Our Story
Local Yokels was started in 2017 on the idea that we could create a fully sustainable and ethical micro-economy in local food in the Seattle Area.
We value a clean environment; our carbon footprint is 95% lower than a traditional grocery store, we are working toward zero waste, we use compostable packaging and reusable bags for delivery, and we are working towards creating closed loop systems between our producers and customers.
We value a strong community; we center POC, LBGT+, Immigrant and Women owned businesses and give back when and where we can.
Meet The Team
Amber
Hi, I'm Amber, one of the owners of Local Yokels. I am a queer woman who grew up the oldest child of teenage parents who were themselves fighting upstream against generational poverty. I was the first woman in my family to graduate high school and my sister and I were the first people in our family to go to college. I spent my 20’s moving around, growing things when and where I could while developing as an artist. My experiences watching the intersections of race, class, gender and sexual identity collide in the lives of my loved ones during this time were formative. In the face of so much powerlessness and injustice, I became deeply invested in studying the architecture of community resiliency and what it takes to build stability and security in the midst of struggle.
I attended The Evergreen State College from 2010-2013 and studied Art, Business and Sustainable Agriculture. I soaked up everything I could about the local food system, sustainability, and closed loop biological and economic systems. I attended conferences in my spare time on Food Security and Socially Engaged Art. While still a student, I began my first of 3 seasons experimenting with my own farming practices. I found myself constantly daydreaming about community networking and building a fully sustainable closed loop micro economy that centers others who were also born swimming upstream. I met Damon in 2016 and together we began to conceptualize what a closed loop economic system that first does no harm then does a lot of good could look like. Building Local Yokels together has been an incredible and joyful next chapter and I am so excited to see it grow into an example of what capitalism rooted ethical, community and environmental concerns can become.
Damon
I'm Damon, one of the owners of Local Yokels. I'm a Capitol Hill Seattle native and resident. I went through the Seattle public school system and graduated from Garfield High School in 1989. I then briefly attended the University of Washington and SCCC, before managing and playing in multiple bands in Seattle for 15 years.
I worked in the restaurant industry for 10 years before starting my own restaurant group in 2002, which opened five restaurants, Via Tribunali, between 2003-11.
My dad was one of the founders of 12th Ave People's Co-Op, which has become the Central Co-Op on Madison St. My aunt and uncle have owned and operated Bluebird Farm, an organic farm for over 35 years in Southern Oregon which I was able to spend time working at, and learning about the importance of organic farming.
Having accessible, affordable, clean, and natural foods is something that's very important to me, as I know it is to more than the average Seattleite. Sustaining local farms is the only way we can assure this to our communities for generations to come.
Our idea melds these wants, needs, and desires for a vibrant cohabitant community, and puts the power back in the hands of its people. By creating a closed-loop economy we will make much more of an impact than merely bringing Carl his carrots, or Sally her string beans. We’ll be providing sustainable jobs and food in the Puget Sound in case the sh!# really goes down.
No Farms=No Food.