New lease on life for old farmhouse on Bainbridge - Kitsap Sun

By Tristan Baurick
Posted October 7, 2011 at 5:43 p.m.

Craden Henderson and Clay Johnson, of PHC Construction, remove one of the windows from the Morales Farm house on Bainbridge Island on Friday. Once it is habitable again, it could be used to house interns who work on the island's 15 small farms. (MEEGAN M. REID/KITSAP SUN)

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND — Over the eight years since the city bought the five-acre Morales Farm, the rolling fields have slowly come alive with pumpkins, grapes, tomatoes and sunflowers.

Ani Kendig, office manager of PHC Construction, removes molding from the front door during renovation of the Morales Farm house on Bainbridge Island on Friday. PHC and its subcontractors are not charging for the work, although a nonprofit is chipping in the cover some material and permitting costs.
(MEEGAN M. REID/KITSAP SUN)

The old farmhouse, though, has remained as empty and lifeless as the day the Morales family left it.
That could change in the coming months as an ambitious plan gets under way to fully restore the Lovgreen Road home and turn it into living quarters for the island's popular farm internship programs.

Bainbridge farming advocacy group Friends of the Farms has teamed with PHC Construction to tear the three-bedroom, 58-year-old house down to the studs and restore it with new walls, windows, flooring and various interior touches that will make the house a home again. The house will also get revamped electrical, plumbing and water systems, and energy-efficient upgrades, including a heat pump and foam insulation.

Marty Sievertson of PHC Construction removes the drywall in the living room of the Morales Farm house on Bainbridge Island on Friday.
(MEEGAN M. REID/KITSAP SUN)

Bainbridge-based PHC and its subcontractors are doing the $100,000 project free-of-charge. Friends of the Farms chipped in about $10,000 for building permits and other costs.

Island farmer Brian MacWhorter walked through the house's dilapidated interior as a work crew began breaking into the walls on Friday morning.

"Look at this — it's really an extreme makeover," he said.

Ani Kendig, office manager of PHC Construction, removes molding from around windows Friday.
(MEEGAN M. REID/KITSAP SUN)

The 15 or so island farms offer a total of 12 internships, but MacWhorter it's often a struggle to find enough room for the young farmers-in-training to stay. The internship programs doesn't pay much, making it difficult for the college-age interns to cover the relatively high-priced rent at island apartments and shared homes.

"Housing is one of the most important things that keeps the internships going," said MacWhorter, who employs four interns. "Whatever we can do that helps (housing) will keep farming sustainable on Bainbridge Island."

While the Friends of the Farms received city approval to do the restoration work, coming to a lease agreement that allows interns to live at the house is a matter for later negotiations.

If all goes well, three or more interns could move in by March, said Friends of the Farms Executive Director Wendy Tyner.

The house could also be used for farm-related classes or as an interpretive center, she added.

The house was once the home of Teddy Morales, who moved to the U.S. from the Philippines in 1929 and farmed on Bainbridge for decades. He and his family grew berries and various vegetables, but the property was best known for producing a bounty of sweet corn.

Craden Henderson and Clay Johnson of PHC Construction remove a window at the Morales Farm house on Bainbridge Island on Friday.
(MEEGAN M. REID/KITSAP SUN)

The city bought the Morales Farm in 2003 for $210,000 with the idea of preserving it as farmland. The farm and several other properties were purchased with an $8 million open space bond approved by voters in 2001.

The property is now used by MacWhorter, who grows tomatoes and other warm-weather crops in greenhouses, a wine maker and a part-time farmer who produces a variety of vegetables. Two island schools have plots for use in educational programs.

Renovation of the house at the Morales Farm on Bainbridge Island started Friday.
(MEEGAN M. REID/KITSAP SUN)

The city re-roofed the house a few years ago, but nothing has been done to make it habitable.
"It's actually a pretty sound structure," PHC co-owner Marty Sievertson said. "It's got a nice dry roof, and I haven't found any rot."

The exterior's cedar shingles are also in good shape and will likely remain.

"This is the kind of project I've been looking to do for a while," Sievertson said. "I've been building in Kitsap County and Bainbridge for 30 years. It's been good to me. It's time for me to give back."

Read more: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/oct/07/new-lease-on-life-for-old-farmhouse-on-island/#ixzz1c6kvyT3m