Candidate Profile
Orion Russell Blake for Orange County Legislature
District 8
Click here for a map of Legislative District 8
Orion Russell Blake is a young farmer who grew up in Warwick from the age of 5, transplanted from Manhattan’s Upper West Side. A scholar athlete on the Purple Wave cross country team, after graduation he pursued a career at sea, but while standing at the bow during a winter voyage across the North Atlantic, felt adrift in the universe and decided he didn’t want to live a life so disconnected and returned to land to become rooted in community.
Years later and back in Warwick, he was struck by inspiration at a summit to safeguard Warwick’s major watershed, that led to starting Flooded Farm and now to public service. Flooded Farm strives to make economical new sustainable crops for peatlands, practices known as paludiculture, for what we call the black dirt region, and will protect against degradation and subsidence there. Flooded Farm’s first enterprise is growing rice. To further protect our natural wealth and the quality of life of Warwick’s residents, Orion is running for district 8 county legislator, to represent the villages of Warwick and Greenwood Lake and roughly the eastern half of the township. He will work to tackle the affordability crisis.
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.
Orion: I am a millennial that grew up in Warwick, transplanted here to start elementary school by yuppie parents from West 72nd and Amsterdam in Manhattan. The quiet of the forest on Mt. Peter was quite a change, and my love of that natural environment gravitated me to agriculture as an adult. I discovered new opportunities yet to be explored here, I’ve been growing rice for the past 4 years, and searching for why this was led me to explore public policy and now public service. I aim to work for a Warwick that adapts and takes advantage of such new opportunities while still being the dream community for new generations, as it was for my family.
Q: What made you want to run for office?
Orion: I had found county departments unreceptive to reform. Instead of just continuing to ask for change, I decided to put skin in the game and see if I could implement it.
Q: What are some specific things you would do if elected?
Orion: Resurrect the county’s green committee. Create and foster community land trusts in the county.
Q: What has been your favorite experience in your campaign so far?
Orion: Meeting my fellow candidates across the county and the citizens willing to help them.
Q: Where can people learn more about you?
Orion: I share a few glimpses into my farming on Instagram (@floodedfarm) and campaign updates on Facebook.
Q: How can people support you?
Orion: If you’d join me on the campaign trail, reach me at orionrussellblake@gmail.com. If it is money you’d wish to offer, donate at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/orion-russell-blake
