Tucked away on South Whidbey Island, a small family farm is quietly leading the way in climate-smart agriculture. At Sweetwater Farm, Jake Stewart is building something remarkable—a closed-loop system where farm waste becomes clean energy, healthy soil, and long-term climate resilience. With early support from the Whidbey Climate Fund, this hands-on project is showing how a farm can function as both a food producer and a climate solution.
The idea is both simple and profound: take the waste products of farming—like manure, food scraps, and brush—and use them to fuel the very systems that grow more food. Over the past year, Jake has designed and tested a pair of interconnected systems that are doing just that. One system is an anaerobic digester that transforms organic waste into biogas, a renewable fuel used for cooking and heating. This biogas, often called green methane, comes from decomposing current organic matter—not fossil fuels—so it doesn’t add new carbon to the atmosphere. The other system is a pyrolysis unit that makes biochar, a form of stable carbon that can be added to soil to boost fertility, retain moisture, and store carbon for hundreds of years.
What makes the project especially innovative is how these systems support one another. Waste heat from biochar production is captured and used to keep the digester warm through the winter, ensuring the microbes inside stay active and productive. The liquid byproduct from the digester, known as digestate, is rich in nutrients and used to “charge” the biochar, turning it into what Jake calls “Living Char.” This upgraded material acts like a sponge for fertility—holding onto nutrients, feeding soil microbes, and improving plant growth from day one.
Even in these early stages, the system is already in use. The farm is running appliances on homemade gas. Electricity is being generated using the heat from pyrolysis. And multiple types of biochar are being tested in the soil to measure their impact on crop health and yield. The work is ongoing, but the potential is clear: this kind of setup could help more farms across Whidbey Island reduce waste, produce their own energy, and build soil that lasts.
Jake built much of this system himself, using affordable and repurposed materials. That DIY spirit is part of what makes the project so powerful. It’s not just about technology—it’s about empowerment. This is a working example of how small farms can take meaningful action on climate change, not through slogans or massive infrastructure, but by rethinking how waste, energy, and food are connected.
Research is underway to measure the system’s climate impact, including its ability to reduce emissions and improve soil health.
Workshops and demonstrations are being planned in collaboration with South Whidbey Tilth, with the goal of sharing this model with other farmers and land stewards.
At its core, this project is about shifting from a mindset of consumption to one of regeneration. It’s about using what we already have to build systems that restore the land, power themselves, and feed communities in a way that gives back more than it takes. On Sweetwater Farm, that future is already taking root.
South Whidbey Tilth serves as the sponsor of this project. Learn more at: https://www.southwhidbeytilth.org/
You can follow Sweetwater Farm on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=100063771263759 and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetwaterfarm_whidbeyisland/
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The Whidbey Climate Fund supports local projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, restore ecosystems, and build resilience to the impacts of climate change—right here on Whidbey Island. This fund recognizes that addressing the climate crisis requires bold action at the local level. By investing in community-driven efforts—such as energy efficiency, sustainable land use, climate education, and preparedness—we strengthen our island’s ecological and economic well-being.
Through partnership with Whidbey Climate ACTION, this fund invites residents, nonprofits, and community groups to shape a livable future for generations to come. Donors who support the Whidbey Climate Fund are helping to ensure Whidbey remains a vibrant, sustainable place to live.
Learn about different ways to make a charitable contribution here.
