Orcas Island, Washington

Rising Oak Farm

Regenerative farming rooted in soil, seed & community

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We grow food.
We grow soil.
We grow community.

Rows of fresh greens growing inside the Rising Oak Farm greenhouse

Rising Oak Farm is a small-scale regenerative farm nestled on Orcas Island in Washington's San Juan archipelago. Founded in 2021 by Jesse Herzog, we steward two acres under conservation easement with the San Juan Preservation Trust.

Our work is simple in its ambition and profound in its practice: nourish the land that nourishes us. Every season, every planting, every harvest is guided by this reciprocity — a commitment to leaving the soil richer than we found it.

Our Philosophy

Rooted in Regeneration

We practice agriculture that doesn't just sustain — it restores. Every crop we plant, every cover we grow, every seed we save strengthens the living soil beneath our feet. This isn't just farming. It's an act of repair.

Regenerative agriculture means working with the land's natural systems, not against them. We build soil health through cover cropping, composting, minimal tillage, and biodiversity — creating an ecosystem where plants, microbes, and the earth itself thrive together.

What We Do

Growing with Intention

Soil Regeneration

We build living soil through cover cropping, composting, and minimal disturbance — restoring the microbial communities that make healthy food possible.

Seed Breeding

We're developing regionally adapted seed varieties bred for the unique conditions of the Pacific Northwest — building climate resilience one generation at a time.

Island Vegetables

From salad greens to storage crops, we grow a diverse selection of vegetables using methods that honor the island's ecosystem and the seasons' natural rhythm.

Fresh raspberries in baskets Harvested squash and gourds in trailer Local goods and coffee at the farmstand Seedling starts at the farmstand table

Our Community

Cultivating Connection

Rising Oak Farm is more than a farm — it's a gathering place for learning and growing together. We believe the future of farming is shared, and that starts with showing up for each other.

We host soil-building workshops, partner with the San Juan Agricultural Guild, and actively support the next generation of young farmers who will steward these islands. Because healthy soil and healthy communities grow from the same root.

Colorful harvest of squash and gourds from Rising Oak Farm
2
Acres Stewarded
2021
Established

Come Say Hello

Find Us at Crow Valley

Stop by the farmstand for fresh, island-grown produce and meet the people behind the plants. We love connecting with the community that makes this work meaningful.

Whether you're an island neighbor or visiting Orcas for the first time, you're always welcome at Rising Oak Farm.

Crow Valley Farmstand exterior with plants and produce

Crow Valley Farmstand

509 Nordstrom Lane
Orcas Island, WA 98245
San Juan County
Operated by Jesse Herzog