Meet Chelsea Cates.

Cates came to the volunteer fair held by the Orcas Island Community Foundation recently, where she made it very clear she wanted to get involved in the Farm to Cafeteria program.

Her passion is the soil. No small wonder she leapt at the chance to join F2C as its “Garden Keeper” this month. She will be spending five hours a week making sure the garden is tended to and primed for receiving seeds and plants for classroom projects this spring.

“It’s been a real treat getting involved with F2C and being acquainted with all the wonderful people who make it happen, from farmers, to cafeteria staff, coordinators, volunteers, teachers, and students!” she said.

She has already volunteered time to help in the school cafeteria, attended meetings with teachers wishing to expand their curriculum into the garden, is a member of the Farm to Cafeteria Committee, and will be working closely with Bruce Orchid, the Farm to Cafeteria coordinator.

Cates is new to Orcas. She’s a third generation Alaskan who loves the outdoors and sustainable living. Her family owns property near Eastsound, and Cates came to Orcas to set up her own mini-farm gardens with her sister who will be arriving in May.

This past season she had the opportunity of interning with John Jeavons and Ecology Action in California, learning the biointensive method of food-raising.

“I’m passionate about gardening, being outside and working with life,” she said. “I’m looking forward to sharing those passions with the kids that come through their school garden.

Cates was a natural addition to our Farm to Cafeteria program, as she is a living, breathing example of the movement back to sustainable food-raising knowledge and healthy, local, organic, real food and food choices.

She’s excited about us and we’re excited about her. And if you happen to see her in the school garden doing what she loves, say “hi!”

Madie Murray is the Farm to Cafeteria committee chair.