Information about Sustainable Connections’ plan to divest from Cloud Mountain Farm Center was shared in a press release on May 30, 2025. We’ve provided some context below, along with some answers to frequently asked questions.  

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Sustainable Connections entered the merger with Cloud Mountain Farm Center with the best intentions to support the farm, provide the nonprofit infrastructure necessary for operations, and hire farm expertise to nurture its success. We put our best effort forward to secure funding, farm leadership, and plan for a sustainable future for the farm.  

We were not successful in this effort, and we acknowledge that. We are sad to announce the planned divestment, but we know that sustaining Cloud Mountain Farm Center as part of Sustainable Connections does not align with our strengths as an organization and capacity to support the farm’s success.  

We know how important Cloud Mountain Farm Center is to the community and have worked hard with our Board of Directors and the Whatcom Community Foundation to create a plan moving forward to preserve the property and its role in serving the local food system. We hope that this document can share some of the history, timeline, data, and thoughts that have led us to our current time. 

~ Derek & the Sustainable Connections Team  

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1. What is the history and relationship between Sustainable Connections and Cloud Mountain Farm Center? 

Sustainable Connections and Cloud Mountain Farm Center (CMFC) officially merged in 2019. CMFC was originally founded by Tom and Cheryl Thornton as a for-profit business in 1978. In 2011, with support from the Whatcom Community Foundation, CMFC transitioned from a for-profit business into a nonprofit. As part of succession planning for the farm’s founders who were nearing retirement, CMFC began searching for an Executive Director to run the nonprofit farm. After an unsuccessful Executive Director search in 2017, CMFC’s Board of Directors explored a variety of partnership opportunities with aligned organizations. In 2018, a joint committee of board members from CMFC and Sustainable Connections voted to merge Sustainable Connections and CMFC. Mid-year 2018, both boards voted to invite Derek Long, Sustainable Connections founder and ED, to be interim Executive Director for CMFC until the merger was completed. 

Since the merger in 2019, Sustainable Connections has provided administrative support to CMFC. Sustainable Connections created a new Farm Director position, a new Program Director position, and allocated time from downtown staff to support human resources, technology, communications, events, financial management, programming, and fundraising.  

2. Why are we looking for new owners for the Cloud Mountain Farm Center property? 

Cloud Mountain Farm Center has been supported by a single fund at the Whatcom Community Foundation since it became a nonprofit in 2011, which funded an average of 55% of CMFC’s budget. Even with this significant support, CMFC struggled financially – both before and after merging with Sustainable Connections.  

• CMFC operated with an annual deficit averaging -$47,000 before the merger and -$91,000 after the merger.  

• CMFC received its final major grant for 2025, which was $275,000 less than in years past. This will support reduced operations through 2025, but no funding is expected in 2026 and beyond. 

CMFC’s significant financial deficit, which increased steadily over the years, was driven by rising operational costs, including personnel, insurance, and supplies, as well as unprofitable nursery operations. The nursery operated at a deficit totaling $600,000+ over the past six years.   

Sustainable Connections has also learned that CMFC does not align with Sustainable Connection’s core strengths and overall capacity to deliver on its mission. Sustainable Connections is committed to finding a suitable land trust partner and/or buyer to transition CMFC into its next phase of operations.  

3. What efforts were put into fundraising for Cloud Mountain Farm Center? 

Before the merger in 2019, Cloud Mountain Farm Center submitted many small grant requests with an average size of $27,500. Most of these grant applications were not successful – available records show that between 2015-2018 CMFC received roughly 9 grants totaling $70,082. 

After the merger, Sustainable Connections increased fundraising activities to support CMFC, including grants, contracts, and individual donations. Sustainable Connections submitted requests for large, multi-year grants with an average size of $93,000. In the last three years, CMFC received six grant awards totaling $401,570 – nearly six times the funding it did during the three years prior to the merger. Unfortunately, these grants were not enough to cover CMFC’s operating shortfalls and were insufficient to sustain long-term programming.  

4. Would Sustainable Connections keep the property if we could find funding? What about a fundraiser and outreach to the community?  

Funding for nonprofit educational farm centers is limited, and current economic conditions for farm business development are extremely challenging. These two factors, combined with the high cost of personnel, infrastructure, and equipment, made Cloud Mountain Farm Center’s nonprofit model financially unsustainable. While fundraising events or urgent appeals for community donations might have provided some financial support, they would not ultimately provide the long-term, stable funding needed for CMFC to operate with its current model. Even with additional funding, Sustainable Connections is not suited to provide the support CMFC would need to restructure and become financially viable. 

