By Lara Alexander

The grand (but well worn) “Rosewood Manor” on 220th Street Southwest has always caught my eye. Seemingly out of place on a main road and just west of Highway 99, the mansion and curved drive has caused me to pull over a couple of times while headed to the freeway. Once, to pick up free plant starts that were left outside, another time to read a sign about vegetable gardens in the back yard. This week, it was a sign for an invitation to a free pig roast on Saturday that made me hit the brakes.

For the last nine years, Rosewood Manor has been inhabited by members of the Church of the Beloved, an intentional community of mostly young people who share a faith in God, a “rhythm of prayer” and a home in the manor. The manor has quite a rich history of its own, which you can read about on the Church’s website.

Although this is their fifth year roasting a whole pig, “this year is especially important to us because we are celebrating the purchase of Rosewood Manor,” says Church of the Beloved’s pastor Ryan Marsh, who is an Edmonds native. “We’ve invited all our neighbors and friends to help us celebrate. Part of the mission of Church of the Beloved is to ‘BBQ well’, so really we’re just fulfilling our mission.”

Pastor Ryan hopes that the neighborhood heeds his welcome and plans to feed up to 250 neighbors and friends tonight between 4 and 8 pm today.  Two pigs were purchased for the roast. The larger pig, almost 200 pounds, was wrapped in banana leaves and placed in pit of hot embers to roast for 22 hours, under the direction of community member Kris K who has roasted half a dozen large pigs in the past. The smaller pig, weighing a hair under 100 pounds, is soaking in brine until its ready to start roasting on a spit in the morning.

The Church’s website advertises live music for today’s event, games for kids, “Hawaiian Style Roasted Pig” with all the trimmings and beverages, including beer for those who are 21 years and older, “and it’s free, seriously free and our gift to you.”

While you are there for the party, you may also enjoy looking through the Manor’s vegetable gardens.  They grow squash, tomatoes, lettuce, kale, carrots, peas, beans, artichoke, rhubarb, cucumbers, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, plums, pumpkins, bok choi, radishes, Jerusalem artichoke, potatoes, zucchini and herbs galore. They’ve been eating out of the garden almost every night for the last two months. They are open to community members joining them to garden next year, says Pastor Ryan.

Pig Roast and Celebration
Rosewood Manor
8104 – 220th St. S.W., Edmonds
Saturday, Aug. 27
4 to 8 p.m.
Free and open to the community, donations accepted to help cover costs

A culinary adventurer, Lara Alexander grows, cooks and writes about food from her home in Edmonds. You can read about her garden and kitchen fun on the blog Food-Soil-Thread.