Foundation Farms WA

Foundation Farms WA Foundation Farms WA, 501c3 is dedicated to empowering individuals through small niche farming practices with a community mindset.

We foster systemic solutions that build food sovereignty skills, belonging through relationships & community through service

This sunny day in the Outdoor Classroom at the Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County started off a bit rocky! "Delores" (th...
08/06/2026

This sunny day in the Outdoor Classroom at the Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County started off a bit rocky! "Delores" (the name we call all the deer at Seedpod Farm) broke through our defenses over the weekend and made a meal of our veg. Alas- such is life living with deer. Thus, our time together started with a survey of the damage. After assessing what was lost, and what was likely to make a comeback, we discussed where Delores might have entered the OC and brainstormed ideas to prevent future incursions. I was impressed with the ideas and pledged to repair the perimeter this week.

Today's lesson focused on the BGC's Healthy Lifestyles Pillar. We discussed the revamped Food Pyramid as well as a model of a Well-Balanced Plate which the kids created as a take-home model. We also looked at different versions of solar cookers using items we have around the house. We then created mini pizzas with garlic naan, mozzarella, tomatoes and fresh basil from the OC. We had also planned to make a spinach salad with strawberries and blueberries- but Delores ate all the spinach. Berries for dessert it is!

Lastly, we circled back to the condition of the garden. We elected to pull plants that were beyond saving, give a handful of kales a chance to come back, and then tucked a number of seedlings in the beds that will grow through the rest of the season.

Aside from the focus on nutrition and the mechanics of gardening, today's lesson was an opportunity to move forward even though we were disappointed. It wasn't Delores's fault. Delores was doing what Delores does- looking for prime sustenance. Funny enough, she poked her head around the building when the last group was in session. We all paused and said, "Move on little lady...." There was no yelling- just a begrudging acceptance and moving on. I was proud of the kids. I know that there are times when I haven't been as generous with Delores in particular. But- this is part of living in community. Rolling with the punches. Tidying up the mess, replanting, and moving forward.....all part of a Healthy Lifestyle!

A joyous week of mentoring sessions with the Foundation Farms Garden Club! The gardens are finally hitting their stride...
07/31/2026

A joyous week of mentoring sessions with the Foundation Farms Garden Club! The gardens are finally hitting their stride and folks are enjoying the bounty. There's nothing like picking a salad right outside your back door. The Square Foot Gardening Method is minimal maintenance and high productivity. Add soil, seeds and water...and a bit of love and *voila!* you've got yourself a garden. Great job FFGarden Club!

Wrapping up another wonderful month of classes at with our Farmer in Residence Program at The Boys & Girls Club of Lewis...
07/29/2026

Wrapping up another wonderful month of classes at with our Farmer in Residence Program at The Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County. Here's what we've been up to!

Another fun lesson at the Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County with our Farmer in Residence Program. This week we learned ...
07/29/2026

Another fun lesson at the Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County with our Farmer in Residence Program. This week we learned all about native pollinators! We discussed the differences between honey bees and the over 4,000 species of native bees in the US! Our culminating activity was creating a native bee house to hang from a tree or nestle into a nook or cranny for our bee friends. The BGC Outdoor Classroom is looking great- flowers are blooming, radishes are ready to go, and the lettuce and tomatoes are gaining ground.

Our host farm, Seedpod Farm is a wonderful place to be on Monday mornings.
07/21/2026

Our host farm, Seedpod Farm is a wonderful place to be on Monday mornings.

Foundation Farms Garden Clubs are wonderful opportunities to connect with folks in your neighborhood. Using the same me...
07/16/2026

Foundation Farms Garden Clubs are wonderful opportunities to connect with folks in your neighborhood. Using the same methodology we teach at Seedpod Farm, a raised bed is installed and planted up using the Square Foot Gardening method. Participants have semi-monthly mentoring sessions with Dr Julie Gullett, making sure that by the end of the season, they have the skills they need to grow food for themselves. Each Foundation Farms Garden Club also has 2 on-farm gatherings throughout the summer and fall seasons. This gives us an opportunity to connect with folks in our neighborhood, share the joys and challenges of gardening and connect with a local farm. Win-Win-Win! If you would like to participate in a Foundation Farms Garden Club we're compiling a list of folks for the 2027-2028 season. Now is a great time to talk with your neighbors. The ideal cohort size is five households----and we'd love to have them within walking distance of one another. ***This isn't required, but it does make a "Garden Tour" easier to do! Jump over to our website to see how you can donate to our scholarship fund. These gardens can produce food for years to come! Food Sovereignty through Skills, Belonging through Relationship, Community Building through Service- the Foundation Farms Garden Club is the perfect opportunity to get to know your neighbors, develop skills, and contribute to your community! We'd love for you to join the FFGarden Club!

We love Mondays with the Seedpod Farm-ily! Learning and laboring alongside each other is the perfect start to the week....
07/16/2026

We love Mondays with the Seedpod Farm-ily! Learning and laboring alongside each other is the perfect start to the week. Part of the mission of Foundation Farms is to help us understand the broader "system" of food skills, land use, community connection and conservation. Understanding the inter-connectedness betwixt these systems, helps us make more informed choices for our own health and the health of our community. Sunshine, Soil and Smiles.....sounds like a good start to our week!

The first "Monthly Maintenance Mob" at The Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County was a success this evening. Members of the...
07/10/2026

The first "Monthly Maintenance Mob" at The Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County was a success this evening. Members of the Seedpod Farm Crew descended on the Outdoor Classroom and in roughly an hour, we were able w**d, compost, mulch and tidy-up various spaces that were getting away from the kids and staff. Most school gardens fail because of two reasons- Sustainable Programming and lack of Routine Maintenance. The Farmer in Residence (FIR) program at Foundation Farms aims to address both of those issues. Semi-monthly lessons integrating science, food skills, art, and social skills are taught under the direction of Dr. Julie Gullett, a certificated teacher and a FIR who is learning not only the mechanics of farming, but also putting those skills to use in the community.

The Monthly Maintenance Mob addresses the maintenance concerns with a monthly after-hours work party. This is an opportunity for the agency staff, clients and the community to work alongside each other to steward the garden space. If you missed tonight's event, mark your calendars for the following- 6-7pm
August 13th, Sept 10th, Oct 8th, & Oct 29th: Winterizing, Disassembly and Storage.

We'd love for you and your family/friends to join us. Many hands make light labor. It's quick. It's fun- and it's a lovely way to support an organization that does great things in the community.

Another fun lesson this week at The Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County! This week was all about plants. We studied diff...
07/10/2026

Another fun lesson this week at The Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County! This week was all about plants. We studied different root types- Adventitious, Tap, Fibrous and Tuberous and samples from the garden (Strawberries, Carrots/Radishes, Lettuce and Potatoes). We then looked specifically at leaves- their form, function and evolution. To underscore this diversity, I brought several different samples from around Seedpod Farm. We made impressions of at least 4 different types of leaves in a clay ornament. These will be glazed with a bit of pigment. We also chatted about the history of botanical illustrations and the development of taxonomy-which incidentally, began with plants! Science, Art, History- it all happens in the garden!

We invite you to check out our website- https://www.foundation-farms.org/ You'll find what we're up to and ways you can...
06/30/2026

We invite you to check out our website- https://www.foundation-farms.org/ You'll find what we're up to and ways you can join the fun! Learn to garden. Build belonging through relationships. Join others in serving your community! We'd love for you to join us!

Address

2071 Jackson Hwy
Chehalis, WA
98532

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 12pm

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