Salish Roots Farm
The Squaxin Island Garden is located in the Kamilche Valley, which is translated to English as “the Peaceful Valley”, on a ten-acre parcel. The Garden features forested wetlands lined with native plants, an abundant orchard, a small berry field and a thriving vegetable garden. The Garden was established in 2016 with the mission to increase access to culturally relevant foods, as well as locally-grown organic produce.
Impacts and empowerment:
- Promote sovereignty and community self-sufficiency by using Tribally-owned land for food production
- Promote skill-building for community in the areas of food production, food preparation and preservation, traditional food and medicine knowledge
- Promote nutrition and healthy living through education material and classes
- Promote local ownership of food systems
- Promote food security and health outcomes for the Squaxin Island community
- Promote wild foods education and community reclamation of traditional foods and medicine
Our Partners:
- Squaxin Island Tribe
- Skookum Creek Tobacco
- Island Enterprises
- Little Creek Casino Resort
- Clam Fresh
- Salish Seafoods
- Native Sun Grown
- Salish Cliffs Golf Course
- Helsing Junction Farm
- Skokomish Tribal Garden
- Davis Family Farm
- South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency (SPIPA)
- Northwest Indian College
- Nisqually Tribal Garden
- Garden-Raised Bounty (GruB)
- South Puget Sound Community College
- Evergreen State College
- Washington State University Extension Office (Thurston & Mason Counties)
- Mason County Master Gardeners
- Alta Lumber Mill
Follow us:
Branches of Salish Roots Farm:
Community Garden Program branches:
- Vegetable garden
- Traditional medicine garden
- Elders Garden
- Revitalization of established fruit tree orchard
- Streamside restoration, trail restoration
- Educational classes on traditional foods and medicine
- Cooking classes for the Tribal community with fresh organic produce
- Traditional medicine making classes
- Harvesting workshops
- Plant identification walks
- Education for young children through on-site partnership with the Squaxin Child Development Center
- Ongoing land, building, machinery, crop, infrastructure maintenance
- Celebrations/harvest parties
- Work Parties and volunteer efforts (community-building and skill-building) including:
- Educational workshops on tree care
- Basic gardening techniques, cultivation, composting, weeding, trimming, and pruning and other aspects of garden maintenance like improving soil conditions.
- Weeding thistle and blackberry bushes
- Hauling loads of soil, oyster shell, and woodchips
How to Get Involved:
Volunteer Hours:
M-T 8:00 am-4:00 pm or by appointment.
Contact:
Patricia Green
360-432-3984
pgreen@squaxin.us
Volunteer tasks include weeding, planting, harvesting, fertilizing, and pruning.
If your group is larger than 10 people, please schedule an appointment.
Donations:
We do accept donations of plant starts, mulching materials, compost, and other Garden supplies. Please contact Aleta before delivery.
