Help Save Alchemy Industrial Arts

"Alchemy Industrial Arts is a registered 501(3)(c) nonprofit educational facility that fosters collaboration among the arts, industry and community.

Through training in the fine and industrial arts, we teach practical skills in the trades industry, cultivate individual creative expression, build self-confidence and encourage environmentally-friendly reuse of materials.

Our goal is to inspire an increased interest in the trades as an alternative to other accessible job opportunities in the machining, welding, and fabrication fields — as well as inspiring creativity and DIY learning opportunities for youth and adults."

How amazing is it that we have someone on Bainbridge Island like Alchemy Industrial Arts founder Jeremy Yohe, a master of industrial arts by trade, who manages to dedicate a large portion of his life to teaching Bainbridge youth his wisdom?

Alchemy has thrived on BI residential property since it began. How it works on BI, is small businesses are allowed to exist on residential property, but if one neighbor complains, the city will require the business to go elsewhere. Recently COBI has shut down Alchemy due to complaints from one neighbor regarding driveway traffic.

Renting commercially zoned space on Bainbridge is costly and Jeremy, a father who has established a life here on BI with his son, fears that he will be forced to move out of the community and/or close Alchemy for good.

Please join me in supporting the existence of Alchemy Industrial Arts as they move to commercially zoned property.

Jeremy has found a space that costs $2500 / month to support his non-profit. That is a $2500 increase in overhead at a minimum and he worries that it will not be sustainable long term.

Let’s pull together $20,000 for Alchemy and make this transition possible.

My intention here is to raise awareness for how important Alchemy is to this island and I think the best way I can articulate that is by briefly sharing my experience growing up on Bainbridge:

Let’s just say I was the type of kid that didn’t quite fit the team sports mold. I spent my childhood years creating my own fun and artistic outlets with my friends since the extracurricular activities that were kindly offered did not appeal to us.

Ever since I was 5 years old, thanks to my father’s wood shop, making/creating with my hands have been a passion deep within me. That faded in my teenage years since opportunities for things such as learning metalworking and woodworking were not readily available on Bainbridge.

It took going to college and graduating with a major that had nothing to do with the trades for me to realize that what truly makes me happy is making things with my hands. I’ve been a woodworker ever since.

If things such as Alchemy had been around when I was a kid, my life would have been a lot different.

There should always be spaces available that enable youth to find their passions and creative outlets. These spaces play a crucial role in the health and safety of our youth. Spaces such as Alchemy straight-up save lives.

From the bottom of my heart, please join me in supporting Alchemy in this trying time. All funds raised will go directly to Alchemy Industrial and will be used to support Alchemy's transition in any way Jeremy Yohe sees fit.