM program — to find the delicate balance between preserving farmland by aiding farmers and allowing for development. The missing link of the program has been a “Farmbudsman” to pull everything together. With the recent appointment of Carrie Sikorski to this important position the county is providing assistance to farmers as they try to survive on farms of diminishing size and scale. At the same time, she’ll be addressing the concerns of those who suddenly find themselves living next door to working farms. Sikorski will succeed if East Pierce farmers take a new look at non-traditional operations and if local businesses start using and selling locally-grown crops. Our new neighbors can help, too, by appreciating the sights and sound and smells of our farms, the rural environment they sought in escaping the city.