Our Mission

Reclaiming Commoning, Reviving the Future

The Commons Keepers is a community-driven initiative dedicated to reconnecting young people with environmental stewardship, traditional ecological knowledge, and meaningful, place-based work.

By reviving the practice of "commoning"—tending shared land and water for collective well-being—we empower the next generation to build sustainable livelihoods, deepen their connection to place, and transform climate anxiety into action.

Through hands-on ecological work, mentorship, and ceremony, we foster resilience, rootedness, and a renewed relationship with the Outer Cape landscape.

Together, we are reclaiming what it means to belong to a place.

Who We Are

Outer Cape Commoners is a collaboration between Sue “Jaye” Johnson and Elspeth Hay.

  • Jaye is a journalist and documentary maker who has spent two decades telling stories about social justice and environmental issues. Her work has consistently centered young voices while exploring the intersection of community, culture, and activism. As creator of youth-focused programs including the BRAVE GIRLS Festival, she brings extensive experience in developing transformative gatherings that build lasting community connections. Jaye’s work can be found here.


  • For fifteen years, Elspeth has documented our region's relationship with land and traditional ecological knowledge through her work as creator and host of the Local Food Report on CAI. Her award-winning book, Feed Us With Trees: Nuts and the Future of Food (New Society Publishers, 2025), explores commons-based approaches to environmental stewardship, demonstrating her longstanding engagement with the core themes of this project. You can find our more about Elspeth’s work  here.