20 years and counting...
WSU Food Systems Program and Tilth Alliance have been collaboratively organizing Farm Walks since 2004! These farmer-to-farmer educational opportunities are hosted by organic, sustainable, and innovative farm and food businesses throughout Washington State. Always aiming to highlight our farmer hosts and their unique expertise and experiences. We reach new, beginning, and existing farmers seeking education, advice, and mentorship from these experienced farmers, as well as agricultural and food systems professionals, and WSU Extension Specialists. Farm Walks are shared on-farm through a guided walk-and-talk style tour and via podcast!
check out Farm walks podcast
meet the coordinating Team
Marcia Ostrom
Farm Walks Founder and Director
Marcia Ostrom is an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in the School of the Environment and the Food Systems Program at Washington State University. She teaches courses on agroecology and sustainable food systems and leads interdisciplinary extension and research programs to improve the sustainability and equity of regional food and farming systems. She established the Small Farms Program, the bilingual Cultivating Success Program, the Immigrants in Agriculture Program, and the WSU/Tilth Farm Walk Program. She co-leads the Washington Coming Together for Racial Understanding (CTRU) Program.
Kate Smith
Producer, Podcast Host, and Behind the Scenes Wrangler
Kate Smith is an Extension Coordinator Specialist in the School of the Environment and the Food Systems Program at Washington State University. She leads statewide Sustainable Agriculture Education programming including Cultivating Success and Farm Walks. Kate grew up in Skagit County where she currently works to provide bilingual English/Spanish technical assistance and education to farmers. She is motivated to create inclusive programming for sustainable agriculture across Washington state.
Nate stacey
Producer and In-Person Farm Walks Organizer
As a member of the farm program team at Tilth Alliance, Nate develops and implements programs that support farmers, the farming community, and all others involved in organic, sustainable, and regenerative food production. He hopes to help local, regional, and statewide producers find solutions to their problems. When not digging in the dirt, he enjoys, running, reading, cooking, and hiking.
Nicole Witham
Farmer, Designer, Educator, and Podcast Host
Nicole Witham is an energetic farm girl with deep roots in the Pacific Northwest. The rich intersectionality food has from tradition, culture, practice, and production, are what center her professional and personal passions. A long-seeded desire to be a creative social changemaker, pushed Nicole to receive a MA in Environment and Community with a specialization in Sustainable Food Systems and Permaculture Design. Now in her many roles within the Washington Food System, she uses her educational background and personal farming experience to lend a whole systems design approach to implementing actions to support sustainable social change, using farming and food systems as a leverage point.
“When I started Farm Walks in 2004 I had been really inspired by the dairy-based pasture walks happening in the midwest. I wanted to accomplish the same thing I saw happening there, so we created this series to bring farmers together to learn from other farmers.”
— Marcia Ostrom, Associate Professor in Sustainable Food and Farming Systems and creator of the Farm Walks Series and the Immigrants in Agriculture Program with WSU Food Systems Program
Check out the…
