2022 Annual Report & 2023 Spring Newsletter
LCLT 34th Annual Meeting
6:45 pm, Thursday, March 23
at Lopez Center
Everyone invited!
Join us in a celebration of 34 years of building beloved community at the LCCA.
Enjoy refreshments including cupcakes by J. Renee Sweets, elect new board members, learn about LCLT, and give your rapt attention to community member performances.
Doors open at 6:45 Social time with refreshments
Meeting 7:00 p.m. Including election of new board members and year in review
Performance 7:30 p.m.
Building Beloved Community
2023 Director’s Report
By Sandy Bishop, Executive Director
Martin Luther King Jr. brought attention to the “Beloved Community”. This concept was first given voice by Josiah Royce over 100 years ago and people the world round have been breathing life into it.
Often, when a Lopez resident is asked why they moved here, they respond: “I came here for the beauty, but I stayed because of the community.” In 1989 when we first incorporated LCLT, we learned early on that when local working folks didn’t worry about being displaced from their homes, they had a lot more energy to invest in businesses, raise children, secure year-round jobs, serve on non-profit and public boards, engage the arts, volunteer and spend time in the incredible natural beauty that surrounds us.
Linda Buzzell suggests the following as A Recipe for Building Community:
Build a campfire
Connect with nature and the seasons
Take the time to welcome each person
Provide food and drink
Ceremony ritual and even a sense of spirituality or the sacred
Collective problem-solving
Storytelling
Elders
Gifts and sharing
Shopping
A little excitement
Childcare
Transportation
Music
Dance and body movement
Beauty
Potluck at Salish Way
Below I’ve listed a few of the ways households who are engaged with LCLT work and volunteer on Lopez. I see Beloved Community in action through….
Work as park rangers and head up student Conservation Corps
Health care work for aging seniors
Body work for ailing bodies
Early Childhood educators
Fossil free shared transportation
Student musicians and actors
Teach the trades and supply trades
Retire in a neighborhood you can trust
Farmers provide fresh local food
Blossom as renowned artists
Create beautiful landscapes and gardens
Volunteer at schools, NGO’s, local politics
Own your favorite business
Are teachers, bus drivers and techies for your technology woes, inventors and entrepreneurs
Learn democracy and leadership in neighborhood cooperatives
Offer sacred ceremony and ritual
Live among diversity in language, lifestyle, orientation, culture
Over the last 34 years I see that it takes all of us working together to keep a strong vibrant community.
— Sandy Bishop, Executive Director
Looking Ahead, 2023
Fisherman Bay Curve Site Plan
Parking lot with landscaping (left), 6 homes connected with walking paths that lead to the forest. Accessory structure in the bottom right corner for building materials, includes two electric vehicle charging stations. Total building site: ~1 acre.
This year, we are looking forward to starting work on Fisherman Bay Curve. We have finalized plans for 6 homes on this property. 3 of the homes will be 2-bedroom houses, and 3 will be 1-bedroom houses. We are working with Vandervort Architects to design simple, thoughtful, environmentally friendly, net zero energy, beautiful homes. 6 households have been selected; they have provided input on the design and will participate in the building process, gaining skills and contributing sweat equity. We look forward to introducing you to them in a future newsletter.
Farmworker Housing on Sound Road
View from the future farmworker housing building site
LCLT is also working with Nitsan Yomtov of Ets architecture to design a functional home for farmworkers on 1-acre LCLT reserved for this purpose on Lopez Sound Road. We first met Nitsan in 2008 when he was an intern working on the Common Ground homes. Nitsan has always had a love of design and we have stayed in touch as he completed his architectural degree and are happy to be collaborating with him.
2023 Tour de Lopez
LCLT is participating in the 2023 return of the Tour de Lopez on Saturday, April 29th. Stop by the Port Stanley Schoolhouse rest stop to take a break, have some refreshments during the ride, and learn about what we do. Information and registration are through the Lopez Chamber, details are available on their website: https://lopezisland.com/annual-tour-de-lopez-bicycle-event/
2023-24 Lopez Farm Products Guide
New additions to the 2023-24 Farm Products Guide
The 2023-24 Lopez Island Farm Products Guide is out for print! This updated guide features over 30 Lopez farms. New this year, we have an updated page on our website with additional information about each farm, and direct links to their information. Be sure to pick up a copy, check out the webpage and support your local farm.
