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The
Evergreen Land Trust Association (ELT) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization established in 1974 in Washington State. The
purpose of the Trust is to encourage the development of cooperative
communities and sustainable land use practices through the
preservation of land and housing. ELT serves to:
• Hold title to real property,
and the development rights to real property, in order to protect
affordable housing, resource lands, and conservation lands.
• Provide education and encourage the study of ecological
systems, human development, resource conservation, and sustainable
technologies.
• Develop organizational models for cooperative stewardship
of land that benefit both present and future generations.
The Evergreen Land Trust Association is the oldest community
land trust in the Pacific Northwest. The organization began
as a grassroots effort to promote affordable housing, cooperatives,
recycling, and other progressive initiatives related to land
reform. In 1976, the first properties were donated into ELT—Prag
House in Seattle and Pragtree Farm, near Arlington.
For each of these properties, a Trust Agreement was established
to convey specific stewardship and educational purposes that
would be held in perpetuity. A corresponding Use Agreement was
written to define the responsibilities of residents in caring
for the property. Over the years, ELT incorporated other properties
using the same model. Each property’s unique stewardship
and educational objectives align with ELT’s core purposes.
ELT holds both urban and rural properties in the Puget Sound
region, including cooperative houses and farms. The ELT Board
of Directors is made up of two representatives from each ELT
property and Board members representing the community at-large.
The Board meets quarterly to provide fiscal and legal oversight
to the Trust and to advance long-range goals.
Once a year, a general membership meeting is held for all members
of ELT to share information, report on annual stewardship activities,
and elect the Board of Directors. The diverse mix of residents
from the urban and rural properties brings a rich exchange of
experience and perspective to the organization. |
