172 Acres and a Way of Life Preserved - The Nancy Dunton Story
“Once this land is paved over, or scooped out and carried away, it’s gone forever. Concrete does not grow the food to eat or the beautiful flowers people need and enjoy. The more we lose our land, the less we’ll have to plant and harvest.”
For the past eight decades, Nancy Dunton has watched many different farmers plant, nurture and harvest crops in “the back field” behind her family home on the outskirts of La Conner.
“The back field” is actually 238 acres of some of the world’s most prime farmland. The precious soil there has grown many things over her lifetime, including tulips, daffodils, beet and cabbage seed, cauliflower, broccoli, peas, and potatoes.
“I watch the crops all the time. It’s fascinating.”
Dunton’s life is tied to the rhythm of the crops. At 78-years-old, and, except for a few years after she was married, she’s lived her entire life in the same farmhouse, built by her father’s uncle in the 1930s, and passed down through her family.
“I watch the crops all the time,” she said as she looked out over her land on a crisp and sunny spring day. The rich soil was dark brown against the picturesque background of the snow-capped North Cascade Mountains.
“It’s fascinating. I love harvest time. I love watching the combines.”
Dunton has dedicated her life to maintaining her family’s homestead.
She started mowing the lawn at age 11. “You don’t know how many hours I pushed that lawn mower,” she said. “And I mean pushed, not rode. I’ve always just loved working outside.”
Dunton said she wasn’t pushed into it, but just liked seeing what she could accomplish: a weeded garden bed or a freshly cut lawn. And she’s been doing it ever since.
“I’ve loved every minute of it,” she said.
Most of “the back field” behind Dunton’s home is leased to local farmers to grow flowers and food, and rotate crops with other local farmers. It is a critical, large piece of land in the patchwork of our limited farming community.
“I fell in love with the land, and I take care of it as if it were my own.”
One of those farmers who is currently growing tulips and daffodils on the land is Washington Bulb, whose business relies on long-term leases on large fields like these.
“A lot of people don’t realize how critical landlords are to our farming community,” said John Roozen, of Washington Bulb. “It’s a very special relationship. It’s priceless.”
Roozen said he hand delivers checks to Dunton, with a bouquet of flowers every month. Every spring, Dunton said Roozen brings his tractor to till up the soil for her garden too.
Roozen and Dunton became longtime friends through their mutual love of her land, and their interest in following the crops through the seasons there.
“I fell in love with the land, and I take care of it as if it were my own,” he said.
Dunton recently started to worry about what would happen to the land after she is gone. She knew she didn’t want to leave it open to be carved up for houses.
“It would be awful,” she said. “Once this land is paved over, or scooped out and carried away, it’s gone forever. Concrete does not grow the food to eat or the beautiful flowers people need and enjoy. The more we lose our land, the less we’ll have to plant and harvest.”
Dunton started working with Skagitonians To Preserve Farmland about three years ago to begin the conservation process.
Through Skagit County’s Farmland Legacy Program, Dunton protected 172 acres of prime farmland and extinguished three development rights this spring.
This property ranked high with the Conservation Futures Advisory Committee for the large size of the farm, exceptional soil quality, scenic values, and close proximity to markets
Source: Skagit County iMap.
“This property ranked high with the Conservation Futures Advisory Committee for the large size of the farm, exceptional soil quality, scenic values, and close proximity to markets,” said Kara Symonds, the Farmland Legacy Program Coordinator for Skagit County. “She (Dunton) was definitely dedicated to making sure that this is preserved farmland and had a great grasp on understanding how important this farmland is.”
Roozen said there is not a lot of preserved farmland near La Conner, and he hopes Dunton’s actions will encourage other landowners to consider putting their land into the program.
As for Dunton, when asked if she still mows her own lawn, Dunton laughed and said “of course I do.”
She jumped on her John Deere mower as if she were still a teenager, and took it for a quick spin in her yard. She is known among the neighbors and the farmers for how many hours she spends on it.
Now, she can ride in peace, knowing her land is safely preserved to be farmed in perpetuity.
By Tahlia Honea: info@skagitonians.org
Note from the Executive Director:
SPF began working with Nancy Dunton in 2018 to help her and her family through the long and sometimes complicated process to permanently protect 172 acres of her family's farm.
SPF donors generously raised over $51,000 towards the overall project cost of $210,000, covered by Skagit County's Farmland Legacy Program. A big Thank You and tremendous credit goes to Kara Symonds, the program's Director for her leadership and work in moving the project through the County's program.
And much credit goes to the Skagit County Board of County Commissioners for their steadfast support of one of the most successful farmland preservation programs in the State.
To date the County's program has protected over 11,000 acres of prime farmland in Skagit county. You can see a map of the farmland the Farmland Legacy Program has protected here.
If you are interested in learning more about Skagit County's Farmland Legacy Program you can visit their Website or download an application form here.
Please consider supporting SPF's ongoing farmland preservation efforts by making a donation or becoming a member today!