PRAGTREE FARM
A planning meeting held at Pragtree Farm on August 27, 1977, marked the moment the name “Tilth” was chosen for the regional organization. (Photo by Jef Jaisun)
We are Mary Marshall and Andrew Tuttle, two of the land stewards of Pragtree Farm and co-founders of Edge Perma. Since 2022, we have cared for this historic twenty-acre farm in Snohomish County, Washington while working to restore the land, preserve its stories, and continue its long tradition of education and experimentation.
When we first arrived at Pragtree, we inherited both an incredible legacy and a tremendous responsibility. We knew that this special farm helped inspire generations of farmers, educators, and environmentalists and we saw incredible potential but we were also faced with a daunting reality. Many years of deferred maintenance meant that much of our early work has focused on cleanup, repairs, ecological restoration, and preserving infrastructure. Today, we continue that work while exploring how this historic site can serve future generations.
Becky Deryckx, one of the four original founders of Tilth and the person who suggested the organization’s name, sits atop a 1947 Farmall A tractor in the Roadhouse. (Courtesy of Tilth Alliance)
Pragtree Farm was established in 1976 and is owned by Evergreen Land Trust (ELT.) Evergreen Land Trust was the first community land trust in the Pacific Northwest. The trust agreement committed the farm to be a place dedicated to organic farming, food self-reliance, low-impact technologies, public education, and the protection of farmland from speculative development.
In the years that followed, Pragtree became a center for innovation in sustainable agriculture. Farmers here experimented with winter gardening, cold frames, solar greenhouses, and other emerging techniques that helped shape the organic farming movement in the Pacific Northwest. These efforts contributed to influential publications such as Winter Gardening in the Maritime Northwest by Binda Colebrook, The Future Is Abundant, and dozens of Tilth Journal publications.
Pragtree is also recognized as the birthplace of the Tilth movement, which helped connect farmers, educators, and community members throughout the region. The exchange of ideas that happened here influenced generations of growers and helped advance sustainable agriculture throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
PRAGTREE FARM TODAY
While we spend a great deal of time preserving and sharing the history of this place, we believe the best way to honor Pragtree's legacy is to continue the spirit of experimentation and education that this farm was founded on.
Today, the farm serves as a living laboratory for ecological restoration, regenerative agriculture, and community education.
Recent projects include:
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Hosting Edmonds College students for classes focused on restoration ecology and land stewardship.
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A community planting event in 2025 where volunteers helped plant hundreds of new fruit trees, fruiting shrubs, native plants, and agroforestry trials throughout the farm.
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Mushroom cultivation trials in the forest.
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Native meadow restoration projects for increased biodiversity and wildlife habitat.
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Stewardship of the farm's historic apple orchard, led primarily by our friend and community member Emily, who cares for the trees and crafts cider from the orchard's harvest.
Pragtree is also home to Edge Perma. Through virtual farm tours and immersive online learning experiences, we work to document innovative regenerative agriculture projects throughout North America and share those stories with a wider audience.
In many ways, we see this work as a continuation of the farm's original purpose. The people who gathered at Pragtree in the 1970s were committed to finding innovative solutions and sharing them with others. Today, we use modern tools to continue that same tradition of documentation and knowledge-sharing.
VISIT OR SUPPORT THE FARM
Pragtree Farm remains a community-supported project. If the history of this place inspires you and you would like to contribute to its ongoing restoration and stewardship, we would love to hear from you. Donations supporting the care of the farm can be made through Evergreen Land Trust.
We also welcome visits by appointment. If you are interested in learning more about the farm, its history, current restoration efforts, or to make a donation please contact Andrew (call or email at andrew@edgeperma.com).
Thank you for taking the time to learn about Pragtree Farm. We view ourselves as temporary stewards of a much longer story, and we are grateful for the opportunity to help carry that story forward.
Mary Marshall & Andrew Tuttle
Land Stewards, Pragtree Farm
Mark Musick speaks to a group at a natural farming workshop held at Pragtree Farm in 1980, facilitated by Larry Koorn. (Photo by George Ballis, Tilth Association Papers 1975–1977 Collection, WSU Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections)