(360) 376-2009
Over the last 20 years Josh has helped build multiple worker-owned cooperatives and worked as a community organizer fighting for economic and racial justice. For the last 13 years he’s been a worker-owner of a successful social justice graphic design studio called Design Action Collective, a small business that is a democratic workplace and serves non-profits, labor unions, and social justice organizations with professional graphic design and web development services. Before moving to Orcas in 2020, Josh and his family lived in a cooperatively owned co-housing community land trust. He feels his skills and experience are of most use to progressive cooperatives who are trying to both succeed as small businesses, advance the cause of social justice and anti-racism, and function democratically, while serving the needs of community. Josh would love to offer his time and skills in whatever ways might best help this vital community institution thrive, and would love to meet like minded people and build relationships in the process.
Over the last 20 years Josh has helped build multiple worker-owned cooperatives and worked as a community organizer fighting for economic and racial justice. For the last 13 years he’s been a worker-owner of a successful social justice graphic design studio called Design Action Collective, a small business that is a democratic workplace and serves non-profits, labor unions, and social justice organizations with professional graphic design and web development services. Before moving to Orcas in 2020, Josh and his family lived in a cooperatively owned co-housing community land trust. He feels his skills and experience are of most use to progressive cooperatives who are trying to both succeed as small businesses, advance the cause of social justice and anti-racism, and function democratically, while serving the needs of community. Josh would love to offer his time and skills in whatever ways might best help this vital community institution thrive, and would love to meet like minded people and build relationships in the process.
Daniela arrived on Orcas in 2020. Shortly thereafter, she became a part of Orcas Community Resource Center and dedicated her time to serve the Orcas Island community. She is actively engaged in bilingualism and creating strength and inclusivity in the Orcas Island community. She loves nature, books and poetry, hospitality, culture and languages. Daniela is beyond grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow with the Orcas Food Co-op, creating community and strength through food, gastronomy and culture.
Libi served as a founding board member of Orcas Food Co-op and was instrumental during the design and remodel phase of the startup. In 2020 Libi joined the staff team as a senior manager, when she temporarily closed her shop, Springboard, in Eastsound. Before Springboard, many people knew Libi as manager at Roses Cafe. A long-time resident of Orcas Island, she has been involved in many community efforts. Libi served on the Montessori School Board and was resident liaison to Opal Community Land Trust Board. She is passionate about quality, local and affordable food for everyone.
Drawn by the strong sense of community and undisputed beauty of the San Juans, Natalie and her partner, Nik Schulz, moved to Orcas Island from West Sonoma County, CA in early 2016.
Regina is a believer in the power of good food and community to keep us strong and healthy.
With a diverse background in finance, nutrition, yoga and massage, teaching, and small-business ownership; Regina is equally at home book keeping as teaching a class about the joys & benefits of fermenting!
She first discovered the benefits of local organic food and the importance of eating healthy fats (like butter!) more than 15 years ago, after reading Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. This set her on the path to learning and teaching about making healthy food choices and how the food we eat impacts our health, overall vitality, well-being and happiness, as well as the health of the planet.
Regina loves working at the Co-op so she can share her knowledge and passion for local organic food with her community while helping our local economy grow and thrive.
Learner is a co-founder of Orcas Food Co-op, having served as a founding board member and Project Manager during the startup before being hired as the General Manager prior to the Co-op opening in June 2014. As the GM, Learner has built a strong team that has grown the Co-op into a successful business and thriving community hub. Learner is a 4th generation cooperator and has benefited from having many mentors in the co-op field, including his father William Limbach, a former food co-op manager himself. Learner is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Cooperative Management through St. Mary’s University, Halifax, International School of Cooperative Management. A 20 year resident of Orcas Island, Learner has served on many community boards and committees, including the Agricultural Resources Committee of San Juan County since 2013, and the San Juan County Food System Team since 2020.
Sue and her husband, Steve Bernheim, moved to the island from the Seattle area about the same time the food co-op was open for business. She has been passionate about staying environmentally-engaged for a long time and has tried to be a helpful advocate for locally sourced food and other basic needs. In her previous life, Sue was the operations manager in Asia and India for a software company back when software was a tangible product, helping to create an array of developer products locally.
Mary has been fortunate to live, work, and raise two sons on Orcas Island, where she and her husband built their own home in the 1980’s and have lived ever since. After working many years in the Orcas Public Schools, she is enjoying having more time to contribute to the community in other ways. She is co-chair of the Environmental Action Team of the Orcas Women’s Coalition, and volunteers on restoration projects with the San Juan County Land Bank. She also manages the business side of her husband’s custom metal work business and understands the unique challenges of running an independent business in a small community.
Tony Grosinger moved to Orcas Island in the summer of 2018 with goals of reducing his footprint , growing food, and building community. Tony previously served on the board of the NE Seattle Tool Library where he focused on growth and teaching. He is very passionate about creating supportive and sustainable community resources.
Lesley arrived on Orcas in 1977, an impoverished artist looking for a peaceful rural island life. Shortly thereafter, she became a founding member of both the Olga Artworks Cooperative Gallery and the Olga Symphony. She is currently an active member of the Actors Theater and volunteers at Orcas Center. She loves gardening and training dogs and became a certified service dog trainer in 2010.
Caitlin believes nourishing food and regenerative farming can act as mechanisms of progressive social change, and has been acting on this conviction as an activist-farmer for over a decade. She is an anchor farmer in the Orcas Community Participatory Agriculture project, serves as the Outreach Chair for the San Juan County Agricultural Resources Committee, sits on the Steering Committee of the Orcas Women’s Coalition, and operates her Eastsound-based edible landscaping company.