CAMAS COMMONS - A Regenerative Farming Land Trust

This 120-acre farm has seen a lot — a historic dairy, an eccentric follower of the spiritual leader Ramtha, a golf course, and an organic farm. For the past 20 years, this farm has been known as Talking Horse Ranch, after the famed “talking horse” purchased by previous owner Ernie Kanzler Jr. from the channeler of his spiritual guru, Ramtha.

For these past 20-years the farm has been under-managed, and kept running at a low-idle. Most of the infrastructure is in disrepair, but not beyond the point-of-no-return.

Despite all this, the land is a wonderfully magical place — with excellent topography, landscape, a seasonal creek, 6 ponds, enchanting forests, and incredibly cool and quirky buildings and landscaping. Most of the developed land is south facing slope with excellent sun, the wells produce an incredible 45 and 70 GPM, and the big barn offers 13,000 square feet of usable indoor space. These are just a few of the significant attributes.

40 of the 120 acres will be purchased for Camas Commons, with the other 80 acres entering into perpetual conservation through the San Juan Conservation Land Bank. Together, public access will be included in this plan with a walking trail that connects the Beaverton Marsh Preserve to the top of Beaver Hill, through Camas Commons.

Residential Members will have the option to own their own home and sign a 99-year lease, or lease a home from the land trust. They, and Non-Residential Members, will have the opportunity to lease land, infrastructure, or buildings with short-term leases for agricultural, traditional craft, forestry, or other sustainability-related endeavors.

Based on the allowed density, four houses plus the existing ADU are permissible. Averaging 2-3 people per house, we see 10-15 full time residents. At least one member from each house must be involved in agriculture, sustainability-adjacent activities, or an administrative role.

Members of Camas Commons will be producing agricultural products, like fruits, vegetables, eggs and more, as well as useful and traditional crafts and land-connection events. There may also be educational workshops, seasonal gatherings, petting zoos, live music, a farm store and more.

Applications for residential leases will open within a year of the purchase of the land. Agricultural leases may open sooner than that. If you want to be on a list, please contact us at info@camascommons.org

Current Talking Horse Ranch land stewards Guisepi Spadafora and Ally Rugge have been helping facilitate a path towards this goal for the past several years. Guisepi grew up on the island, and after years of service-based travel (i.e. the Free Tea Bus [freeteaparty.org]), returned to the islands with his now wife, Ally, to find the right piece of land to dedicate themselves to. He has 20 years of experience in the nonprofit world, and loves to tinker. Ally has lived and worked on Talking Horse Ranch three times in the past 15 years, learning to grow food, rehabilitate soil, and raise chickens and dairy goats ([women-who-stare-at-goats-collective]). They got married on the farm in 2023.

Please consider pledging or donating money to our cause. All pledges will only be collected if our proposal is chosen and we make our fundraising goals.