Market-Ready Mason Producer Spotlight: Meet Corvus Cooperative

Mason County, WA – September 18, 2026 – When you picture a farmer, who comes to mind? For many of us, it may still be someone who grew up farming land that has been in their family for generations.

While those farms remain an important part of our agricultural community, that is not the reality for everyone getting into farming today. Some are starting from scratch, finding land to lease, working other jobs, applying for grants, and figuring out along the way how to turn an interest in agriculture into an actual business.

Corvus Cooperative is doing just that here in Mason County. Founded in 2024, Corvus is a cooperative farm and apothecary operated by Tay, Maddie, and Kyra, who grow naturally grown vegetables and medicinal herbs. The three came to farming with different backgrounds and experiences, but share an interest in agriculture, food systems, sustainability, and building a closer connection between people and the food they eat.

The MasonEDC team recently visited Corvus to tour the farm and learn more about what they are growing, how the cooperative got started, and what it has taken to get to this point.

Tay began farming in 2018 with little previous connection to what food looked like before it reached grocery store shelves. Working in agriculture changed that and eventually led to a larger interest in food systems, environmental sustainability, food justice, and human rights. She has continued gaining agricultural experience while studying botany and resilient agroecosystems.

Maddie's path began with a desire to live and work more closely with the land. After earning a bachelor's degree in Ethnic Studies and Studio Art, they participated in an ethnobotany immersion focused on wild harvesting, medicine making, local ecosystems, and food production. They later worked on permaculture-based and organic vegetable farms and taught ethnobotany and wilderness survival skills.

Kyra brings several seasons of experience working on diversified vegetable and herb farms in both the Northeast and Northwest, along with a bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies and Natural Systems and experience working with farms and conservation organizations.

While all three came to agriculture differently, they eventually brought those experiences together to create Corvus. Their story is a good example of something we are seeing through Market-Ready Mason: there isn't necessarily one clear path into farming, especially for someone who doesn't already have a farm or agricultural land waiting for them.

Corvus, for example, does not own the land it farms. The cooperative leases growing space on a larger property shared with other agricultural operations. They found the property through South Sound FarmLink, a Thurston Conservation District program that helps connect people looking for farmland with landowners who have agricultural property available.

Access to land can be a major hurdle for someone trying to start a farm. Purchasing property is expensive on its own, and that is before adding the cost of seeds, equipment, irrigation, tools, market supplies, and everything else needed to start producing. Leasing gave Corvus another way to get started without having to purchase acreage first. For beginning farmers interested in eventually pursuing financing through the USDA Farm Service Agency, gaining farm management experience can also be an important part of becoming eligible for certain loan programs.

Corvus has also used grant funding to help make some of those early investments, including funding through Tilth Alliance for a wash station, market supplies, tools, and other needs on the farm. Tay, Maddie, and Kyra also continue to work jobs outside of Corvus, which is another reality for many Mason County producers. Building a farm into a business that can provide a sustainable income takes time.

This is part of why local food production matters to economic development. Farmers, ranchers, and value-added producers are small business owners, and the food they produce is something every one of us needs. Supporting local producers isn't just about feeling good about buying local. Having viable farms and food businesses in Mason County means keeping some of the money we already spend on food within our local economy while also maintaining our own capacity to produce it.

Corvus is still a young operation, but their story shows what it can take for a new generation of farmers to get started. We aren't going to produce everything we need right here in Mason County, but having a strong local food system lends to a more prosperous future for all. Choosing local when we can helps make sure the people growing and producing food here can continue to do so.

Want to support Corvus Cooperative? Their apothecary products can be purchased directly through the Corvus Cooperative website, while their fresh produce can be ordered through South Sound Fresh for weekly pickup in Olympia.

Corvus is also planning to offer a CSA next season, giving the community another way to purchase directly from the farm. Follow @corvuscoop on Instagram or sign up for their newsletter through the Corvus Cooperative website to stay updated on CSA availability and what’s happening at the farm. Supporting producers like Corvus helps build a stronger local food economy and gives new farms the opportunity to keep growing.

Market-Ready Mason is a USDA-funded program working to strengthen local markets, support producers, and improve food access across Mason County. Learn more about Market-Ready Mason here.