Pea Patch Community Campus:
Food | Shelter | Wellbeing

“We have been unhoused at least five times in the past 15 years, living in unheated garages, tents and an 8×10’ shed,” explained Mariah Armenia. “We are on the waiting list for the Pea Patch townhomes and can’t wait to have a stable place to call home and a kitchen to cook in. It’s the dream that keeps us going.”

The Pea Patch Community Campus is an innovative collaboration of long-time island non-profit organizations: OPAL Community Land Trust and the Orcas Island Food Bank. The campus will meet basic human needs for food and shelter – and the wellbeing that grows from that stability – within walking distance to Eastsound Village and in close proximity to 80 existing low-income apartments. The 11-acre property is owned by OPAL Community Land Trust. As with all the nearly 100 acres that OPAL owns, it will stay in community ownership for the good of the community in perpetuity. 

Environmental design is incorporated into the site and all of the buildings. The Food Bank building will be designed according to Passive House principles and will achieve a LEED Silver certification. Passive House principles guide the design process to achieve near net-zero energy consumption and LEED certification evaluates a building’s sustainability in several areas, including energy and water efficiency, waste management. Solar + battery storage is planned to offset most of the energy demand for the campus. Also, stormwater retention and rain gardens are included to improve stormwater management on the property.

The new Food Bank will include expanded storage, freezer and refrigeration space, more efficient delivery and distribution spaces, a commercial kitchen to provide meals, support food processing and provide food education classes.

TIMELINE:

• Community Site Design Workshops: Spring – Summer 2024
• Site Design Complete: October 2024
• Site Permitting: Winter 2024-2025
• Site Work: Fall 2025 – Spring 2026
• Housing Construction: Spring – Summer 2026
• Food Bank Construction: Spring 2027

*note: timeline is an estimate only, dependent on permitting and fundraising success

FUNDRAISING PLAN:

El Ostara Group is contracted to help the Pea Patch team develop a successful and strategic fundraising campaign to build the campus. The total goal for the Pea Patch Community Campus campaign is estimated at $40M and more than 65% has been raised, as of July 2025.

LINKS:

Rep. Lekanoff Sponsors Pea Patch Funding Request – March 11, 2025
Presentation: Pea Patch Update and Microgrid Study – March 10, 2025
OPAL to Provide Housing with Supportive Service on Pea Patch Lane – Orcasonian September 3, 2024
Pea Patch Project: OPAL to Acquire Land – OPAL November 19, 2023

To learn more about the project, contact Suzanne Olson at 360-622-0850.