Dear Beacon Food Forest Community & Supporters World Wide,

For the past fifteen years Beacon Food Forest has nurtured our spirits through warm, inclusive community and our bodies through nutritious, organic food. And the food forest isn’t just for those of us who volunteer, donate, and serve on the board-  year-round our neighbors are in the food forest to pick fresh herbs to add to dinner, to clip rainbow chard for a colorful salad, or seek spiritual solace under a gently leafing tree. Children have picked their first berries off BFF bushes and learned about worms and pollinators during our summer camps. Our food forest, the largest in our entire country, provides countless gifts to every person who passes through.

Today BFF is at a difficult juncture. For several years we have benefitted from having two staff members. Khalil Griffith serves BFF as a full-time farmer, educator, on-site director, and site planner. Under Khalil’s leadership the food forest has expanded physical space significantly, we are able to host more tours and work parties, and we have a new focus on growing easy-to-harvest crops in the BIPOC garden. Priya Marita Diaz is our half-time community relations director, volunteer coordinator, publicity expert, board wrangler, and administrative professional. Priya has increased our social media presence, introduced new art initiatives to our work parties, and kept us connected to other South Seattle organizations. Both of our staff members are exceptionally gifted in their work and we are beyond fortunate to partner with them. However, this year we are experiencing a significant financial shortage. In previous years we have received several local government grants that we were not awarded this year. Individual donations are down, as we all cope with inflation and post-pandemic finances. Unless we receive significant donations we will have to let Khalil and Priya go on January 1st, 2025.

Your BFF board is hard at work applying for grant funding but the reality is that post-Covid, there are fewer grants available and more organizations applying for them. We need your financial support today. Without Khalil and Priya programs at the food forest will be reduced. We will have to turn away school groups that want to learn about urban farming. There will be a significant reduction in care for our forest and without any paid staff on site, we are likely to have more theft and property damage. We will not be able to grow, harvest, and deliver as much food to local food banks.

Beacon Food Forest is a haven for any person who needs food, community, and the solace of nature. Many of the people who love BFF are not able to donate. If you are, I hope that you  can generously give at this critical juncture. Think about the hours of joy, comfort, and inspiration you find in the food forest. Think about how your funds can make that experience possible for the children picking berries, the adults learning about pollinators, and the elders sharing wisdom under the arbor in the food forest. I signed up to make a monthly donation in an amount that is a stretch for me. Each month this stretch will remind me of how much I love Beacon Food Forest and how much our community and green space nurture my spirit. If enough of us can stretch our giving we can ensure the continuation of BFF for years to come. Please use this link to give generously , or use the red Donate button on the BFF website.

With hope and gratitude,
 Your Beacon Food Forest Board President Kate Landis, and the BFF Board of Directors