Island Marble Butterfly Habitat
Click here to add your own text
Endangered Island Marble Butterfly
In 2022, we met with Paul Anderson of the San Juan Island Conservation District, and Tyler Porter from Fish and Wildlife Services to evaluate if the area by the Common Ground pond would be a good site for Island Marble Butterfly Habitat restoration. They visited, and determined it could be a great location for a flight corridor. This year, we look forward to planting mustard seed – what is “like ice-cream” for the butterflies. In doing so, we hope to increase biodiversity and beauty by building homes for our more than human kin.
2022 in Review
Sometimes, when embarking on a project or idea, you never quite know where it will lead. 2022 was a year in which seeds that were planted long before started to bloom…
Fisherman Bay Curve
Recent mowing at Fish Bay Curve
Many Lopezians remember driving down Fisherman Bay Road and past a white sign with simple black block letters: “For Sale Soon.” It became a running joke as the years went by, one April Fool’s someone added an amendment “For Sale Soon-ish” as the property sat, definitely not for sale.
In early 2020, a team of surveyors were marking corners and trees for the then current owner. He casually mentioned to the surveyors that he really wished the property could be used for affordable cluster cottage housing, like the type he had studied in Europe. “Well” said one of the surveyors, “that sounds a lot like what the Lopez Community Land Trust does. Have you ever heard of them?” The surveyors put the owner in touch with LCLT and we were able to purchase the property in 2021. It is 5.5 acres of land and shares a south property line with LCLT’s eight-unit housing co-op, Innisfree.
Becky Munro, Lion McClean, Chaz Ott, and Kim Clements (JAS Design/Build)
In March of 2022, we held a design charrette to dream up siting the houses on the property at Fisherman Bay Curve. JAS Design Build and Vandervort architects toured the site with us and met potential future homeowners. Before doing anything on the site we met with Carson Sprenger, a local forester and owner of Rain Shadow Consulting to consider forest health when determining the site plan. In the summer, volunteers from Camp Nor’wester increased walking trails. The property was surveyed, and a well-site determined. LCLT opened applications and selected households after reviewing more than 30 pre-applications. Soon there will be six new homes built on the site.
Stonecrest Barn Renovations
In 1902, Chris Jensen, an immigrant from a small island off the west coast of Denmark, built the barn on what is now Stonecrest Farm. 120 years later, with some sagging posts, rotting boards, and roof leaks, the barn was in need of TLC. LCLT was awarded funds from the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP), to make repairs and renovate the barn to ensure it may continue as a working, historic structure serving a modern farm. The work is well underway, with island-milled fir boards stickered, dried and installed, flooring in the upstairs loft strengthened and replaced, siding coming along and rafter tails improved. Check out photos of the work in Meike’s Stonecrest update.
LCLT Carshare
The LCLT EV Carshare Kia Niro Wind
Back in 2011, LCLT purchased a used GEM EV as a community shared vehicle. The carshare proved successful. Neighbors enjoyed sharing the vehicle, we kept a simple pad/pen to record mileage and everyone chipped in a few dollars to help cover costs. The vehicle had a high use rate of short daily trips. The program was in place for only eight months. Fast forward to 2022, and the Washington State Department of Transportation put out a call for the Zero-Emissions Access Program (ZAP) Grant to implement a local electric vehicle carshare. With our experience highlighted, LCLT applied for funds and was awarded a $50,000 grant! With the funds, we purchased a Kia Niro EV Wind and started the Carshare for LCLT leaseholders. May this Carshare be the first of many and may we all feel the effects of lower emissions.