5. What is the timeline for the transition of the Cloud Mountain Farm Center property? 

Sustainable Connections’ Board of Directors has outlined this timeline for divestment from Cloud Mountain Farm Center: 

• September 1, 2025: Deadline for securing a partnership with a land trust.  
• September 30, 2025: If Sustainable Connections does not find a suitable land trust partner, it will list CMFC for sale. The Whatcom Community Foundation has the right to approve or deny any potential sale. 
• December 31, 2025: Deadline for sale on the open market.  If a seller is not approved, Sustainable Connections intends to transfer the CMFC property deed to the Whatcom Community Foundation. 

6. If Sustainable Connections is unable to reach an agreement with a land trust partner, how will the listing price be determined? 

We are exploring market rates as well as partnerships that would support a price that is more accessible to newer farm businesses or nonprofits. Any proceeds from the sale will go to the Whatcom Community Foundation and not to Sustainable Connections. The Whatcom Community Foundation has robust processes and decision-making infrastructure to re-invest these funds in the regional food system. 

7. What types of individuals or entities are Sustainable Connections seeking as stewards for the Cloud Mountain Farm Center property? 

We are seeking skilled and passionate stewards who will continue to use the land to benefit the regional food system, as well as an entity committed to continuing Processing, Aggregation, Distibution and Storage (PADS) services to local partners. PADS serves small farm businesses and organizations with cooperative impact, and is valued by local farms, food banks, and other community clients; we seek future owners who will maintain that priority.     

8. What will happen to the 2025 fall fruit harvest? 

Cloud Mountain Farm Center staff have determined that the best strategy for disease and pest prevention is to remove immature fruit as it develops through most of the perennial crops. This will reduce the need for harvest support this fall and provide an opportunity for the plants to get stronger for 2026 production. A portion of the apple crop will get netted and be available, most likely, to gleaning organizations.  

9. How will Sustainable Connections maintain the property at Cloud Mountain Farm Center until a transfer or sale is made? 

Sustainable Connections plans to keep a limited staff of 2 individuals and hire contractors to help with site maintenance until a transfer or sale is complete.  

10. What will happen to the Processing, Aggregation, Distribution, and Storage (PADS) facility at Cloud Mountain Farm Center? 

This facility will be included in the transfer or sale of the property. The PADS program, which provides access to shared infrastructure and equipment for small local farmers, food banks, farmers markets, and distributors, is essential to the health and wellbeing of our local food system. Sustainable Connections plans to emphasize the critical importance of this program to potential future owners.  

We have carefully researched the costs of providing this service and mapped out a business plan to increase earned revenue so that future owners have a path forward to continue providing this service. Sustainable Connections continued to research funding opportunities and apply for PADS grants through April 2025. Sustainable Connections is communicating with current PADS clients to support the transition. 

 11. What will happen to Tom and Cheryl Thornton, the farm’s founders, when Cloud Mountain Farm Center is transferred to new owners? 

Tom and Cheryl Thornton were granted a life estate in 2011 and will continue to live in the on-site house when the property is transferred to new owners/stewards. 

12. How will the transition impact Sustainable Connections’ mission and focus? Does this mean the end of technical support to new and beginning farmers by Sustainable Connections? 

Sustainable Connections remains committed to strengthening regional food systems and promoting sustainable farming practices through our Food & Farming Program and the Eat Local First WA Collaborative. These programs will continue to offer technical support to new farmers and producers through promotion and networking opportunities including annual campaigns, events, low-barrier marketing tools, and robust digital infrastructure that expands access to wholesale markets.  

13. Why did Sustainable Connections choose the timeline for divestment at the end of December? 

Sustainable Connections acknowledges that this timeline will unfold quickly, but it was chosen out of necessity to minimize further financial losses to other Sustainable Connection programs. Sustainable Connections will utilize existing networks, partnerships, and robust distribution lists to reach out to the agricultural community if the farm is for sale. Specific milestones before the end of the year may shift depending on how conversations with potential land trust partners go, but Sustainable Connections plans to be fully divested from Cloud Mountain Farm Center by December 31, 2025. 

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Please send thoughts and questions to: communications@sustainableconnections.org.