The mission of Pacific Bamboo Resources (PBR) is to cultivate economic activities that restore the health of our natural and built environments and, in turn, create resilient, sustainable communities across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. For PBR's three volunteer program directors and development director, the field trip described below was a first opportunity to begin exploring how the Bamboo Agriforestry Guilds (BAG), Urban Asset Restoration (UAR) and Sustainable Industry and Economic Development (SIED) programs might take shape in a specific community context.
As some of my PBR colleagues converged at Coleman Dock for an early Saturday morning ferry, I shuffled through the stacks of notes and artifacts collected last spring in my pursuit of launching a pilot education project: Fisheries, Farms and Forests: Cultivating our Local Food Economy. Having surrendered to the realities of a four and seven year old home for summer vacation, I'd not looked at the materials in several months. The anxiety I was feeling stemmed from anticipation and expectations. I wanted this to be a memorable and productive field trip for our team and here I was, getting myself organized and focused in the last moments.
Remembering the wealth of community initiatives and individuals focused on sustainable solutions in Kitsap County, I was able to relax into the emergent process. Breathing deeply…settling… grounding; I sketched out an agenda as I pulled materials together. What better way to spend the day than walking the landscape, engaging in conversation, replenishing inspiration and planning next steps. Anxiety evaporated into excitement!
The group was waiting at the Bainbridge Island terminal as I drove up in the minivan. With tremendous enthusiasm, we loaded up and headed out for our adventure. Our first stop was the Old Mill Permaculture Center, a new residential internship community and training center founded by Chuck Estin. Chuck was not around but Kevin, the caretaker on site, welcomed us and answered all of our questions. It was remarkable how much food they have been able to produce in just a few months with all volunteer (intern) labor from what was a grassy meadow four months ago. Saying farewell, we quickly detoured to drive through Islandwood, and explore the Lytle Beach community garden, which Chuck designed, to check out the mushroom beds.
We wandered briefly around Bainbridge public farm land and the site of Global Source Education's innovative Educulture Project. Heading north we crossed the Agate Pass bridge through the Port Madison Indian Reservation, home of the Suquamish Tribe, on our way to Kingston. After briefly driving through Stillwaters Environmental Center, we stopped for nourishment and lively conversation over delicious lunch at the Main Street Ale House.
The imminent closing of Sacks Feed and Garden inspired Kingston resident Kinley Deller to rally community support to save this icon of local economy and farm life. After lunch we drove in circles looking for Sacks until we realized it had indeed become a casualty of the economy. While the Kingston Farm and Garden Co-op is actively filling the economic niche Sacks once filled, they were unable to generate enough resources to transition into the now abandoned space.
Despite a faltering economy, the gears of progress are ever churning. The North Kitsap Legacy Project envisions a "low impact" community consistent with the scale and design of Historic Port Gamble and surrounded by 7,000 acres of sustainably managed public forest resources. Though the idea of Master Planned Communities seems antithetical to sustainability, it is nice to see ecological thinking emerge in the "Big Growth" culture of business and politics.
A little further south along the Hood Canal, we stopped by Breidablik Elementary School in Poulsbo where there may be an opportunity to revive the Sustainable Schools Project. With a willing administration, teachers and parents, this site could serve as a design/build location for a variety projects to deepen the school's ecological roots.
With darkness falling, we decided to save some opportunities for another day. With 'work' behind us, and time to kill before the next ferry, we pulled off the highway to explore Historic Poulsbo. We stretched our legs window shopping t
he eclectic shops and bakeries, finally stopping at Mora for some locally crafted ice-cream.
The car ride back to the ferry contained reflective, comfortable moments of silence and thoughtful conversation. We shared a lot of time together and a vision of how our three programs work together started to emerge. Inspired and feeling a unified sense of hope and purpose, I said farewell as folks dashed through the terminal for the boat. A seed has been planted. I feel empowered to cultivate, nourish and bring our vision to life.
