Fun Updates and a Call to be Counted

Written By Island Stewards

The Future Needs Locals

Dear Islanders,

It’s that season again. The sun’s working overtime, the ferry lines are getting longer, and someone’s already claimed the last decent parking spot at Crescent Beach.

And yet, there’s something deeper stirring. A sense that the pace of change—on these islands, across the state—is picking up. Washington just passed the largest tax increase in recent memory to invest in education, infrastructure, and climate resilience. Whether we’re for it, wary of it, or both, one thing’s clear: change is happening.

What’s Going On

This spring, Island Stewards asked: how do you feel about growth, housing, and the future of life here?

Over 425 islanders responded—from farmers to ferry crew, elders to new arrivals. Here’s what they told us:

  • 42% say San Juan County is already too full.

  • 42% say we’re at the Goldilocks point—just full enough, time to manage wisely.

  • 15% see room for growth—but only if we prioritize water, housing, and working systems.

The message? Islanders aren’t anti-change. We’re anti-chaos. 

What Respondents Said:

  • Housing feels like a trophy instead of a necessity.

  • Wells and ferries are near capacity.

  • Rural life is fraying under seasonal surges and unmanaged growth.

  • Locals are tired of being an afterthought.

Who This Is For

This mailer is reaching a small slice of the islands—just those on our mailing list. But that’s not enough. To truly reflect the voice of our communities, we need more than a sample- we need all the people who work the land, run the shops, fix the pipes, drive the ferries, and walk these trails.

This is the final window to be counted as part of our Department of Commerce grant deliverable, due mid-June.

Help shape what the Comprehensive Plan becomes. This is the document that decides how San Juan County sets population targets, housing goals, and infrastructure priorities.

If you’ve already spoken—thank you.
If you haven’t:

  • Take a few minutes.

  • Forward this to someone who cares.

  • Help a neighbor navigate the link.

Because this time, the more voices we gather, the more grounded our future becomes.

Take the Surveys:

Tony and Jenna Moreno at Karma Kafe @karma_kafe_orcas

Planting for the Future — Together

This month, Island Stewards joined forces with The Market Garden and Karma Kafe to bring something beautiful and lasting to our shared spaces. With herbs, flowers, and laughter in hand, locals helped create a living gathering place in front of Karma Kafe—one rooted in care, color, and the kind of community you can smell before you see.

A heartfelt thank you to the Island Stewards who showed up—soil on your hands, joy in your hearts—to help make it happen. These are the kinds of actions that build belonging: small, rooted, and shared.

Showing Up: The Grange & Beyond

Last week’s Grange meeting reminded us that community isn’t a concept. It’s a practice. It’s a room full of neighbors showing up—some tired, some skeptical, some on their third cup of tea—but still willing to participate.

Orcas Island Grange #964 https://orcasgrange.org

What is Anomie and why is it Relevant?

Anomie is what happens when the shared norms, values, and expectations that hold a society together begin to break down. People stop trusting systems. They stop participating. They begin to feel that what they do doesn’t matter — and that no one is really listening.

If left unaddressed, anomie becomes self-reinforcing: people disengage, leaders grow less accountable, and planning becomes something that happens to a community rather than with it.

Great Island Cleanup Spring 2025 - Reef and Yellow Island

But the opposite is also true: the act of participating is itself an antidote to anomie. That’s why your responses matter so much —and why we are deeply grateful for every single person who has taken the time to reflect, share, and speak up. You’re not just answering questions.
You’re helping rebuild trust.

What People Are Saying — In Their Own Words

“It’s all downhill from here.” “I don’t want more population growth. I want better planning.” “Vacation rentals have gutted our housing stock.” “The community I knew is disappearing in real time.” “Thank you for asking. No one ever asks.” “Fix what’s broken before building more.”
“We need to make space for teachers, farmers, and EMTs — not more vacation homes.”
“We are planning for a future we don’t want, and calling it compromise.”

These aren’t just complaints.
They’re warnings. They’re hopes. And they’re signs of a community that still cares enough to try. We live in a remarkable place. Not because it's perfect—but because so many people still care. That’s the kind of place worth planning for.

Whether you live tucked in a quiet bay or near a bustling dock, whether your roots are generations deep or just beginning to grow—your experience matters. And your input helps shape the policies that define what kind of community we get to be.

Thank you for showing up.
We’re listening. And we’re glad to be doing this with you.

With appreciation,
The Island Stewards Team
www.islandstewards.org

P.S. Peonies!!!

Paeonia lactiflora has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine to support immune system health. Active compounds in its root, particularly paeoniflorin, are believed to help maintain immune homeostasis – the state of optimal immune system function – by promoting balanced immune cell activity and encouraging a healthy inflammatory response

Island Stewards https://islandstewards.org
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