A Tribute to Two Women Important to South Whidbey Tilth
by Prescott
Caroline Gardener
September 9, 1940 - October 25, 2025
Caroline Gardner offered South Whidbey Tilth the 11.32 -acre parcel on Thomson Road to purchase in 1998. She owned both parcels adjacent to State Route 525. A committee was appointed to explore the pros and cons of owning land. An agreement was signed in late 2000 with a $10,000 down payment and monthly payments of only $450. In 2020, with the help of many Tilth members and supporters, the land was paid off.
Caroline was very active in the planning of the Tilth campus and an active member of the Tilth Council of Trustees, especially the farmers market. She was passionate about gardening and agriculture. She had strong opinions and left Tilth over some disagreements. Even so, she kept her friendships with many Tilth members and participated in the holiday markets with her hand-crafted gift boxes made from recycled calendars and cards. She was a regular vendor at the Coupeville Farmers Market for many years as Fennel Forest Farm.
Caroline was an airline hostess for Eastern Airlines in her youth. She has a daughter. Her childhood friend from Rhode Island, Anne Wagner, set this interesting tidbit:
... In 1984, Caroline's mother (also named Caroline) spearheaded formation of Connecticut Land Trust on the island of Jamestown, Rhode Island, where several generations of the family spent their summers and where Caroline Sr. lived until she died. That land trust is thriving and has conserved over 500 acres of valuable habitat and farmland. Look on a map of Rhode Island and you will see what a relatively small island it is.
Nancy Skinner Nordhoff
October 1932 - January 7, 2026
Nancy Nordhoff was a great friend to South Whidbey Tilth. In 2020, she helped make the final payment of the Tilth campus by providing a matching-grant challenge, which successfully raised over $15,000 to match her $15,000 donation. She has been a faithful member and contributor.
South Whidbey Tilth operated the farmers market at the Bayview Corner while Bill's Feed and Tack owned the Cash Store from 1982 to 1999. When Bill left, the Corner was up for sale, threatening Tilth's successful market operation. Nancy purchased the Corner and formed an LLC, Orach, which later became Goosefoot. [The orach plant, Atriplex hortensis, is also known as goosefoot.]
The Orach team decided to create a different farmers market not operated by Tilth. It was a difficult time, and Nancy and her lawyer met with Tilth to negotiate an agreement to integrate Tilth into the new market. Though this was unsuccessful, Nancy was always an advocate for Tilth.