Rising Sign strives to grow food in a way that enhances, rather than degrades, the health of the environment. This influences both how we grow and how we work. Our practices include:
- Practicing low and no-till farming techniques to help build healthy soil and support vast mycelial networks
- Limiting single us plastic in production and distribution
- Using cover cropping for fertility and never using chemicals or synthetic fertilizers
- Using integrated pest management such as crop rotation, interplanting, pollinator plants, and row cover to manage pests and diseases
- Purchasing certified organic seeds that are open-pollinated and grown in the Pacific Northwest whenever possible
- Creating a work environment that places people at the center
Rising Sign farm is a radical, queer farm business invested an equitable world. We put our politics and beliefs into action through practicing solidarity economics. As we continue to learn and grow and strive to do better, please feel free to send ideas and feedback our way!
- Sliding scale: Our CSA is offered on a sliding scale, where the members who are able to pay more, directly supporting healthy food access for members who pay less. This is income redistribution on a very small scale! See our CSA page for more info.
- Real rent: Rising Sign Farm occupies Coast Salish land, and we recognize the history of white supremacy that enables our farm to exist here. Our propagation house and markets are located on Duwamish land, and our farm field is on Snoqualmie land. We pay Real Rent to the Duwamish, equal to our yearly lease on the land. If you are located in the Seattle area, you can find more information about paying real rent here.
- Food donation and partnering with food banks: each week we donate leftover market produce to Fare Start, and we sell directly to Hopelink’s food program.
Emma Shorr
I’ve been farming in the Snoqualmie Valley since 2016, and running Rising Sign for five seasons. I started farming with the idealism of being able to live into my values, to change the food system from the ground up. While I may have less idealism now, I still believe deeply in the power and joy of feeding people, and of the importance of caring for the land and growing food. This farm is only possible because of the incredible support from the community, and because of all the other people who have worked this land.
Our amazing crew (past and present):