Grange Officers Assume the Mantle
Posted Jan, 2025
Installing Officer Anita Barreca welcomes Sherri Phelps to the post of Ceres. Grange Officer updates are listed in the article on the Newsletter.
Looking Ahead
We have been receiving a lot of inquiries about land at our Overmarsh Farm Commons and still have a few parcels left.
- Community garden patches: 100-400 square feet
- Medium plots: 500-1000 square feet
- Allotments: 1000-2000 square feet
- A commercial operation of up to half an acre
- Collaborative farms: up to two acres
- A share in a community orchard
- Pastures for grazing animals
- Custom growing ideas: just ask!
What’s Happening with the Grange
Overmarsh Update
Posted Jan, 2025 ~ by Bruce Robinson
On December 15, close to 20 prospective project participants joined at Overmarsh Farm Commons for a tour. The tour began with a general overview of the land being leased by the Grange from the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank. It then moved into a detailed description of the area that will be available for gardening in the spring.
More Pressing Matters
Posted Dec, 2024 ~ by John Latimer
The Grange was in action again, holding a successful apple pressing event at the San Juan Island Farmers Market on November 2. Community members brought apples to press, sampled heirloom apple varieties, and learned how apple juice is made using the beautiful Grange press.
Overmarsh Update
Posted Dec, 2024 ~ by Bruce Robinson
While we have moved into the dormant season, the Overmarsh project is still growing strong. Plans are developing for opening the garden and grazing sites for food production in the spring.
Cider Time
Posted Nov, 2024 ~ by John Latimer
Join us at the Grange booth at the San Juan Island Farmers Market Saturday, November 2, 9:30am-1pm for an apple cider pressing! Bring your own apples to press or get some fresh juice at the Grange booth while you enjoy the farmers market festivities.
Grange Booth
Posted Nov, 2024 ~ by Sherri Phelps
What a great summer for the Grange booth at the farmers market! Lots of produce, plants, biochar, eggs, jewelry, books, and artwork have been sold. Many Grangers have taken part this season.
Our Mission
To support a resilient community of growers, makers, and keepers, to foster social and political engagement, and to maintain our Hall as a home for celebrations and programs.
We are a grass-roots, non-partisan advocacy group, and because we are a non-profit (501c8), we can accept donations and participate in crafting legislation at all levels.
Our Grange
San Juan Island Grange #966 is for rural citizens with both legislative programs and community activities such as talent and craft contests, scholarships, and much more. You don’t have to be a farmer to belong, though many are. Our elected officers volunteer and our ‘work’ occurs through various committees, but the heart of our mission is community well-being, and we enjoy gathering to celebrate this.
Our History
The Grange started after the Civil War to begin healing and overcome the sense of isolation that many farmers were feeling as well as help them respond to new national markets. Grange Halls across the country housed mutual assistance programs, and many agricultural cooperatives were started by Granges to improve the economic lot of the family farm. Today each local Grange chooses its own mission and program, and Granges come together at the state and national levels for joint efforts.
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