Ebey's Reserve
Farms of Ebey's Reserve
The Farms of Ebey's Reserve are a collection of 17 farms located in the central part of Whidbey Island, 60 miles north of Seattle in the Puget Sound.
In a region known for its gray rain-shrouded mountains, this slice of open, flat farmland tucked on the edge of the rain shadow is a unique geographical anomaly. Created in 1978, it was the first National Historic Reserve set aside to protect operational rural farmland. Several farms date back to the mid 1800s when families moved to the area and began building homesteads and working farms. The land itself had been used for centuries prior by the Skagit tribe for agricultural purposes.The approach of the Reserve is to preserve the origins of the agricultural history while allowing for a modernization in how the land is farmed. This goal is evident in the variety of farms and farmers in the area, ranging from 4th generation career farming families to young couples using new money to follow their dreams. It is comforting to know that the preservation of the lifestyle itself is being looked after here. This way the practice can be adapted to keep up with technology and society, allowing for the land to be appreciated by many generations to come.