How Cascadian Farm Got its Start

He moved to the West Coast where he found a community that shared his deep appreciation for nature.

Never having planted anything before, he gained his knowledge of farming through reading and began farming organically near the SkagitRiver in the Cascade Mountains of Washington in 1972.

"The original inspiration to begin CascadianFarm was my conviction that our personal survival depended on 'going back to the land,'" says Kahn. "After several years of tirelessly looking for a perfect location, I found an abandoned 51-acre property in a remote location that was being used as a dump site for cars, appliances, and garbage. There was no electricity and the house had no plumbing heat or windows remaining. [I thought] 'Ah, perfection!' and that is how the New CascadianSurvival and Reclamation Project began."

Kahn's method was to work in harmony with nature, preserving the soil and protecting the rivers and streams around the farm, focusing on choosing conditions that would foster biodiversity.

At the time, he was surrounded by traditional farms, and although they didn't understand why he wanted to pursue organic farming, they played a large role in helping him get started.

"The locals who were involved in agriculture thought of me as a 'working hippie,' and they tried to dissuade me from farming without agrochemicals. Afterall, I had chosen to farm in a temperate rainforest with 80-inches of annual precipitation," says Kahn.

But, the local farmers later became mentors to Kahn and gave him tips for growing in the SkagitValley.

"The education they provided me, and their continual support had a lifesaving impact on the farm," Kahn said.

At first, Kahn farmed for a small community, selling organic products out of the back of a VWtruck. PCCCommunity Markets was his first customer in 1972.

CascadianFarm soon became a thriving organic food company.

Little did he know he would become one of the pioneers of an agricultural movement that continues to thrive today. He was "organic" before organic was vogue.

Since the 70s, CascadianFarm has continued to flourish as one of the nation's leading producers of wholesome, organic food.

Take a trip through time to see the brand's milestone moments.