99-Year Farm Lease
Still Light Farm
In 2020, Lopez Community Land Trust was offered the opportunity to purchase 118 acres of farm and forest land on Lopez Sound Road. Through friendly loans, a financial gift from a generous donor, and by working on a plan with the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank, LCLT made the purchase. As planned in 2021, LCLT sold 75 acres of the forest land to the SJC Conservation Land Bank, thereby expanding the existing, adjacent, 400-acre Lopez Hill Preserve to nearly 500 acres. This past year, LCLT signed a 99-year ground-lease with Lena and Andrew Jones, of Still Light Farm LLC, for 41 acres of pasture and forest land. Lena and Andrew live full time on Lopez with their three children and are bringing the farm back into production. Additionally, LCLT has a one acre piece of land for a farm related worker housing.
2022 Harvest Celebration
Pictured: El Taco Bout It Harvest Dish
Last year, we reimagined the Harvest Dinner and partnered with 8 different local restaurants to offer the Lopez Harvest Celebration. Each restaurant or food truck featured a menu item made from island-grown ingredients. Dishes ranged from Barbacoa, local lamb from Bar Bar A pastured lamb, with rice & beans and a mix grilled veggies from Midnights & Watmough Bay Farms, to Ramen with North Star grain noodles, and greens and veggies from Midnight’s, Horsedrawn, Lopez Village, and Watmough Bay Farms. Blue Heron Bistro, El Taco Bout It Food Truck, Haven Kitchen & Bar, Poutine Your Mouth Food Truck, Setsunai Noodle Bar, The Southend Café, Ursa Minor, and Vortex all participated in the Harvest Celebration.
Awards
2022 was a big year for awards! We received several for the 4 cottages at Salish Way, completed in 2021. The foundation is slab on grade, walls and roof are Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS), siding is island fir trees from the site, milled on-site. All of the homes have rainwater catchment for irrigation, water wise fixtures, energy efficient lighting and passive solar design.
The project received 871 points on Built Green, and has received 5 awards, including:
- 2022 NAHB Offsite Construction Award BSC Jerry Rouleau Award for Excellence in Home Design – Winner: Multifamily Project.
- 2022 National Association of Home Builders – High performance Affordable Housing, Winner for Multifamily Project
- 2022 Built Green Hammer Award: Project of the Year
- 2022 Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA) Building Excellence Awardfor Affordable Housing
- 2021 U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Read Home Housing InnovationAward winner in the Affordable category
News from Stonecrest Farm
By Meike Meissner
At Stonecrest Farm work has been well underway to restore the barn. Mike and Kenny have taken a lead on construction and Evan of Thorpworks has done work on the roof. Below are some photos from the most recent progress. In particular, the west side is highlighted:
Rotten post & foundation replacement before and after
Evan on the roof, replacing each and every screw.
The west side taken down, boards removed to cut off rotten ends.
Kenny with the reinstalled and new battens.
We have already noticed a tremendous difference in the roofing, as the recent winds no longer sound like they are ripping the metal sheets off of the roof!
Lambing has also commenced at Stonecrest, with the first of the 100 ewes already having babies. Calves are due in April, and a new sow will have piglets at the end of March.
We continue to sell meat out of the freezers in the Barn Stand as well as through the San Juan Islands Food Hub, and thank everyone who continues to support local farmers and ranchers, raising good meat with care, here on our island.
News from Still Light Farm
By Lena Jones
This past fall, we planted a diverse cover crop mix to see what could stand up to the cold, the wet soil, and the deer and birds who love to browse our fields. Little plants came up promptly in those last couple weeks of October when we had warmth and rain together and have stood a few inches tall all winter. Now they’re starting to really grow. Out of the mix we planted, the favas, phacelia, and brassicas are the true stand-outs. We planted three brassicas—forage kale, Ethiopian cabbage, and daikon radish—and they’ve grown steadily all winter and have four or five little leaves on them. Truly sturdy plants.
We’re excited to welcome Baba Yaga’s chickens to feast on our fields this spring. The cover crop should provide great forage for the birds, and in turn they’ll enrich our soil and scratch up our fields in preparation for planting. Once they leave, the field will be hilled up into permanent beds and planted in our variety trials. This year we are testing out dry beans (including lentil and garbanzo beans), pumpkin seeds, quinoa, oats, and sweet corn. All together, we have about fifty varieties in trial this season.
