WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A few farms in Whatcom County are on the path to preservation from development.

Jensen Farm, Steensma Farm and Cloud Mountain Farm Center are all on a list of farmland seeking grant funds from the state. Whatcom County’s Planning Development Services Conservation Easement Program is applying on the behalf of the three farms.

This is one of the first steps in the lengthy process to preserve these lands according to a Conservation Easement Program staff member.

The Washington state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) offers grants that match 50% of the funds needed to place preservation easements on the land.

The grant program gives funding so development rights can be bought, offering the opportunity for farming in the future. It prevents development of housing or industry on the land. According to the RCO, farm stewardship plans cannot exceed $10,000.

Conservation Easement Program staff said Jensen and Steensma are not currently under any form of preservation easement.

Whatcom Land Trust (WLT), interim owners of Cloud Mountain, placed a permanent preservation easement on the property when they accepted responsibility in December last year. My Bellingham Now has reached out to WLT for further comment.