Introduction

The purpose of this document is to introduce and explore key concepts, approaches, and framework that will define a Stewardship Covenant and related conservation strategies to stakeholders in the development of the Columbia West Abundance Permaculture Institute (CWAPI). This exploration will inform stakeholders in the development of the CWAPI by introducing key topics, defining various concepts, offering proposals and referring to organizations, people and literature which may be useful as counsel or resources during the covenant writing process. The explorations herein are meant to outline basic goals and limits associated with the options it esteems, and thereby educate stakeholders so that they may refine inqueries and initiatives during the development of the Stewardship Covenant. It is not meant to be exhaustive or limit the actual subjects which a stakeholder group will explore in the development of a Stewardship Covenant, but rather to support and further their explorations. It begins with an introduction to the location of the site, and an overview of the proposed organization which will manage and potentially own the site. A working definition of “permaculture ecovillage” will be provided for the consideration of potential stakeholders, and brief examples of similar projects outlined. This will be followed by a description of the basic areas of activity and the relationships the Stewardship Covenant will aim to positively influence.

Location
Abundance is located in the Kalama River Watershed of SW Washington. The site is 1¼ hours drive from downtown Portland, Oregon and 1½ hours from Olympia Washington. It is located approximately 10 miles from Interstate 5 exit # 32 in Washington State; 7 miles up the Kalama River Road, and 3 miles up Italian Creek Road. Nearly 2 miles of the last 3, in sections, is gravel, and some ½ mile of that is primitive, private road. For maps, see Appendix A. The elevation range is from 1200-1400 feet, and the slopes are variable from 5% to 50% with generally western aspects along a small hanging valley. This valley has a roughly equal distribution of north and south faces. Abundance lies in the heart of some of western Washington’s most productive forestland. The Denniston family currently owns three tax lots (lots #A, #1 and #2) totaling roughly 20 acres on the upper reaches of Italian Creek Road on the headwaters of Italian Creek. A fourth lot of roughly 15 acres (Lot #B) lies adjacent to the north. The first lot (Lot #A) is owned by Homer Denniston, Tax Lot # EC3303003, 5.00 acres. These 5 acres are subject to this venture by proxy, and will be discussed in terms of relation to this project in Allies and Affiliates, Appendix B.
The two remaining tax lots, both owned by Deston Denniston, #EC3303012 ( Lot #1, fig x), 11.44 acres, and #EC3311002 (Lot #2), 5.00 acres, form the core portion of this proposed consolidation of properties. Lot #1 is under a purchase contract with Permaculture Federal Credit Union. This lot has no “improvements”, save access and egress. Its slopes, north to northwest at 10% to 20%, are dense with Red Alder (Alnus rubra) and Douglas fir (pseudotsuga mensezii) aged to 20 years, as well as Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), Big Leaf Maple (Acer macrophylum), Black Cottonwood (Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa) , cascara (Rhamnus pershiana) Bitter Cherry (Prunus emerginata var. mollis) and their common shrub and herbaceous associations. Lot #2 is composed of approximately 3 acres of woodland with diversity roughly equivalent to lot #1, but ranging to 50 years of age, and 2 acres which was the Denniston family homestead site from 1982-1998 (For maps, see Appendix A, fig x). The house burned in November of 1998. Several outbuildings remain. In fall of 2006 Deston Denniston remodeled an unused pig barn in order to house an office and design studio/library for the advancement of the Columbia West Abundance Permaculture Institute.
The fourth lot (Lot #B) is under consideration for purchase as a potential addition to this consolidation. Currently owned by Kenneth Lindberg, tax lot #EC3311(????) is roughly 15 acres. It consists of two stands, one roughly the equivalent of Lot #2, and composing about 12 acres of 50 year old mixed alder and Douglas fir. The remaining 3 acres of this lot are aged to 150 years, and its overstory is composed primarily of Douglas fir and Western Hemlock.