Help Mariposa Farm Rebuild from the Flood

Mariposa Farm owner/operators Liz* and Joaquin Lopez evacuated their Everson home with their children Sarahi (10) and Andres (12) on Monday as floodwaters rapidly overtook their home and 10-acre organic fruit and vegetable farm.

 

Mariposa is one of the hardest hit Whatcom County farms by the recent devastating flooding. All funds raised go directly to Liz and Joaquin to help offset major damage to their home, barn/shop, tractors and other farm equipment, personal and work vehicles, and crop losses.

 

 

 

Liz and Joaquin are our dear friends and neighbors, and quickly became beloved members of the Whatcom County farming community after relocating here to farm 9 years ago. You may have seen them selling their beautiful produce year-round at the Bellingham Farmers Market, West Seattle Farmers Market, and Lake City Farmers Market.

 

 

 

The family is currently safe and staying with family in Nooksack.

 

The family was not asked or required to buy flood insurance when they purchased their property, since it does not fall within the floodplain. Losses are still being assessed, but include:

 

x2 tractors $40k ea = $80k

Two submerged vans = $20k - for mechanic to assess and repair damage

Storage crop losses = $5k

2022 seed losses = $5k

Furnace replacement = $10k

Concrete slab repair = ?

Well pump replacement = ?

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TOTAL $120,000+

 

Our $50k goal is a starting point to help get Mariposa back on their feet. We would like to raise more for them if possible!

 

UPDATE: We reached $50k as of 11/21/2021! We had no idea what to expect, but, it is clear how much this family is loved, and how much our their farmers market communities, and beyond want to help. SO! We are stretching our goal to $80,000 as we know there are still many people that have yet to learn of their situation. If you have already donated - we are NOT asking you to give more. (See the update we posted on 11/21/2021)

 

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your contribution to help this incredibly hardworking family begin to rebuild.

 

What Happened:

 

As record rainfall hit Sunday afternoon, the Lopez' walked their field, which wasn't pooling much water. "We never thought it would get to us," Liz said. They awoke Sunday at 3 am to water pouring into the windows of their basement, already filling it with 3 inches of water. They worked all day pumping water out of the basement.

 

By Monday morning, the water had risen so quickly that they couldn't move their tractors. By Monday afternoon, water started flowing into the first-floor kitchen and bathroom, submerging the home's heater. The family made the difficult call to evacuate the property as water poured through the house and cars were becoming marooned.

 

 

The family is still assessing the damage. The partially finished basement is severely damaged, and the sheet rock on the first floor of the home needs to be completely replaced. They've pumped water out of the basement twice, but it is refilling even now (Wednesday Nov. 17) because the ground is still so saturated.

 

The Lopez' just-completed new shop/barn suffered the worst damage of all. Winter squash and all other storage crops are all floating in the water. All of their farm equipment including two tractors were submerged.

 

In an abundance of caution, Mariposa recently bought seed to prepare for the 2022 season since the supply chain has been so unreliable due to the pandemic. All the 2022 seed is now ruined and floating in the shop. The shop's concrete slab is damaged, their pump is destroyed, and there is substantial electrical damage.

 

Want to get to know more about Mariposa Farm?
Visit their website: www.mariposafamilyfarm.com/
Watch this short video story about the story behind their name.

*Liz is her nickname, (written you will see sometimes as ‘Liz’, other times as ‘Lis’) her full name is Maria Luisa Ramos Pina. We added this to the GoFundMe page on 1/21/2022 for verification of official documents needed for Liz and Joaquin to access the funds that have been raised.