Petersen Farm

Petersen Farm

The green fields of the historic Petersen Farm in Silverdale, WA have long been a cherished piece of Kitsap County’s agricultural heritage and part of the scenic beauty of this region. This remarkable 142-acre property is one of the remaining working farms in Kitsap County, with 80-acres of prime agricultural soils and valuable water rights that make it ideal for sustainable farming. 

Located just off the Trigger Avenue exit along State Route 3, the property is centrally located within the ecologically sensitive Clear Creek watershed. The farm boasts 3,000 ft of salmon-bearing Clear Creek, providing essential habitat for various salmon species, including coho, chum, cutthroat, and historically limited runs of ESA-listed steelhead. 

Nestled in the Clear Creek Valley, the farm’s 80-acres of pastureland offer open space and scenic views from the Clear Creek Trail, which wraps around the property’s southern boundary before terminating along its western edge. The strategic location secures the opportunity for future extension of the Trail to Kegley Road, connecting communities in Central and North Kitsap.   

Conservation of the farm offers benefits beyond its property lines. With Schold Farm situated along its southern boundary and multiple GPC-owned preserves nearby, as well as significant conservation investments by Kitsap County in the watershed, Petersen Farm serves as a crucial piece in a growing network of protected lands in the Clear Creek Valley.

History of Petersen Farm 

The property’s rich farming history dates to the 1880s, when it was homesteaded by the Levin and Holms families. Gerald and Dorothy Petersen purchased the property in 1948 and operated a successful dairy and beef cattle operation for decades. In 1956, the Petersen family was named Kitsap County’s Conservation Farmers of the Year by the Bremerton Junior Chamber of Commerce. 

With a passion for preserving the farm’s legacy, Gerald included instructions in his will that the land remain a working farm. After his passing in 2009, his niece, Dorothy Lind, worked closely with GPC to fulfill her uncle’s wish by placing a conservation easement on the farm’s core acreage. This vision resonated with the broader community, and many neighbors stepped forward to preserve the open space and local food production opportunities offered by the farm, including garden clubs, service clubs, foundations, and individuals.  

Many partners joined GPC in hosting the fall fairs that drew as many as 1,000 people to Petersen Farm each year for hay rides, games, and farmers markets. These events became an important part of the fundraising campaign to place a conservation easement on the Petersen Farm. The goal of the conservation easement was to prevent future development of the land and protect the farm’s soil and water.  

With the property listed back up for sale in 2022, GPC and partners in Kitsap’s agricultural community saw the opportunity to reactivate the farm as a community asset, as part of broader efforts to preserve Kitsap County’s agricultural landscape, strengthen our local food security, and foster community resilience.

Future Plans and Farming Goals 

The 2025 purchase of the Petersen Farm by Kitsap Conservation Lands, LLC (KCL), a wholly owned entity of GPC, marks an exciting new chapter in the property’s story. Having been identified as a priority farm for preservation in 2023 by the Kitsap Farmland Preservation Coalition, the farm’s future will be shaped through partnerships with Kitsap Conservation District, WSU Kitsap County Extension, Business Impact NW, WA Farmland Trust, and others. With their support, KCL will develop an affordable farm leasing program that provides farmland access for beginning and underserved farmers.

Environmental stewardship of the property remains a key priority. To improve stream flow and health will be partnering with the Suquamish Indian Tribe to fund and implement critical stream restoration work. Projects will include channel meanders, removal of reed canary grass, removal of artificial barriers (e.g., culverts) to fish passage that occur on the property, and replanting with a diverse community of native trees and other vegetation. These actions will add complexity to the stream and riparian habitats over time. The purchase also secures the existing forestlands, including the opportunity to reforest a 49-acre clearcut, ensuring long-term benefits to wildlife and water quality.

The farm’s location in the Clear Creek Valley offers an excellent opportunity to extend the Clear Creek Trail, a co-managed public trail system between GPC and Kitsap County. Extension opportunities northward to Kegley Road will enhance community connectivity and improve upon existing outdoor recreation opportunities.

The $1,790,700 purchase was funded through a loan from the WA State Housing Finance Commission’s Farm Protection & Affordability Investment (FarmPAI) loan program, along with contributions from the Petersen Estate and a major private donation. KCL and GPC will seek additional funds to repay the loan through grant programs and community support.

GPC formed Kitsap Conservation Lands, LLC as a separate legal entity to purchase, own and operate the Petersen Farm, including the management of an affordable farm leasing program. KCL is a Washington limited liability company, whose sole member is GPC.

Project Partners

Bremerton Rotary Foundation
Business Impact NW
Davis Family Farm
Estate of Gerald Petersen
Kitsap Community & Agricultural Alliance
Kitsap Community Food Coop
Kitsap Conservation District
Kitsap Credit Union
Kitsap Farmland Preservation Coalition
Pheasant Fields Farm
Petersen Farm Campaign Donors
Port of Silverdale
Reid Property Management
Suquamish Indian Tribe
Trifam Foundation
WA Farmland Trust
William and Bernice Mahan Charitable Trust
WSU Kitsap County Extension