The Clallam Growers’ Collective

The Clallam Growers' Collective is a network of farmers and gardeners—and the volunteers who support them. Within the CGC, every grower is valued regardless of the size of their operation or their business's reported revenues. Because cooperative sharing of resources and parity of access is key to progress, the CGC will always be an organization of equals.

 

How it Started:

The CGC formed in November 2020, as a call to action. Local farmer Angel (Family Farm, Sequim) had recently moved to Clallam County and was met with aggression, racist abuse, and isolation.

Area farmers decided to band together to form a work party; not just as a gift of labor, but as a gift of promised community. Volunteer crew, business owners, non-profit directors, chefs, and future friends all met at Angel's farm on a blustery Sunday; clearing five hoop houses and creating the framework for what would become a powerful grassroots organization.

 

What We Do:

  • Work Parties.

    During the growing season, we come together with area volunteers each month to help a local farmer achieve something big. We’ve pulled irrigation, raised high tunnels, built growing beds, and scorched brush. What takes one farmer a week of work gets done in a half-day with this awesome come-as-you-can crew.

  • Hand Tool Library.

    With help from friends at Northwest Harvest, we were able to assemble a sizable library of hand tools like shovels, hoes, hori-horis, gloves, rakes, water coolers, etc. Now any local grower can reserve the things they need to host work parties and school groups.

  • Networking.

    Farmer networks are more than just working groups. Connecting farmers and crews means that resources get shared, laborers organize, friendships form, and grower wellness flourishes. CGC prides itself on increasing connectedness and reducing isolation and competition. The capstone of this work is our totally free Growers’ Roundtable annual conference; made by farmers, for farmers.

  • Emergency Response.

    It’s a tough time to be a farmer. Catastrophes big and small can (and do) strike at any time. If a local grower is suffering the ills of climate change, extreme weather, failing infrastructure, or abuse, the CGC can serve as a network of supporters—both socially and in the field.

Contact us.

Current Volunteer Administrators: Jenson (SisterLand Farms) and Benji Astrachan (Northwest Harvest)