Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy

FAQs for the Upcoming Reorganization at Far Reaches

Effective 1.1.2027

First off, did you know … that Far Reaches is two entities: both the Farm and the Botanical Conservancy?

In 2000, Kelly Dodson and Sue Milliken began Far Reaches Farm (FRF) as a for-profit nursery business to propagate uncommon and botanically interesting plants they had begun collecting on their travels.
Later, in 2017, they founded Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy (FRBC) as a charitable 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the key piece of the plan toward ensuring the future of the burgeoning collection they have built and to generate funding on behalf of the organization’s mission: Conservation through acquisition and distribution of rare and unavailable plants.

What is the upcoming reorganization at Far Reaches?

Effective January 1, 2027, FRBC will expand to absorb FRF’s nursery operations under the nonprofit umbrella.

Why are we doing this? What is happening to the Farm?

Part of the vision for FRBC is to provide a model for the continuation of the valuable work traditionally done by rare plant nurseries, which is increasingly threatened. In the case of FRF, inefficiencies of running two overlapping organizations, in addition to industry-wide decreases in sales volume and changes in the business landscape for rare plant nurseries, have become burdensome.

Yes and No. With the transferal of all nursery operations to FRBC, the Farm will continue to exist as a landlord, leasing the site and buildings to FRBC. It already does that anyway, but with this reorganization, we are moving all operations to the Conservancy.

What will this reorganization look like?

For us, it is the realization of a dream. Combining operations under FRBC has always been the goal and folding in the nursery, plant sales, and FRF staff greatly improves efficiency. This will allow for more effective and clear fundraising as we can use nonprofit campaigns and grants to support the work in ways the Farm alone could not. This will also eliminate any perceptions that donations could be used by the for-profit FRF.

This is also a transition that aligns with legacy planning and positioning FRBC for growth far into the future as Far Reaches Farm and Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy founders Kelly Dodson and Sue Milliken move toward eventual retirement.

Now that the decision has been made for the Conservancy to take over all aspects of FRF (propagation, sales, garden), Kelly and Sue will retain ownership of FRF yet its only activity will be to lease the land and infrastructure to the Conservancy.

Kelly and Sue will remain on the FRBC Board and will work alongside the other Board members to assure the financial security of the organization. They will continue to be engaged in donor relations and outreach.

Kelly and Sue will still be committed to the plants being involved with production planning, garden oversight, and acquisitions. They will focus on ensuring that the Collector’s Garden, Crevice Garden and future Tufa Garden achieve their full potential.
FRBC Administrator Kate Ingram will be the point person with regards to anything managerial and non-plant related.
Silas Zoeller will be directing work involving the collection in the greenhouses and propagation as part of his responsibilities as FRBC Collections Manager.

Are you still going to sell plants?

Try to stop us!! As the nonprofit remains fully committed to its conservation mission, a big part of the mission involves distributing rare and threatened plants. This will be a key component of FRBC operations.

What will be different about FRBC membership?

With plant sales integrated into FRBC operations, we will be able to promote and offer early access to new and special plants, making them available to FRBC members first.

What will be different about plant sales?

Nothing will be different except all sales go to the nonprofit Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy to help fund rare plant introduction and conservation. Starting on January 1, you will be shopping for the same cool plants at FRBC that you used to shop for at Far Reaches Farm and we hope in time as the Conservancy grows that we will be able to offer even more exciting and new plants than ever before!
We are moving the shopping platform that you use from the Farm to the Conservancy. We hope this will be smooth and we have an awesome team on board to do it, but what would tech be without a hiccup or two? Anybody going to FarReachesFarm.com will be redirected to the new FRBC platform.

Can I still order plants online to have them shipped?

Yes. Online ordering and shipping will continue during the Farm’s final season and thereafter through the FRBC website. Your order history and in-stock requests will remain intact.
Pickup orders for those who can come to our physical location will also continue as before.

As we get closer to the transition of FRF operations to FRBC, we’ll provide any pertinent updates.

Will Far Reaches Farm Gift Certificates still be honored?

What will be different about FRBC operations in 2027?

Systems will remain the same but without having to manage two entities, we can focus more intensely on collection management and expanding our plant introductions.
For transparency, as a nonprofit organization, FRBC files a tax return every year that shows our revenue and expenditures. Anyone can look this up at any time (just like you can go look up past FRBC tax filings on our website).

Do I need to be a FRBC member to buy plants?

While there is no requirement, we would hope everyone who can will choose to support the Conservancy through an annual membership. As a benefit and to show our appreciation for supporting our programs, members will get advance access to new plants added to the shopping page.

Since the Conservancy will be selling plants, do FRBC members need to continue to donate?

YES! Membership and donations allow us to acquire, propagate, maintain, conserve, and distribute extremely unprofitable but incredibly important plants with the benefit of adding interest and beauty to your gardens. These are critical for FRBC to fund future collecting trips and to have the infrastructure and skilled staff to propagate and manage these rarities.

Why should Farm customers become FRBC members?

Many of you are longtime plant buyers, and this has been the basis of FRF’s success to date. You already appreciate our plants and being able to buy them from us. Membership is the other key to how this works — when a customer becomes a member, something changes when you see a plant we are offering for the first time because you know you took that extra step to make this important conservation milestone happen.
FRBC is the engine that drives new plant acquisition, it is with the help of our members and donors that we are able to offer new and exciting plants that are available nowhere else.
Much as do Sue and Kelly, the Far Reaches staff and volunteers live and breathe the importance of our work. It is our member / donors who secure our continued ability to do so. We very much value and appreciate your support!