The Russell Family Foundation

11/03/2026

Farmers experience the effects of a changing climate firsthand.

Changes in water availability, extreme weather and growing conditions can affect what farmers are able to grow and how they care for their land. Agriculture also has an important role to play in how communities prepare for and respond to those changes.

Through our Food for Climate Solutions program, we support approaches that strengthen soil health, protect working lands and give farmers more tools to adapt.

A resilient food system depends on farms and communities having what they need to navigate changing conditions, both today and in the years ahead.

Photo Credit: Kulshan Carbon Trust

10/27/2026

Growing, processing, storing and transporting food all require resources. When food goes to waste, so do the land, water and energy that went into producing it. And when food ends up in landfills, it can produce methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.

Reducing food waste means finding ways to make better use of the food we already grow. Stronger processing and storage can help more food reach communities, while other efforts can find new uses for food and agricultural materials that might otherwise go to waste.

Making better use of these resources can help reduce climate impacts while supporting a stronger regional food system.

Photo Credit: Restaurant 2 Garden

10/08/2026

When the floodwaters receded, the work of recovery was just beginning. Nearly a year after severe flooding impacted farms across Western Washington, many small-scale farmers are still rebuilding.

Over the past year, PNW BIPOC Farmland Trust has worked alongside farmers and other partners to assess damage, navigate recovery resources, access technical assistance, and connect farmers to approximately $150,000 in recovery funding.

Some of the most meaningful support has come from farmers themselves. They have shared resources, connected neighbors to new markets, and helped one another navigate an incredibly challenging year. Their response is a powerful reminder that a resilient food system depends on more than farmland alone. It also depends on the relationships, trust, and community that help farmers stay on the land and continue feeding their communities.

Our latest blog reflects on the year since the floods and highlights what PNW BIPOC Farmland Trust is teaching us about strengthening the networks and support systems that help farmers navigate challenges and build long-term resilience. Read the story:

News After the 2025 Floods: Learning from PNW BIPOC Farmland Trust One of the things I value most about my role at The Russell Family Foundation is the opportunity to stay connected with the people doing the day-to-day work of building a more resilient, equitable, and community-rooted food system. I...

10/06/2026

A resilient food system means being able to grow, move and access food even as conditions change.

Strong local food systems can help by supporting farmers, strengthening regional infrastructure and creating more opportunities for practices that improve soil health and conserve resources.

Investing locally helps build a food system that’s better prepared for what comes next.



Photo Credit: Pierce Conservation District

10/01/2026

Food is a climate solution.

When we invest in local farmers and the systems that connect food to communities, we’re also building resilience to a changing climate. A stronger regional food system can mean healthier communities, more resilient farms and more local food on our tables.



Photo Credit: Viva Farms

09/19/2026

Environmental education is strengthened through collaboration.

The Community Marine Centers of the Salish Sea bring together 14 marine science and environmental education organizations across the region to share resources, expand access to programming, and deepen connections with the communities they serve.

Through partnerships like these, organizations can leverage their collective expertise to reach more students, teachers, families, and community members with opportunities to learn about marine ecology, conservation, and stewardship.

Learn more at Community Marine Centers of the Salish Sea

09/10/2026

What if some of our best climate solutions are already growing beneath our feet?

At Climate Week on the Farm, The Russell Family Foundation Senior Program Lead Fabiola Greenawalt joined farmers, scientists, chefs, educators, funders, and community leaders, not in a conference room, but on the land. Hosted by Climate Farm School and Carnation Farms, the gathering revealed something powerful: resilient food systems aren’t built by any one person or sector. They grow through shared knowledge, hands-on learning and relationships rooted in place.

Fabiola reflects on the experience and the idea she brought home with her: solutions grow through relationships.

Read the story: https://trff.org/updates/what-happens-when-we-gather-on-the-land/

News What Happens When We Gather on the Land? By Fabiola Greenawalt, Senior Program Lead, The Russell Family Foundation Earlier this summer, I had the opportunity to attend Climate Week on the Farm, hosted by Climate Farm School and Carnation Farms. Like many participants, I left feeling inspired, e...

09/01/2026

Investing in the next generation means creating opportunities for young people to discover their passions, develop new skills, and see themselves as future leaders.

That's one of the reasons we've proudly supported Harbor WildWatch since 2007. Through hands-on environmental education, community science, and paid internships, Harbor WildWatch is helping young people build meaningful career pathways while fostering a lifelong connection to the Salish Sea. Today, the organization reaches more than 40,000 people each year across the Key Peninsula–Gig Harbor Islands Watershed through its community programs, partnerships with local schools, and Marine Life Center in Gig Harbor.

This short video highlights the impact of Harbor WildWatch's Paid Internship Program—and the difference it can make when young people are given the opportunity to learn, grow, and lead.

We hope you'll take a few minutes to watch.

How can hands-on learning experiences support career exploration fo...

08/27/2026

At Carnation Farms, regenerative practices like rotational grazing and pasture-raised livestock help support soil health, thoughtful land stewardship and a more resilient local food system.

Over the coming weeks and months, the farm is opening its doors with several new and exciting ways to learn, eat and experience the farm firsthand, including:

Rotational Grazing Workshop on August 29: Learn about regenerative grazing practices with the farm’s livestock team during this hands-on workshop.

Butcher Counter Grand Opening on September 5: Celebrate the opening of the new Farmstand Butcher Counter, featuring fresh cuts of Carnation Farms’ pasture-raised lamb and beef.

Woodfired Friday on October 2: Enjoy a casual, farm-to-table pizza night served alongside the fields where many of the ingredients are grown.
Learn more and explore upcoming events at https://events.carnationfarms.org/events/

08/25/2026

You're invited. Join us for our final Jane's Fellowship information session and learn more about a program that brings together people from across Pierce County who are committed to their communities and eager to learn alongside one another.

This in-person gathering is an opportunity to meet fellowship alumni, connect with program staff, and ask questions about the Class 14 experience.

We hope you'll join us.

📅 Saturday, August 29, 2026
⏰ 11:00 AM–1:00 PM
📍 Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound
3875 66th Street, Tacoma

Register here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Oz-bgnhBqU-SY-iGTz6_4Mj2tYHYv61IpzZ3gBXS77dUN1BaUzlQRE0xNDBVWElGVTRWTFExNElIUy4u&route=shorturl