Fourth-generation Central Whidbey farmer Georgie Smith (left) and cousin Kelsi Franzen sell produce at a farmer’s market.
Before the embers have cooled, the community is already coming together.
Monday night, Central Whidbey lost an iconic structure when the Smith Barn, built in the 1880’s and home to fourth-generation farmer Georgie Smith’s Willowood Farm, burnt to the ground.
All family and animals are safe, though Georgie’s husband, hard-charging “man of the people” lawyer Charles Arndt, suffered a dislocated shoulder.
The nearby farm house, where the family lives, remained untouched as firefighters from Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue kept the blaze contained.
The barn, located on Ebey Road, was the hub of a vibrant working farm, one of the few remaining in an area which was built on just that — farming.
Georgie’s seed growing was just underway, making the timing of the fire even harder to deal with.
As she and her family decide how best to go forward, people both near and far are immediately stepping up to help them out, launching a GoFundMe in the late hours of Monday night.
To read more and help keep a huge piece of WORKING history alive, pop over to:
https://www.gofundme.com/never-finished-farming-smith-barn
And for a look at what Georgie and her family are accomplishing on a daily basis, take a look at Willowood’s home site:
Coupeville Sports 
Never give up Georgie! Everybody EATS😺