Posted April, 2024 ~ by Lois Moore
The Ag Summit this year was held on Orcas Island at beautiful Camp Orkila on March 8 and 9. Workshops on both days were enthusiastically attended with a sold-out crowd at 8 workshops on Friday and 12 on Saturday.
Posted April, 2024 ~ by Marc Santos
Overall: A successful event with roughly 40 attendees, mostly ranging in age from young adults to retirees, which is about average for the Repair Fairs held last year. The event was six hours long instead of four, so the booths had less crowding.
Posted March, 2024 ~ by Alice Deane
Share Our Bounty is a program conceived by WSU Master Gardener Bob Levinson, with Dennis Demuth and Rebecca Smith now taking charge. Three dozen volunteers participated in 2023, increasing the produce Master Gardeners donated to the San Juan Island Food Bank by over 25%.
Posted March, 2024 ~ by Nancy Best
Suki Boydston and Jill Patten led a workshop on winter seed sowing using milk jugs—an ideal garden activity for January, February, and March. They explained the theory, gave tips on how to set up the jugs, explained the preferred potting soil, and demonstrated techniques of sowing. They then brought out plastic milk jugs, soil, and seeds and had everyone make a jug or two to take home.
Posted February, 2024 ~ by Bill Severson
Suki Boydston and Jill Patten led a workshop on winter seed sowing using milk jugs—an ideal garden activity for January, February, and March. They explained the theory, gave tips on how to set up the jugs, explained the preferred potting soil, and demonstrated techniques of sowing. They then brought out plastic milk jugs, soil, and seeds and had everyone make a jug or two to take home.
Posted January, 2024 ~ by Bruce Robinson
Currently local farmers and gardeners produce less than 5% of the food consumed on our island. Our food security is obviously very low, and with an aging farmer population, the high cost of land, escalating food prices, and the potential of disasters(climate change, ferry disruptions, pandemics, seismic activity) it is hard to believe we could feed ourselves if we needed to.
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.
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.
The complete list of our 2022 Officers of the San Juan Island Grange #966 is here.
Our bylaws and resolutions are here.
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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