21 Acres exists only through the blood, sweat and tears of dedicated folks who volunteer their time and energy to make a vision become a reality.

“This is a community-driven site,” says Steve Dahl, volunteer coordinator for the non-profit organization. “It wouldn’t be here without the work of countless individuals and groups who have gotten involved because they support sustainable agriculture.”

21 Acres is an “agri-urban park” that serves to educate the community about where our food comes from and how locally grown food plays a key role in a sustainable lifestyle. Formerly known as the Kaplan Farm, 21 Acres was purchased in the late 90’s by King County Parks and Natural Resources. Friends of the Woodinville Farmers Market then bought the land from the County for $352,000 in 2005.

Today, the site includes a bio-diverse farmstead with trails, interpretive educational signage and cultivated farm plots used to demonstrate sustainable and organic farming practices. The farm grows food for families, market, schools and hunger relief programs. The land also supports 80 active community garden plots. “It all didn’t look like this in the beginning,” explains Dahl. “The place was overgrown with blackberries and other invasive weeds and it’s taken volunteers months and months to clear it all, create trails, put up fences, prepare the soil and do numerous other activities to ready the land for farming.”

Dahl has helped coordinate groups interested in helping out at the site, including corporations, schools, teen groups and Scout troops. Employees from several major companies, such as Comcast and Google, have participated on specific service days designated to give back to their community. “Comcast sent 200 people the first time and 300 the second time,” says Dahl. “They were really able to accomplish a lot with that many bodies helping out.” The site also hosted a United Way Day of Caring recently, where folks representing a local community council spent their time doing garden and trail maintenance, cleaning a pond, putting up fences and removing blackberry bushes. The public is always welcome to lend a hand at 21 Acres on Sustainable Saturdays, the first Saturday of each month.  Read more.