Washington – United Church of Christ
Yakama Christian Mission (White Swan)
Return to this entry after your trip to share experiences.
Contact: David Bell
9000 Campbell Road
Toppenish, WA 98948
E-mail: dave@justlivingfarm.org
Phone: 509.969.2093
Web site: www.yakamamission.org
Yakama Christian Mission seeks to enhance and educate in favor of the North American Landscape and her Indigenous People.
Project/Focus: Yakama Mission offers spring break and summer work trip opportunities in partnership with JustLiving Farm. Work done by groups typically focus on direct needs of reservation low income families. Work is primarily done at JustLiving Farm who donates resources to the local community. During our time together conversation will focus on systemic injustice faced by Native Americans, Farm workers, and the land.
Educational/Advocacy Components: Yakama Mission trips are a “learning and serving” model allowing for intentional time for participant self-reflection and group conversation. Work addresses charitable needs of the community, while the learning component addresses issues of justice. We strive to have local speakers who address justice issues of Culture, Economics, and Race. Work and learning are done through modeling conversation which invites the hearing of all voices. We strive to provide information prior to your arrival that might be used for training and conversation. Equally, we hope to provide experiences and conversations which will lead to ongoing conversations after the group return home.
Time: All year long.
Group Size: All types and sizes of groups.
Minimum Age: None
Accommodations: The White Swan Methodist provides housing for workgroups. Expect to bring backpacking mats along with sleeping bags. The kitchen allows for groups to provide their own food and cook for themselves. Groups larger than 40 members should contact staff at least 6 months before trip to allow preparation time.
Cost: Learning and Serving cost $295 per person per week. The fee includes lodging and work supplies. Groups provide their own food; however, seasonally, local food is available from local farms. There are short-term opportunities, please see the website and/or call.
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Return to this entry after your trip to share experiences.
Contact: David Bell
9000 Campbell Road
Toppenish, WA 98948
E-mail: dave@justlivingfarm.org
Phone: 509.969.2093
Web site: www.justlivingfarm.org
JustLiving Farm is a working grass-fed beef and hay farm on the Yakama Reservation. We strive to help folks better understand their connection to the landscape through work and conversation. A core aspect to this work is age appropriate theological conversations which question issues of justice as they pertain to the reservation, people, plants, animals, soil, water, and wind.
Project/Focus: JustLiving Farm work trips provide opportunities to help the local reservation community (over eighty percent poverty). Work may be in the local community depending on need and season. However most work is on the farm. Typically physical and in relationship with animals, soil, plants and water. The Farm works hard to meet the needs of folk of different abilities. Striving to create a place and provide projects which are inclusive of all participants.
Educational/Advocacy Components: Each day conversations explore inter-sectional aspects of justice between the rural reservation and the group’s home community. Conversations center on justice issues. Typical justice issues include: ecological (soil, water, plant, wind) gender/gender fluid equality, culture, race, and economic. Conversations are theologically based and organized to help participants question existing assumptions.
Time: All year long.
Group Size: All types and sizes of groups.
Minimum Age: None
Accommodations: The Farm houses folk at the White Swan Methodist church (roughly 20 minutes away) Expect to bring backpacking mats along with sleeping bags. The kitchen allows for groups to provide their own food and cook for themselves. Groups larger than 40 members should contact staff at least 6 months before trip to allow preparation time.
Cost: Farm trips cost $295 per person per week. Price includes housing and working supplies. Groups provide their own food; however, local food is available from JustLiving and local farms. There are short-term opportunities, please call for pricing. More information is found at our partners website – Yakama Mission.