Linnaea Farm has operated a potato co-op for Cortes Island families since 1984. Linnaea Farm provides the land, seed, equipment and organization. Co-op members, who pay a nominal yearly membership fee, work together to plant, hill, weed and harvest potatoes. An average of 25 households, as well as Farm residents and garden students, participate each year.

The co-op grows several varieties of potatoes, including Red Pontiac, Fingerling, Banana and Yukon Gold. Throughout the year, members are free to take whatever potatoes they need from the community root cellar on the Farm. To date it has been unnecessary to place limits on how many potatoes each member can take.

At least one adult member per household is expected to participate in at least three of the four scheduled workdays. Children are welcome to come and participate. Work bee days usually find at least a dozen children playing in the fields and forest adjacent to the potato field.

Harvest day is the most important -- and the most fun! After several truck loads of wonderful potatoes are brought to the root cellar, everyone participates in a corn and potato roast.

The potato co-op is a great community endeavour and a fun way to connect people to their food supply.