A SAFE AND HEALING SPACE FOR QUEER & TRANS YOUNG ADULTS + DV AND SA SURVIVORS
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
SAUVIE ISLAND, OREGON
A SAFE SPACE FOR DV & SA SURVIVORS, QUEER & TRANS YOUNG ADULTS.
The Community Ecology Center envisions a world where survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and queer and trans young adults can self-heal through meaningful connections to the Earth, their communities, and themselves. Our farm-based programs serve as a sanctuary where traditional barriers to healing through community and connection to earth are removed.
Mission Statement
The Community Ecology Center offers survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and queer and trans young adults safe space to connect, co- regulate, and heal through farm-based programs that combine farming, artistic expression, and skill-building. The Center aims to foster self-efficacy, Earth connection, community building, and sustainable paths to self-healing led by experts in the company of a cohort of their peers.
OUR WORK
The Community Ecology Center was founded by Christine James and brings together her unique combination of 10 years of farming expertise and 15 years of creative leadership as a photographer and art director. Our farm-based sanctuary provides structured healing opportunities through seasonal cohort programs and workshops led by arts, crafts, farming, and somatic healing experts. Participants engage in therapeutic activities including sustainable farming, food preservation, artistic expression, and community building. Through hands-on experience in growing food, flowers, creating art, and learning practical skills, individuals develop tools for long-term healing and self-sufficiency.
We partner with established community organizations to create specialized programming for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors, as well as queer and trans young adults ages 18-28. Our approach combines the calming effects of agricultural work with skill-building workshops, mentorship opportunities, and artistic expression, all while producing sustainable products like honey, tea, and flowers that support our mission. Each program element is designed to build confidence, foster community connections, and help participants access additional resources when they're ready.
LETTER FROM OUR FOUNDER
Dearest Ones,
If you are reading this, you may find yourself drawn to our story—our heart’s why, our reason for offering this community space.
A little over a decade ago, I became a single mother, hollowed out by nearly a lifetime of trauma and abuse. Deep within, I longed to be mothered, nurtured, and held in a space where my nervous system could begin to heal. That first year, I planted a handful of cut flowers and a small sunflower patch. I soon realized that this work was pulling me back into a body I had long since drifted away from.
In the garden, I felt something ancient and familiar—a primordial love I remembered from childhood, lying in the alfalfa field in front of my parents' house. Time slowed, shifting from the relentless pace of human-made schedules into a sacred, Earth-held rhythm.
The following year, the kids and I expanded the garden and the sunflower field. We scattered wildflower seeds, creating our own sanctuary of flowers. Deep in my bones, I knew that one day, I would offer what I had learned—a bridge for others to kneel in the soil and feel held in the Earth’s endless, sacred care.
She has taught me that when we open to her, our vision shifts, our hearts soften, and fear can be held and transmuted in the rhythm of her embrace. She offers a space where healing begins, where regulation and restoration come through her unwavering presence.
It has taken years to arrive here. In many ways, we have been in service to this work—quietly, unofficially—for the past seven years. And now, we step forward with intention.
So, here’s to our shared love of the Great Mother. To the truth that all flourishing is mutual (thank you, Robin). To creating safe and loving space for the queer and trans community, and for survivors of domestic and sexual assault.
I OFFER MY HANDS AND MY HEART TO YOU.
In Service,
Christine James.