Our farm and nursery are nestled between the forest and the sea on the Swinomish Reservation. To the east lies the verdant farm fields of the Skagit Valley while the Salish Sea and the gateway to the San Juan Islands lie to the west and north. Our work is inspired by a desire to serve as good stewards of the land and guided by traditional knowledge and regenerative practices.
We bring to this work experience as entrepreneurs and a connection to natural landscapes and resources. Together, we co-founded a feed and farm supply store and operated it for 25 years. Bob grew up in Valdez, Alaska and spent his early career as a commercial fisherman. Angela is a native of the Pacific Northwest. She earned a PhD from the University of Washington and taught courses in public administration.
We share a lifelong love of natural landscapes and gardening and bring our skills as growers to our work in the native plant nursery. As small business owners, we have always been deeply committed to serving our community. We dedicated time and resources to supporting youth projects, contributing to a nonprofit organization through donations and board membership, and serving on the county planning commission. We recognize that relationships and partnerships are essential to making a difference.
Ellamar Namesake
Tucked away in a remote region of Prince William Sound Alaska is the historic copper mining camp known as Ellamar. Our farm name celebrates the remote natural beauty of this site, our friendships with those who lived there and inspired us, and our commitment to conservation.
The mine site was likely named for Ellamar mountain which rises above the old mine site. While the masculine “el mar” is the Spanish word used to describe the sea, “la mar” is also used. El mar refers in a literal sense to the physical description, while “la mar” is more poetic and personal, and implies the experience of the sea.
The combination of the two terms into a single name represents our relationship with the natural world. It is both physical and emotive, offering itself for our enjoyment while entrusting us to preserve it.
Our deep commitment to conservation resulted in part from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound – a turning point in both of our lives. For Bob, it meant the end of the life he had always known and his career as a commercial fisherman. For Angela, it was an awakening of a new environmental consciousness and a recognition that our lives and communities are inextricably tied to our land and waters.
In 2014, Washington State University Press published Angela’s book about the oil spill. The book gives voice to Bob’s experiences and those of 10,000 fishermen whose lives were forever changed by this notorious accident.
Our farm and native plant nursery are inspired by our desire to contribute to conserving and restoring the environment. We are honored to work with like-minded individuals and organizations who value our natural landscapes.
ELLAMAR FARM & NURSERY 