HISTORIC STONECREST FARM

Stonecrest Farm is located on a hill overlooking the Center Valley of Lopez Island, on land once occupied and managed by the Coast Salish people. With the colonization of the San Juan Islands in the late 1800’s, Lopez Island became a large producer of agricultural products that were shipped south to the Seattle docks. European settlers raised sheep and cattle, grew grain, fruits, and vegetables, and raised enough dairy cows to sell milk to a mainland creamery. Over time, however, the economy of the island went from farming and fishing to being promoted as the vacation destination that it is today.

Stonecrest Farm was founded in 1889 by a Danish sailor, Chris Jensen. In 1902 the iconic barn on the farm was built, and for 100 years, an extended family, including Otto and Donna Kjargaard, farmed the land.

After a successful fundraising campaign, Lopez Community Land Trust (LCLT) took possession of Stonecrest Farm in May of 2017. In the summer of that same year, just after we had sold our farm in Colorado, we visited Lopez Island on a short family vacation and fell in love with the island, the community, and with this crest of hill that we now call home. Long story short, we applied for and were awarded a long term lease on Stonecrest and here we are, raising our family, building our business, and grateful every day for the opportunity to farm in such a special place. We honor the history of the land, the farm, and its many past inhabitants, and hold them within our minds and hearts as we move through our daily lives.

For more information on the Lopez Community Land Trust and its groundbreaking Lopez Island Farm Trust (LIFT) project, please read more HERE.