Other News
Mar 11, 2024: Queers in Unexpected Places: Searching for (and Finding) Gender and Sexual Non-Conformity in the Rural and Early PNW
Mar 7, 2024: DRAFT Richardson Marsh Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Dec 5, 2023: County Council Member Jane Fuller and Senator Liz Lovelett to Host Public Meeting on Lopez
Nov 3, 2023: County and Town Send Open Letter to State Officials Regarding Impacts of Poor Ferry Service
Sep 29, 2023: Conservation Land Bank Announces Special Meeting to Discuss Watmough Bay Preserve Addition
Sep 14, 2023: The mobile dental van is coming to Lopez! // ¡La camioneta dental móvil ya llega a López!
Aug 22, 2023: San Juan County Adopts 32-Hour Work Week in the Name of Fiscal Health, Recruitment, and Islander Wellness
May 25, 2023: Recap of Lopez Neighborhood Meeting Regarding the Relocation of Public Works Facilities
May 23, 2023: District 3 Councilmember Jane Fuller Opens Office on Lopez and Hosts Community Conversation
Apr 17, 2023: Give Lopez Starts April 17th - A two week fundraiser benefiting 15 Lopez Island Non-Profits
Sep 22, 2022: Interim Watmough Preserve Addition Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Growing Community in Fertile Ground
Aug 24, 2021
By Migael Scherer
Once hidden behind thick brambles and a fortress-like fence, Fertile Ground is becoming more visible, enthusiastically connecting with Lopez Island.
This community garden in the heart of the Village is steadily attracting visitors with its abundance of flowers, fruit trees, and produce.
Fertile Ground sits on the south side of the Farmers Market. Most of us walk right past it, discouraged by the high fence, distracted by Saturday’s vendors and crowds, or the shops and traffic on the street. Those who see the Welcome sign and open the garden’s gazebo-like gate enter a different world. The hum of bees is constant. The color, texture, variety, fragrance and size of the plantings are a delight. Each plot is different, like the gardeners who rent, plant and tend them.
Fertile Ground began in 1998 with Sally Bill’s transformative donation of almost four acres of land given for a variety of possibilities that have come to fruition: Lopez Children’s Center, Farmer’s Market and the open space known as Sally’s Garden that includes the community garden. Community members designed and constructed the original fences, gates and shed. Over the years the gardeners, in collaboration with Lopez Center for Community and the Arts, have taken responsibility for development and maintenance.
Today Fertile Ground provides more than space for a dozen Island families to garden. It’s a peaceful place for everyone to visit, to learn and to share. This past year the gardeners helped feed the community with grow-a-row contributions and displayed their gardens on the virtual Home Tour. They continue to explore new ways to encourage visitors.
But a garden cannot grow without water. For over 20 years, water for Fertile Ground has been collected in a shallow well that fills during the rainy season and is then pumped to a nearby 46,000 gallon galvanized steel storage tank. Long past its useful life, the liner in the tank is failing. It needs to be replaced this fall.
Fertile Ground gardeners are hopeful that, with community support, funds can be raised to replace the tank liner. With the help of an anonymous $2000 match and a Lopez Garden Club gift of $500, they have already raised $9,500 toward their goal of $16,000.
This quiet treasure in our Village - this refuge of bright flowers and ripening fruit in our busiest season - needs your help.
Together, we can ensure that Fertile Ground will continue to nourish Lopezians for decades to come. To make a tax deductible donation for the water tank liner give online at
www.fertilegroundonlopez.org or mail a check to LCCA-FG at P.O. 291 Lopez Island, WA 98261. Lopez Center for Community and the Arts (LCCA), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit serving our community. To learn more or to join the plot wait list please contact Mo Pomietto,
mopomietto@gmail.com.
Fertile Ground sits on the south side of the Farmers Market. Most of us walk right past it, discouraged by the high fence, distracted by Saturday’s vendors and crowds, or the shops and traffic on the street. Those who see the Welcome sign and open the garden’s gazebo-like gate enter a different world. The hum of bees is constant. The color, texture, variety, fragrance and size of the plantings are a delight. Each plot is different, like the gardeners who rent, plant and tend them.
Fertile Ground began in 1998 with Sally Bill’s transformative donation of almost four acres of land given for a variety of possibilities that have come to fruition: Lopez Children’s Center, Farmer’s Market and the open space known as Sally’s Garden that includes the community garden. Community members designed and constructed the original fences, gates and shed. Over the years the gardeners, in collaboration with Lopez Center for Community and the Arts, have taken responsibility for development and maintenance.
Today Fertile Ground provides more than space for a dozen Island families to garden. It’s a peaceful place for everyone to visit, to learn and to share. This past year the gardeners helped feed the community with grow-a-row contributions and displayed their gardens on the virtual Home Tour. They continue to explore new ways to encourage visitors.
But a garden cannot grow without water. For over 20 years, water for Fertile Ground has been collected in a shallow well that fills during the rainy season and is then pumped to a nearby 46,000 gallon galvanized steel storage tank. Long past its useful life, the liner in the tank is failing. It needs to be replaced this fall.
Fertile Ground gardeners are hopeful that, with community support, funds can be raised to replace the tank liner. With the help of an anonymous $2000 match and a Lopez Garden Club gift of $500, they have already raised $9,500 toward their goal of $16,000.
This quiet treasure in our Village - this refuge of bright flowers and ripening fruit in our busiest season - needs your help.
Together, we can ensure that Fertile Ground will continue to nourish Lopezians for decades to come. To make a tax deductible donation for the water tank liner give online at
www.fertilegroundonlopez.org or mail a check to LCCA-FG at P.O. 291 Lopez Island, WA 98261. Lopez Center for Community and the Arts (LCCA), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit serving our community. To learn more or to join the plot wait list please contact Mo Pomietto,
mopomietto@gmail.com.