Growing to Give Vashon

Dear Growers,

I am excited to be teaming up with Elena Camarillo and linda moore as we start a new effort called Growing to Give Vashon this season.  With the help of volunteers, we plan to grow produce for the Vashon Food Bank and other Island community food programs.  We are thrilled to have received funding from the wonderful organization Growing for Good to make it all happen.  

Last Fall when this administration used SNAP benefits as a political weapon to attempt to force the end of a government shutdown, I was determined to grow more seed as well as food for the community in 2026.  Now, in the midst of continued violent and illegal immigration action, yet another shut down, an unjust war and rising oil prices sure to impact food costs even more, the three of us are determined to grow as much food for our community as we can.  Thanks to landowner Amy Greenberg and farmer Elizabeth Whitman of Tian Tian Farm, we have the land available to grow food. 

Elena Camarillo found farming after a career in tech at Microsoft.  She completed the Viva Farms farmer training program then farmed last season at Matsuda Farm.  She ran the weekly volunteer work parties with a crew of dedicated volunteers.  I am so grateful to her for organizing and coordinating the volunteers for our new Growing to Give Vashon efforts.  linda moore was one of the dedicated volunteer crew members last season and brings her growing skills and experience to the team.  Last seaon linda was known as the key caretaker of the tomato house! 

We will start bi-monthly workparties in April, then move to gathering weekly as the season progresses.  We will meet Tuesday mornings from 10am-12pm to prepare beds and plant, then soon we’ll be harvesting for Vashon Food Bank deliveries on Tuesday afternoons.  

We believe that everyone has a right to fresh healthy local food; that seed saving is a radical act of love; and that working together shoulder to shoulder with you, the soil and all the beings that surround us is a radical relationship of love, and reciprocity.

Please contact Elena Camarillo at elenacamw@gmail.com to get on our Growing To Give Vashon email list and find out more about joining this effort.  

I will still be growing lots of seeds. In fact, we will be combining seed and food growing in creative and interesting ways to serve Growing for Good Vashon. Volunteers will not only learn about and participate in growing food but also plant breeding and seed saving projects. It will be a great time!