Lopez farmers gather for harvest dinner

The Lopez Community Land Trust held its Annual Harvest Dinner on Saturday, Oct. 17, bringing together island farmers and residents for a communal meal.

Guests arrived before 5 p.m. for the 6 p.m. start, carrying dishes such as a green chili pork stuffed pumpkin and a buttercup kabocha cheesecake. The event, described as a potluck competition, featured judges Lacey Norris of Ladybird Farm and local food enthusiast Logan Knight. They awarded prizes for best presentation, best use of local foods, and a judge’s choice. Dishes included crab and salmon dips, a large focaccia, fall salads, chicken pot pie, and enchilada casserole, all prepared with ingredients like pork, chicken, eggs, beans, garlic, onions, tomatoes, chilis, greens, wheat, apples, berries, cucumbers, pumpkin, and herbs.

The dinner serves to emphasize the role of local agriculture in maintaining the island’s food supply. Lopez stores typically hold only three days of food inventory, making local production a key component of community food security. The event recognizes the work of farmers who manage soil health to produce nutritious food. It also addresses the demographic reality of the farming community, where the average age of farmers is in their 60s. Securing farmland for active use rather than private estates is a priority for the trust as it seeks to support the next generation of growers.

Lori Ann David of Aurora Farms on San Juan Island delivered the keynote address, titled “Small Farms, Big Impact.” She noted that while outsiders often view the islands as scenic postcards, residents understand that the community relies on working lands. “When the outside world looks at our islands, they see a postcard. But we know the truth. We know that these islands are sustained by working lands. This is small-scale farming, but let me tell you, it has a massive, undeniable impact on the very survival of our community,” David said. She stressed the importance of passing down skills, including recipes, food preservation techniques, garden seeds, and livestock raising, to younger members of the community.

The Lopez Community Land Trust currently holds 145 acres of farmland in trust. The organization provides long-term leases to farming households to ensure the land remains in agricultural use. The harvest dinner combines these operational goals with a social event that highlights culinary arts and nourishing food.

Rhea Miller, the trust’s community liaison, organized the event. She previously served as a San Juan County commissioner for more than 10 years, focusing on environmental protection and sustainability in housing, agriculture, and community development. Her current role involves supporting the trust’s mission to preserve local farmland and strengthen the connection between farmers and eaters.

The event concluded with the distribution of prizes and the continued sharing of food among attendees. The trust continues to manage its 145 acres of leased farmland to support ongoing agricultural activity on the island.