Conservation

The Snohomish River is a stone’s throw from our farm and so, we take heed before we cast that stone, for when it falls the ripples affect more than our shores, but the whole Puget Sound and beyond. That is why we only utilize holistic and organic farming practices in our orchards. This long-view of stewardship is why our fields and pastures are buffered by native trees and shrubs so we do not adversely affect the waterways with manure and, surprisingly, too much sunshine.

Yet, we are grateful for what sun we get as we harvest all of our electrical needs with solar power. Liquid sunshine is also conserved at our farm, storing over 10,000 gallons of rain to water our livestock, fields, and apples. Little is wasted and everything has its place and value. Our livestock manure and plant waste is composted and returned to the fields from where it came. It is used to enrich the soil and add organic matter to the flood plain which is so prone to having it washed away.

Conservation is commendable, but at Raising Cane Ranch we strive to do something more than preserving status quo with sustainable practices. We want diversity, much as a jungle or a coral reef is unique by its vast numbers of plants and animals. Our goal is to add to the land through the soil and over the years we have increased the native plant species four-fold. Furthermore, we’ve planted fruit and nut trees for animals and people alike; fields of flowers for bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies—we’ve encouraged biodiversity.

And we believe it has. So come out and pick and eat our delicious fruits and nuts, but don’t forget to look up once and a while to notice White Crowned Sparrows nesting in the brambles or a Harbor Seal playing in the waters of the Snohomish River or a spider weaving its web on a rusty old barb-wired fence.