The Bullock‘s Permaculture Farm

July 23 – Deer Harbour, Orcas Island, WA

While researching sustainable practices, one cannot travel too far on Orcas Island without hearing mention of the Bullock’s Permaculture Farm. After numerous recommendations and a few strong words ensuring I follow up on those recommendations – I made my way West to Deer Harbour in search of the Bullock Brothers.

Tucked away at the end of Channel road is a place I can only describe as being Pure. Pure family, pure honesty, pure connection to the land, pure magic and a pure intention on living an integrated, inseparable life with one’s natural and spiritual environment. If I was to describe these thoughts on purity to brothers Doug, Joe or Sam, I’m sure they would take my words, weed out all the unnecessary verbosity and plant again with a little simplicity.

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I was expecting a traditional farm with a long dusty driveway lined with willows leading to the farmhouse, outbuildings flanked by golden fields of mid summer grasses surrounded by white picket fences and the occasional horse ranging lanquidly in the hot mid-day sun. I couldn’t have been any further from the truth and I actually rode right by the farm twice for as far as my eye could see I saw only green, a green that welcomes you once you are within its hedgerows.

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Arriving by motorcycle, I was met by the younger brother Sam who encouraged me to remove my helmet and reveal myself as a newcomer to his family’s land. Obligingly, I made my introduction, explaining I was on the road documenting sustainable practices and food security issues and could I perhaps have a look around? He agreed and within minutes I was up to my elbows in soil, Guild Planting a group of Italian Plum trees.

Guild Planting: By supporting a tree such as the plum with helper plants such as a nitrogen fixer, a shade plant, one for a windbreak if needed, a water storing plant and a deer repelling plant (one that is strong enough to take the brushing of a deer’s antlers) you are ensuring that the tree has the best possible network to help it reach maturity. This is guild planting. I was encouraged to explain why I thought the trees were lined up on a path towards the swimming pond. Stumped, older brother Doug revealed that because the trees formed a natural causeway toward the pond, travelers by would be inclined to observe the condition of the trees when walking past, make adjustments to the watering cycle, pick the occasional fruit from this snack fruit tree, all while traveling to the pond for a late summer swim. This is where permaculture was starting to sink in. Not only do you take the necessary steps to help the plant grow, but you also include this plant in your cycle of life, integrating it with your environment, creating a dialogue with all that surrounds you.

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It is why certain plants are higher up on the hillside, why you build your house next to the vegetable garden, why your snack fruit trees area easily accessible, why your chickens roost near certain trees. The possibilities are endless and once you begin your conversation with the land, how and what you do on the land becomes your very existence. The late afternoon sun beat down and my mind wandered. I began to think about the Indigenous peoples of the world, and how this communion with nature was simply ... Life.

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Overcome with an indescribable sadness, my thoughts were of knowledge lost due to the genocide of the First People’s of these lands. Knowledge that is lost forever save for a small group of committed individuals both inside the indigenous populations and out, who are desperately trying to record and revive this unique and invaluable knowledge……

.... I slowly returned to the farm and was comforted by the familiar smells of compost and warm wet soil, the sounds of chickens and roosters and sprinklers and the warm glow of the late afternoon sun blending with the water and the willows overhanging the lake. It was getting late. Having been in the soil for a few hours I hadn’t taken a single picture. After sharing a meal with the family, I was invited to return the next day and explore some more, an invitation which I happily accepted. I'll return once again at the end of my trip to visit the Bullocks, get my hands dirty and share a meal with the families. Something I am looking forward to as I make my way south to LA.

Dave

Next stop Astoria.