By Ande Finley
Special to the Islands’ Weekly
Transition Lopez Island is part of a worldwide movement to encourage resilience and sustainability in our communities in the face of oncoming climate change, economic instability, and issues of peak oil. Since Lopez already has many organizations working actively towards this goal, the Transition group has been looking for ways to fill in the gaps.
Toward this end, Transition Lopez Island formed the Barnraising Guild for island neighbors to help one another with homesteading projects in the manner of the community barn raising of the past. It helps the whole community as individual families become more resilient and land use island-wide becomes more productive.
To kick off activities, eleven people gathered at Laurie Parker’s little homestead on a sunny autumn Saturday. There were tasks for all age levels and abilities. Participants had scoured their spare wood piles and pooled materials and tools.
Led by Kay Keeler and her intrepid granddaughter, Molly, the group moved piles of thorny brush to a burn pile. Mike Moore and Jack Pedigo dug post holes and built a gate to enclose the goat pen. Scott Finley led a team of Pete Kuentzel and Parvin Baharloo in designing and building a goat shed. Eski Benson single-handedly built a hay feeder. Pat Kuentzel and Ande Finley helped repair the chicken tractor and rabbit hutches. Beverly Zapalac brought everyone a nourishing lunch. By dark, every project had been completed in time for the potluck. The crew bonded in unique ways and it was a truly satisfying day.
The Parker/Benson/Odegards are a multi-generational family sharing land and resources. Laurie is a self-employed writer and her son, Eski and his partner, Orion Odegard are artisans caring for their infant daughter, Kara.
“I know that a lot of work parties happen on Lopez- for the milking co-op, the Land Trust, the LCCA, and various nonprofits, and I know a lot of the farmers help each other out regularly,” said Laurie. “But for people who have projects on a smaller scale, this opportunity organized by the Transition group is needed. Many people don’t like to ask for help and this is a way of exchanging labor that helps people overcome that resistance.”
Although hours will not be tracked formally, the Guild encourages people who would like to get their project on the schedule to become involved on a regular basis. Those who cannot do the heavy lifting could find other ways to contribute – in lighter tasks, assisting with the organizing, and/or bringing food for the end-of-the-day potluck.
For more information, contact Barnraising Guild coordinator, Scott Finley at scofin@gmail.com or 5199.