Our hoophouse is up and the first seeds to be started in it are our perennial vegetables: asparagus, artichokes, perennial kale, perpetual spinach, flagpole scallions, and even ramps. Perennial vegetables produce year after year without requiring tillage. No tillage means rich, complex, undisturbed ecosystems. They’re ready to eat earlier, filling the spring gap and can be more nutritious than their annual relatives. We love perennial crops and look forward to sharing them with you . . . in a few years. They do take a bit longer to establish.
We’ll be planting a mix of native shrubs and trees around the farm this month, tucking them into the woods, the meadow, and along the hedgerow, and seeding even more trees and shrubs in the hoophouse to be planted in the future. These plants will extend our bloom times on the farm and provide more food for wildlife. Our first row of fruit trees has been planted in our future orchard site, and we plan for many more next winter. We’ve been clearing our fence line in preparation for deer fencing and the first few posts are in the ground. Putting up the rest of the fencing is our primary spring project.
After almost two years of planning, prepping, and clearing blackberries and rocks, it feels so good to be planting. We can’t wait to see the farm come alive this spring!
2023 Grain CSA Sign-Ups
Photo courtesy of Karla Lillestol
Steve Lillestol of Island Grist is once again offering locally grown wheat for the 2023 Grain CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). Fortuna wheat, a hard, red spring wheat with good protein, milling and baking qualities. The Locavores and LCLT offer use of a small stone mill located at 25 Tuatara Road. Steve can also provide milling for larger batches.
The Grain CSA offers shares of 20 pounds of wheat for $24. If you are interested in purchasing a share or more let us know by April 28th.
Checks are payable to LCLT and can be sent to PO Box 25.
OR pay online via our website under the section “payments.”
Email Breton at LCLT25@rockisland.com if you have any questions. Be sure to note 2023 Grain CSA in the subject line.
Lands Owned & Leases Granted
In 2022, LCLT owned 9 parcels of land on Lopez — a total of 116 acres. Three housing cooperatives — Morgantown, Coho and Innisfree — each lease separate parcels under the terms of a 99-year ground lease. Three housing cooperatives — Common Ground, Tierra Verde and Salish Way — each lease a portion of a 7-acre parcel, also under the terms of a 99-year year ground lease. LCLT has six rentals: A two-unit apartment building located at Pear Tree Lane, a single-family residence at Westpark Lane, Stonecrest Farm, and two studio apartments located on Tuatara Road. Additionally, LCLT holds 5.5 acres of vacant land for housing development on Fisherman Bay Road and 4 acres of vacant land on Lopez Road.
Stonecrest Farm & Graziers, LLC, lease Stonecrest Farm, a 48-acre parcel located at Kjargaard Road, with a 15-year lease. Still Light Farm, LLC leases 42 acres of farm and forest land at Lopez Sound Road through a 99-year ground lease.
2022 Financial Report
Submitted by Treasurer Jan Marshall
December Double Rainbow
2022 brought significant milestones to LCLT as we celebrated the longevity of the organization, and embarked on new paths that will lead far into the future. Morgantown, LCLT’s first housing cooperative celebrated its first 30 years, and in the same year, we signed a new 99-year ground lease with Lena and Andrew Jones of Still Light Farm. The ability to preserve land to the benefit of all in the community, is possible thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors, and the relentless hard-work of our staff, board, and volunteers. We are grateful for your support!
Capital Projects
2022 was a year of maintenance and preparation for upcoming projects. In 2022 LCLT was awarded matching funds to renovate the historic Jensen/Kjargaard barn at Stonecrest Farm. Renovation work on the 120-year old barn began in October and will continue into the first half of 2023. In addition to the grant, some capital reserve funds were used to improve drainage around the barn, ensuring the repairs made will be maintained and free of new water damage. The rental at Pear Tree Lane was due for a new septic system, LCLT was awarded $41,000 from San Juan County to make the necessary repairs. On Halloween, LCLT purchased a new all-electric Kia Niro Wind to implement a community Carshare. In addition, we upgraded the electric-vehicle charging station and parking area, and hired a company to develop a website and app to manage reservations. For the next community project, we began designing plans, submitting septic and well drawings to San Juan County. In 2023, we look forward to submitting the design plans, and starting to build 6 new homes at the Curve on Fisherman Bay Road.
