Kari Winsor, owner of the Barn on Jackson, poses for a portrait in the basement of her reception venue on Jackson Highway south of Chehalis on Monday afternoon.
Kari Winsor, owner of the Barn on Jackson, poses for a portrait on the main level of her reception venue on Jackson Highway south of Chehalis on Monday afternoon.
Kari Winsor wanted to give back to the local community by providing healthy, nutritious food to the area, while giving students hands-on experience in the garden.
She started Blue Earth Farms to do just that.
Winsor, who is originally from Olympia, moved to Lewis County in 1999. She purchased property with an old barn after she and her husband Mark found what they were looking for outside Chehalis near Napavine.
As a couple with no children, Winsor said they began exploring potential ways to work with the community.
In 2007, Blue Earth Farms was created.
The nonprofit got involved with the area’s at-risk population to offer alternative opportunities to explore healthy lifestyles and living practices, from nutrition to alternative energy.
In its first year, the nonprofit worked in cooperation with Northwest Pediatrics, providing workshops focused on health and fighting obesity. Since then, the venture has expanded to collaborate with different partners, offering field trips and outreach to local schools and organizations.
Winsor said she took the entrepreneurial skills that she and her husband have to work with Centralia College’s TEEN Program and create CC Grow, a program that helps young adults gain experience in business, management and agriculture.
Blue Earth Farms has partnered with the college for three years to help expand on a nutrition-based program that has grown to include a produce stand on campus and deliveries of vegetables.
“It all ties back into good business practice and exploring the demographic with what you are trying to offer,” she said.
Winsor became interested in educational farming after discovering global trends that point to kids’ food sources being less nutritious. With a rich rural farming community in Lewis County, she said the area is a perfect place to help train youths in different areas based around food.
In order to be successful in an entrepreneur role, Winsor said, it is important for people to not be afraid of putting themselves out there.
“I’m not afraid to take a risk, and I’m not afraid to fail,” she said. “I keep my eyes wide open, listen to the people in the community and try to learn something new every day.”
Winsor, who took college courses in Tel Aviv, Israel, and South Puget Sound Community College, said both education and skills gained in the workforce are important. She believes the hands-on component of working on the farm helps students with science, and math, among other areas.
“They forget they are learning a portion of their core requirement,” she said of the work done by students on the farm.
She said a big part of being successful when starting a new business venture is to talk to people in the field. With plenty of research tools available, she said, people seeking to branch out should do research to prepare themselves to put their “best face” forward.
It’s not always easy, Winsor said. She has dealt with the struggles of starting her own business, and said problem-solving is key.
“You need to roll with the punches, don’t take it as this is going to fail because we are hitting a roadblock,” she said. “Talk to people around that roadblock and don’t be afraid or intimidated. Work with people who are your roadblocks instead of getting angry and frustrated.”
Since the beginning of her time in Lewis County, Winsor has been involved with Head Start and ECEAP (Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program). She worked with the Lewis County Family Coalition, which is no longer operational, and has continued her work with the TEEN Program, as well as with the Lewis County Adventist School.
She also runs The Barn on Jackson, a wedding and event center located on her property.
