The Lopez Community Land Trust's Innovative Housing Model

Back in 2015, Thriving Communities’ annual theme was Shelter. That year, Thriving produced a film featuring Lopez Community Land Trust’s (LCLT) unique work of constructing environmentally friendly, long-term affordable housing for local Lopez residents. On the spring equinox weekend, I made the journey by boat and car out to Lopez Island, where LCLT was founded in 1989 by Sandy Bishop with ongoing support from her partner, Thriving Communities Advisor Rhea Miller. 

Photo Description: LCLT net-zero village under construction - much of the work is sweat equity by incoming residents. Photo Credit: Eden Trenor.

Sandy and Rhea generously opened their office and home. They provided a tour of the LCLT’s accomplishments and history via a walking tour of the completed neighborhoods and those under construction. The evolution of their work is evident in the construction techniques used in each successive neighborhood - moving from strawbale construction to other materials, and testing out cutting-edge solar technology and high-efficiency electric appliances. It is a testament to the strength of the LCLT model as well as the leadership of Sandy, Rhea, and the whole team that every building they’ve built remains both standing and occupied, providing housing for essential community members such as teachers, artists, window washers, parents, and small business owners. In fact, in the original neighborhood, five of the eight households launched small businesses in Lopez because they had the stability of long-term affordable housing.

In recent years, the LCLT has been able to fulfill a critical part of its original mission that had until then been financially out of reach: the acquisition of agricultural land in order to provide local farmers with long-term, affordable access to land. We met Lena and her son, Wesley of Still Light Farm, operating on LCLT-owned land, and learned about their commitment to finding and filling the gaps in the local food system on the island, such as providing a dried bean CSA and producing plant starts and seeds for the local hardware store.

A graphic illustrating the growth of Lopez Community Land Trust.

We also spoke with Nathan, who, along with his partner, Sage, started and operates Barn Owl Bakery. After being overwhelmed by the financial burden of owning the land they farm and the buildings that house the bakery, they struck a win-win deal with LCLT. Now, the LCLT owns the land and leases it to Barn Owl, which ensures it remains affordable and protected from development in perpetuity.

Photo Description: Thriving Co-Leader Eden Trenor & Advisor Rhea Miller

Their regenerative agriculture and heirloom grain model has received international attention, inviting them to present twice at the Slow Food conference in Italy. Their approach is based on mentorship from multiple grain growers whose goal is far deeper than simply bread production - they are focusing on replenishing soil health after land had been utilized only and repeatedly for haymaking, replenishing human health through high protein ancient grain varieties, and replenishing community and ecosystem health by prioritizing selling locally to neighbors rather than scaling up as most businesses aim to do. (Read more about Barn Owl here)

I came away from this incredible day with the taste of delicious bread in my mouth and a reaffirmed understanding of the power of stable housing to create and strengthen community resilience. 

Watch the 2015 Thriving Film on LCLT