The
Washington Tilth Association owes its existence to the
resurgence, in the early '70s, of interest in ecology, the
desire to ‘get back to basics,’ and the desire for the
preservation of community. Concern built around the ways
agriculture of the day was causing erosion, creating hardpans,
dependent on high nitrogen fertilizers and toxic pesticides like
DDT, wreaking havoc on wildlife-- recreating conditions which
had led to the dustbowl of the 30s. Finally the USDA’s
pronouncements that farmers must ‘get big or get out’ led the
rebellious of the era to determine to right these wrongs. To do
so a group of idealists in Washington State who were willing to
put their ideals to the test in pursuit of ‘real,’ back to the
earth farming, got together and began to attract others who had
similar concerns and goals.
It began with small meetings, grew into a statewide conference,
and burgeoned into the membership organization, the Washington
Tilth Association.
