Orcas Community Participatory Agriculture is going into full swing now that it’s springtime. According to its website, “since 2014, the OCPA team has been working to deepen community connections, grow nutrient-dense produce, and contribute to island resiliency through shared knowledge and shared work. OCPA offers a means to organize our community for farm work and adapt the ancient tradition of growing food together to fit the needs of a changing world. Each farm brings together land hosts, anchor farmers, site managers, and neighbors to learn what it takes to grow and process our own food from seed to table in a year-round local food network. Our purpose is to empower people to be creators of the food that nourishes them, in solidarity with the food sovereignty movement. Most importantly, we focus on building community – we are actively working, learning, re-skilling, and reaping rewards as a group.” (https://www.orcascommunityag.org/)
The following farms are part of OCPA:
How does it all work, you wonder? Here is what the website explains:
“Anchor Farmers are the network organizers, offering support to all other roles in the form of education, consultation, administrative work, systems thinking, and maintaining the collaborative agreements between the Land Hosts, Site Managers, and Participants.
“Site Managers act as educators, organizers, and leaders at their respective farm sites. They are responsible for guiding and organizing the Participants, facilitating educational opportunities, and planning daily operations and events at the farm.
“Land Hosts provide a venue for CPA projects to take root. Generally, Land Hosts contribute monetarily to material infrastructure that will remain on the farm if the CPA project were to change location, or cease to operate. Land Hosts can also act as a Participants.
“Participants are the heart of the CPA model. Each person or family invests money and time on the farm while learning how to grow food both on a large scale, at the farm, and on a smaller scale, at their home.”
If you are interested in learning more or being a participant, email info@orcascommunityag.org.
President and Anchor Farmer, Caitlin Leck
Vice President and Anchor Farmer, Patrick Bennett
Secretary and Land Host, Kaj Enderlein
Map and photos are courtesy of the OCPA website
It is an awesome experience. A great way to be in community!
On your list, “Turtle Back Farm”, is the small garden which was used before Covid-19 going to come back again. It’s right below the parking spot for folks walking up turtleback. I hope the best for whoever did that garden & can be allowed again.