Our Story

A rural logging and fishing community, with industry in decline, Grays Harbor County can feel isolated and forgotten by the rest of the world. When the timber economy collapsed, the region was left with very few jobs and little hope. But many of the people didn’t leave. We stayed. In a place where 46% of us are on public assistance and 1 out of 25 are homeless, we have weathered every storm since, and have taken care of each other when no one else would.

No one knows better how to revive this county than the people who have struggled most in Grays Harbor. We are people living on the streets, people who gave our lives to the timber industry, people who are dealing with addiction, people who have seen time in jail. We are the lifeblood of this community.

We are building a new story for Grays Harbor County. We are reclaiming our right to fresh food, to sustainable use of the land, and to an economy that benefits all of us, not just the few at the top.

We are doing this by:
· Providing good living wage jobs with dignity for people in poverty

· Supplying fresh produce to food banks

· Providing wrap-around support from counselors to case workers for our employees and community

· Training our employees and community members to make broader change in the community

· Showing that vibrant and sustainable economic solutions to poverty are possible

· Building a broader vision for a thriving Grays Harbor – this is just the beginning

Who We Are

Chris

Farm Team Member

Chris Olive, age 34. Veteran of the U.S. Air Force. I was raised in this area and am excited to continue working on the farm to provide fresh locally grown vegetables to our community. I’m glad I have a chance to give back to the community that I was once a destructive part of through abuse of drugs. I’m in recovery now and happy to be a part of Chaplains on the Harbor as well as Harbor Roots farm.

James

Farm Team Member

James “JP” Peterson. Family man. Slick lyricist. Baby plant expert. Working hard to get his wife and two beautiful sons housed together in their own place. Has jokes for days. 

Levi

Farm Team Member

Levi Hunt, age 27. Happy to be a part of the Harbor Roots farm this year.