What’s Next for Orcasong Farm?

— by Margie Doyle —

10 acres of lavender are planted at Orcasong Farm in a strategic alliance with Pelindaba Llavender Farms

This past summer, the landscape across from the Orcas Transfer Station and Island Ex changed dramatically as Orcasong Farm entered into a strategic alliance to plant 10 acres of organic lavender that will be distilled and sold to Pelindaba Lavender on San Juan Island. Pelindaba Farms develops its products on San Juan Island and has retail stores in Friday Harbor, Eastsound, La Conner, Edmonds, and Bainbridge Island in Washington State; and at Portland, OR, Manitou Springs, CO, Geneva, IL, Amelia Island, FL, San Francisco, CA and in Hawaii.

Transformation of the lavender fields was accomplished this summer and fall with local labor, including Island Irrigation, Coldspring Pumps, Guard Electric and OPALCO installing the irrigation system and infrastructure, and the employment of numerous farm hands to prepare the beds and begin planting.  In addition to cultivating the lavender, the Farm plans a distillation facility to process oils and hydrosols.

Orcasong’s Chief Operating Officer, Paul King, leads the team that is continuing to develop infrastructure and operations.  He announced, “Orcasong and Pelindaba share a common vision of creating and developing initiatives that improve life in the San Juan Islands, benefit the local community, and meet growing demand in a sustainable way. Just as Orcasong has done with investments in our existing businesses, we see this new collaboration as yet another example of our commitment to regenerating agricultural land into beautiful, productive open spaces that represent the next level of opportunity for growers to drive yield and productivity using sustainable practices while preserving our islands’ natural resources.”

Planting the Pelindaba lavender fields at Orcasong Farm took place last fall

Orcasong Farm, a 90-acre property owned by David Dotlich and Douglas Elwood, has been stewarded over the past five years by a community of permaculturists, interns and volunteers (WWOOFRS — Willing Worker on Organic Farms  https://wwoof.net/) to build out the grounds with a market garden, Farm Stand and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.

The county Conservation District awarded a grant to Orcasong Farm to build pasture fencing and sponsored a Biochar workshop. North Beach Mushrooms is a local mycology business that will expand its operation at Orcasong in 2018.

Orcasong’s Garden and Gallery spaces have been host to many gatherings and events such as cob-oven pizza nights, Out on Orcas’ Annual Family Potluck, Revival’s “Interdependence” on July 4th,  June’s “Resonance Restival” as well as Permaculture Action and Music as Medicine workshops featuring musicians Yaima, Om Tara, Ayla Nereo, Lydia Violet and Rising Appalachia. Programs have included mycology and composting, a weeklong children’s camp, “Elders in the Garden” and Botanical Kitchen workshops.

Orcasong Institute, the organization’s non-profit, continues the educational mission and will be developing programs and events for 2018, says Gretchen Krampf, Director of Programs and Community Engagement.  “Agritourism is growing in the San Juans, and we see Orcasong Farm becoming a destination with lavender and other perennial herbs and flowers being distilled. It’s an opportunity for locals and tourists to visit and stay on a working farm- to learn about our products and taste the goodness that comes from Orcas Island.”

Krampf also serves on the board of the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild, a 501c3 nonprofit whose projects include Brickworks in Friday Harbor, “Island Grown” – a countywide brand program for island farmers and farm-products,  Beginning Farmers and Rancher Program, and the emerging SJI Food Hub.

At its annual meeting on Oct 26, the Orcas Chamber of Commerce presented Orcasong Farm with its Innovation and Creativity Award. Presenting the award, Chamber President Lance Evans said, “Orcasong seeks to build economic resiliency and social change through mentoring and funding the incubation of local land-based businesses….very forward thinking about farm policy, land use, and investing in the future of a community.”