Income and Expense
LCLT received a total income of $1,842,668; which was above our $1,313,796 budget for 2022. This was primarily due to the grant awarded by SJC Home Fund for the Fish Bay Curve project. 29% of this income came from contributions and memberships. The endowment fund was down $52,887, however additional income came in the form of lease and rent fees, new resident fees, grants, and interest income. LCLT carried forward $1,049,643 of unused 2022 income for use in 2023 on capital projects.
Total 2022 expenses were $490,055, expenditure of $60,208 above the budgeted $429,847. Expenses appeared high, principally in that LCLT paid outright for the purchase of the LCLT Carshare new electric vehicle, reimbursement for which will arrive in 2023. In spite of the higher than expected expenses, LCLT remained well within budget thanks to the additional funds received.
Balance Sheet
Revolving loans receivable decreased by $28,043 compared to 2021, there was one new note financed in 2022. Liabilities decreased as a result of paying down loans including one paid in full and having forgiveness of the SHOP loan used for the construction of the Tierra Verde co-op. Long-term liabilities come in the form of long-term loans, forgivable loans, and friendly (community-based) loans. The amounts shown on these statements are preliminary and subject to adjustments made during our annual audit. If you’d like a copy of our audited 2021 statements, please inquire. We expect to have our audited 2022 statements completed by late November.
LCLT continues to have a significant impact in the Lopez community thanks to our members and contributors. As we embark on a new year of working to strengthen our community together, your continued support is deeply appreciated.
Changes to the Board
Lopez Community Land Trust is grateful to have supportive and active board members. This year, board member Asia Citro is leaving, we are grateful for the time she served and wish her all the best in her new adventures! Joining the board in 2023, is LCLT leaseholder Luis Cisneros.
New Board Member: Luis Cisneros
My name is Luis Felipe Cisneros. I was born and raised in California where I lived for about 22 years. I am currently on beautiful Lopez Island where I am an LCLT leaseholder. I’m a multifaceted employee: I prefer construction and other outdoor activities. I am currently employed by the Lopez Islander Resort where I spend most of my time expanding my knowledge base. In my free time, I read books, learn new skills to improve myself, and try to lead a sustainable life.
Become an LCLT Member Today!
LCLT is a membership agency dedicated to unleashing the power of community. For 34 years, members have helped set the course for building and land opportunities on Lopez. As we look forward to the future, we celebrate LCLT members for all that we’ve accomplished together. Help us keep working farms and affordable homeownership opportunities on Lopez.
Donor, Foundations & Business Support
Abraham Gates & Derek Eisel
Agnes Govern & Mary Peterston
Alex & Malu Froom
Alexander Sauer
Amy Frost
Andrea Huss & Jesse Hammond
Anonymous Donors
Anonymous, The Greek
Asia & Craig Citro
Audrey Bordvick
Avery & Jessica Dahl
Banner Bank
Barbara & Jerry Nepom
Barbara Rydberg
Beth Shirk & Anne Hietbrink
Bill Dougall
Bob & Jan Sundquist
Bob Gamble & Winnie Adams
Bobbie DeVore
Breton Carter
Brian Cloward
Bruce Creps & Sheila Simpson-Creps
Bud & Jackie Anderson
Carolyn Woodbury
Catlin Wilford
Celia Marquis
Charlene Caren
