Orcas Island Philanthropy
I am constantly amazed by the lessons I learn on the road.
Case in point…I’m just finishing a 9 day run. I’ve been to the Aspen Institute’s annual Environmental Forum, which was co-sponsored by the National Geographic (where I saw my friend and DCCK Board member Barton Seaver get monster props for his work and amazing love for his new book, “For Cod and Country”, which I highly recommend if you want to eat seafood, yet respect and strengthen the ecosystem from which it comes). Then I rolled out to Seattle to give the commencement address at the Bainbridge Graduate Institute, which is leading the pack of MBA programs that focus of sustainability.
In each of these settings, I was surrounded by smarties…I was literally bathing in brilliance…yet, it was on my final stop, way out on Orcas Island, that I witnessed some truly retro-revolutionary work.
First of all…I love to celebrate firsts. Even at age 52, it’s amazing how many things you do for the first time. My most recent first—I flew in a sea plane (a DHC-2 Beaver) from Seattle, out across the Puget Sound to West Harbor. Ever wonder what it’s like to take off on a sea plane? Check it OUT
There I met up with friend, former DC grrrrrrl and now Orcas Island Community Foundation ED, Hilary Canty. I love the Canty Clan. Her brothers Brendan and James are punk rock royalty…Big B played drums in Rites of Spring and Fugazi, while James bent the strings in Nation of Ulysses, The Make-Up and now, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists…and her baby sister Siobhan (who ran DC Cares and who now works down in Miami at the Knight Foundation) is my double best-est buddy.
Anyway….Hilary invited me out to Orcas to lead a discussion on the power of food and community, which was held out at the local Odd Fellows Hall, which is where our story gets interesting.
By their very nature, islands are closed eco-systems. It’s virtually impossible to remain anonymous there, so service is almost required. They have over 100 nonprofits on the island, so Board membership alone demands true sweat equity from Orcas residents. Having a population of only a few thousand means that groups have be forced to collaborate more than mainland orgs, and that Hilary’s organization, along with the land trusts and other co-ops have had to be really innovative w/their economic resources.
Here, sustainability isn’t a theory; it’s practiced out of necessity.
One example is the Odd Fellows Hall, where about 50 folks came out on a particularly gorgeous Monday night to meet with me to discuss food, community and what comes next. They are already doing amazing work getting local produce into their school cafeteria, and they have brokered the line between classroom and what is being served for lunch like few communities I know. The Odd Fellows Hall also rents out its kitchen to different groups for pop-up restaurants, so almost everyday of the week, the sandwich boards go up inviting locals and tourists alike to come in, get their grub ON and support the local community w/ every bite.
But most of all….I was impressed with the high school class of 2011, all 60 something of them, who develop community projects of surprising depth.
Here’s just an example of two of the islands proud philanthropic progeny.
Call it quaint, call it simple….but color me impressed. Island living….well, isn’t for the faint hearted. It takes stamina and commitment. It also takes a keen respect for the resources you have, and how you can maximize their value.
Orcas Islanders know the true valuate of community.
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June 10th, 2011 at 11:46 am
I saw that book the other day and almost bought it. Now I will make a point! Good job.
June 11th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Thanks for the props Robert. We really enjoyed your visit and sharing ideas about how to provide good healthy food to a growing world.
Orcas kids rock! Their dreams are our hope.
For those interested in learning more about the Odd Fellows Hall, visit the Odd Fellows website at:
http://oddshall.org
We endeavor to provide affordable hall and kitchen space for people to hold classes, workshops, community meetings, fundraisers, weddings, birthday parties, movies, dances, restaurants, food prep for the farmers market, food production…
Jay
June 12th, 2011 at 9:13 pm
Both Cameron and Huxley are also graduates of our summer FEAST- Farm Education and Sustainability for Teens program. Cameron spent part of two summers doing FEAST and Huxley was involved during 2009.
Besides our fabulous Farm to Cafeteria Program for K-12 and Farm to School for K-6, we have FEAST for 10-12 graders. Whitney Hartzell is the brains and driving force behind the agriculture education program. Unfortunately, this year we had to take a break due to small class sizes, but we plan to offer it again next summer. In the meantime, this summer we will have 6 classes that are ALL open to adults.
The FEAST program connects high school aged students with our island’s local farmers, construction workers, alternative energy gurus, experts in medicinal plants, proponents of permaculture design, San Juan Land Bank, and many others. Students learn various methods of farming, beekeeping, animal husbandry, alternative energy systems, mycroremediation, food preservation, cob building, blacksmithing, construction and overall project execution, and so much more. At the end of the summer, students help prepare a fall harvest dinner made from local meats and produce. We use the entire island as our “classroom”
http://feastprogram.org/
June 13th, 2011 at 6:51 pm
On behalf of everyone who came to Odd Fellows Hall that lovely Orcas Monday evening to meet, greet and hear your great presentation, we thank you so much, Mr. Egger! Needless to say, we deeply appreciate your kind words and are so glad you were impressed with our efforts here.
If anyone would like to learn more about our Farm to Cafeteria Program, they can find it all on our web site at http://www.orcasislandf2c.org. It also includes information on the Farm to Classroom Project for K-6 grades and our bountiful, beautiful school garden. We are also hoping to fold the FEAST program (mentioned in the comment above) into some Fall classes and include grades 8 and 9 so it can eventually become a year-round program for all teens. And, thanks to you, we plan to talk more with our Island Food Bank and Camp Orkila to better utilize our kitchen spaces to help support our programs.
Again, thanks for making the trip to Orcas Island and for allowing us the opportunity to learn from you how we can make our programs even better by expanding their influence and effectiveness.
June 20th, 2011 at 1:03 am
Thank you for your enthusiastic and inspiring talk. We are so happy to have inspired you with what we’re doing on Orcas Island. I liked the part when you said it’s not true that our youngsters are an apathetic generation that glued to their screens, and that, if fact, you see a young generation of people who are excited about growing food, being of service to others, and being good stewards of the Earth.
Didier Gincig, Orcas Island resident, food producer, and volunteer who likes to help heroic farmers grow food