Charles & Clarissa Mish
Cheryl Simmons
Chris Greacen & Chuenchom Greacen-Sangarasri
Christine Kerlin & Tim Madison
Christopher DeVore
Coco Krumme
Colleen & George Willoughby
Constance L. Euerle
Corky & Nancy Searls
Cynthia Cantle
Dale & Sue Roundy
Denise & Tim Clark
Dixie Budke
Edi Blomberg
Eleanor & Will Parks
Elizabeth Finkel
Elizabeth Munk Romney
Ellie & John Roser
Emily Parker
Ezra Fradkin
Flora Wiegmann
Franja Bryant
Frank Shaw
Frieda Hoops & Pedro Costa
Gabriel Murphy
Gene Helfman & Judy Meyer
George F. LeBoutillier
Gerry Newcomb & Deborah Kosman
Gretchen & Kenneth Wing
Helen Gamble
Henning Sehmsdorf & Elizabeth Simpson
Inez Black
Islanders Insurance
Ivan Brown
James Lombard
Jamie & Lauren Stephens
Jane & Richard Ward
Janis Miltenberger and Bruce Botts
JAS Design Build Kim Clements & Joe Schneider
Jeff and Dianne Dyer
Jennell & Brian Kvistad
Jennifer Contreras & Victor Guerra
Jerry Millhon
Jim & Pam Phillips
Jim and Christina Lockwood
Jim Anderson
Joan Egan
John & Eleanor Butler
John Arnesen
John Fulford & Katharine Harmon
John Strathman
Jonathan Scott & Adriane Allred
Josh Ratza
Julia Rogers
Julie Golding & Pamela Stewart
Justin Jones
Karan Yvonne & Marvin Peterson
Karen & Mark Eames
Karen Holm & Rob Walker
Katherine J Hanna
Kay & George Keeler
Ken Cederstrand, David Watts & Florette Cederstrand
Kenny & Aubrey Mai
Kim & Ciro Pasciuto
Kip & Stanley Greenthal
Kyle Jenkins & Ali Records
Lance Lopes
Larry Eppenbach
Larry Soll & Nancy Maron
Laura & Bill Evans
Laurel & Thomas Elgin
Laurie & Quigg Davis
Lawrence Cock
Liz & Jon Lange
Liz Scranton & Teri Linneman
Lorna Reese
Louise Simpson
Marly Schmidtke
Martha Moore
Martha Williams
Marty Clark and Karen Gilbert
Marty Holm
Mary Burki
Mary Bywater-Cross
Mason Bowles & Chris Chmielniak
Maura O’Neill & Vaho Rebassoo
Maxine Bronstein & Debbie Hayward
Mei Jiang
Melinda Lloyd
Michael Hobi
Michele Heller / J.Heller Unitrust
Mike & Lisa Hess
Mike & Wendy Mickle
Mike Halperin & Jodi Green
Mindy & Bruce Richardson
Nancy & Joe Greene
Nancy Bingham & Pat Torpie
Nancy McCoy
Nancy S. Nordhoff & Lynn Hays
Nancy Wallace & Rich Youde
Nathan Marsh
Ona Blue & Neil Hanson
Pamela McCabe
Pamela Pauly & Suzanne Berry
Paul Henriksen and Christa Campbell
Peggy Bill
Peter and Betsy Currie
Quaniqua Williams
Rebecca Munro
Rev. Anne & Dr. David Hall
Richard & Janet Marshall
Richard & Jeanna Carter
Richard & Margaret Singer
Richard Lotz & Erica Karnes
Rob Kanzer
Robert Wood
Ron Metcalf
Ron Walters & Randall Dickson
Ronni Klompus & Levi Rodriguez
Rose Prust
Sallie Jones
Sally Kux and David Weiner
San Juan County Home Fund
Sandie Pope & Gordon Walker
Sandy Bishop & Rhea Miller
Sara & Justin Hurley
Sara Greacen
Satterberg Foundation
Scott & Ande Finley
Sheila Metcalf
Shel & Patsy Haber
Skagit Valley College – San Juan Center
Sorrel North
Stephanie & Chad Coffey
Stephanie Ellis-Smith & Douglas Smith
Steve Sullivan
Sue McCullough
Susan Washburn & Kristin Rehder
Suzi & Scott Jennings
Ted Phillips
Terri Drahn
Thomas & Megan Shipley
Thomas E. Dixon & Larry deGroen
Timothy Maxson
Todd Goldsmith & Diane Dear
Tom & Sally Reeve
Wayne & Kiki Martin
Wendy McClure
Thank you for supporting
Lopez Community Land Trust!
LCLT Board
Chom Greacen, Board Chair; Quaniqua Williams, Vice Chair; Jan Marshall, Treasurer; Mark Eames, Secretary; Corky Searls and Asia Citro.
LCLT Staff
Sandy Bishop, Executive Director; Breton Carter, Assistant Director; Marly Schmitke, Administrative & Project Director; Rhea Miller, Community Liaison.
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