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June 23, 2010 |
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IN THIS EDITION:
- GGFN ANNOUNCEMENT: GGFN's Newest Employee
- GGFN ANNOUNCEMENT: Market Updates
- SAVE THE DATE: Feast on the Farm
- GGFN ANNOUNCEMENT: T-shirts!
- VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Gardening Techincal Assistance
- CHILDRENS ACTIVITY: Farm Life Daycamp - Quack-Quack Moo!
- CLASS: Food Fermentation Series - Country Living Series
- CLASS: Organic Soils and Compost Class
- CLASS: Canning Fresh Fruit (with a Boiling Water Canner) - Country Living Series
- FARM OPPORTUNITY: Livestock Risk Protection Program Available in the Pacific Northwest
- GRANT: OSU Expands Rural Energy Program
- ARTICLE: Grassroots Food Networks Get a Hand from Vancouver City Hall
- ARTICLE: USDA Touts Tighter Meat Industry Antitrust Rules
- ARTICLE: Court Lifts Limits on GMO Alfalfa Pending USDA
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GGFN's Newest Employee
Gorge Grown wants to give a warm welcome to our newest staff member! Rachel Sanders has joined our team through Northwest Service Academy's AmeriCorps program and will be with us through November 2010. You'll see her out and about driving our Mobile Market truck and at the Farmers' Market on Thursdays. She is also working with Hood River Middle School and Providence Hospital on a pilot summer youth program. Please stop to say hello if you see Rachel and welcome her to the Gorge and GG team!
Rachel is an Oregon native, who most recently worked as the Water Field Instructor at MESD Outdoor School in Multnomah County, mentoring high school students to be successful teachers of hands-on water science curriculum to 6th graders. Rachel has a passion for promoting social change through working with children and sustainable agriculture. During her undergraduate studies at Bard College in New York, Rachel founded and ran a hands-on, outdoor education program called Eco-Discoverers, which combined ecology and agriculture to foster a greater appreciation and knowledge of the outdoors in children. Upon completing her B.A. in music, Rachel moved to Panama where she had previously studied. In Panama she lived in the rural, agricultural town of Cerro Punta and worked with Grupo Orgánico de Agricultores Cerropunteños (GORACE) as a grant writer, translator and organizer, helping to promote organic agriculture in an area reliant on chemical use. Rachel is excited to return to her home state with the opportunity to combine her love of healthy local food and working with children here in Hood River.
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Market Updates
Starting tomorrow, every Thursday GG will be sending out weekly announcements about the best of the week's farmers' markets -- what's in season, how to use it, and where to find it. We've got recipes, tips, and inside info! Here's a sneak preview... did you know there's a new local cheesemaker who'll be at the Trout Lake Saturday Market this week?
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SAVE THE DATE: Feast on the Farm, September 12
Save the date for this year's 3rd Annual Feast on the Farm! It will be taking Sunday, September 12, 2010 at Idiot's Grace Orchard in Mosier, OR.
We're starting to plan for this event and if you like to plan parties or fundraisers we could use your help! Join an experienced team of volunteers that makes this event unlike anything else in the Gorge -- an entirely local menu, live music, and lots of fun amidst a gorgeous cherry orchard.
If you're interested in volunteering, please contact Sarah at sarah@gorgegrown.com or 541-490-6420.
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New Gorge Grown T-shirts: Coming soon!
For those folks out there that are looking to get one of those awesome GGFN t-shirts we are almost SOLD OUT! Don't worry though, as we will be ordering a new batch of t-shirts soon and will have them available at the Farmers' Market once they come in.
For any graphic designers out there, or anyone with a creative side: in addition to our regular t-shirts, we are hoping to have a t-shirt design contest soon for a limited-edition run of different shirts, and want to tap into the creative juices that you have! Stay tuned for more news on the contest...
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Gardening Technical Assistance
Are you an experienced gardener/farmer that lives in the Gorge and is looking to share your expertise and knowledge with beginning gardeners? The Guided Path Transitional Housing Program in Bingen is looking for someone to help them in their community garden. They need technical assistance related to basic gardening tips, pest managements, composting, and season extension.
If you are interested in this great opportunity to help out please contact Meghann Dallin at 509-493-6234 or meghannd@co.klickitat.wa.us
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Farm Life Daycamp - Quack-Quack Moo! - July 20
Horses, pigs, cows, sheep, ducks, llamas—if you like farm animals, come play with us for a morning! We will do an animal art project, play animal games, read animal stories, and learn all about farm animals from Hood River and around the world. We might even pretend to be animals—and a few furry critters might show up to meet us! Bring your favorite stuffed farm animal friend or farm animal toy to join in on the fun.
Tuesday, July 20
8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Age: Kindergarteners
Cost: $15 includes materials and a snack
Location: Hood River County History Museum
300 E Port Marina Drive (Exit 64 off I-84)
For more information contact Ellie at 541-386-6772
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Food Fermentation Series - Country Living Series - June 24, July 15
Learn how to enhance your food supply by the ancient practice of fermenting and increase your own vitality. Did you know eating a diet of nutrient-dense and pro-biotic rich foods can make a dramatic improvement to your health? We will be making cultured veggies, kombucha, coconut water kefir, coconut yogurt, cultured salsa, fruit kimchi, and more...Participants will get to take home samples and the knowledge and skills to make these staples in your own kitchen. Instructor Ashley Kunesh, NTP CHFS, has spent the last 10 years in the Culinary world, receiving her Nutritional Therapist certification in Olympia Washington, and training in preparation of traditional food in Los Angeles California. She owns a food production company making cultured food which can be found at Wholefoods, farmer's markets and food co-ops.
for more information: www.CultureBiota.com
Class info: June 24, 2010; 6:00 - 8:00pm
July 15, 2010; 6:00 - 8:00pm
Cost: $40.00 per class
Instructor: Ashley Kunesh
To register: http://eclasstrak.hoodriver.k12.or.us/hoodriver/ClassDetails.aspx?ClassID=A5120+++++&ProgramID=10608&ProgramName=Adult&CategoryName=General%20Interest%20-%20Adult&CategoryID=10618
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Organic Soils and Compost Class - June 27
Organic Soils & Compost Class offered by Oregon Tilth
Jump-start your garden's growth with organic soil improvements. Join gardening expert Glen Andresen and home gardener Kathleen Fortune in her beautiful, hand-tended landscape. Learn time-tested techniques. Advance registration required. ADDRESS PROVIDED WITH REGISTRATION.
Cost: FREE
When: June 27, 2010
Time: 1:00 to 2:30 pm
Where: Gresham, OR
Visit: www.oregonmetro.gov/garden to register or call 503-234-3000.
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Livestock Risk Protection Program Available in the Pacific Northwest
The Risk Management Agency’s (RMA) Spokane Regional Office would like to remind Pacific Northwest livestock producers that the Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) program is available in all counties in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. LRP insurance plans include Fed Cattle, Feeder Cattle, Lamb and Swine.
LRP coverage protects the policyholder from downward price risk during the insurance period. It does not cover any other peril (e.g., mortality, condemnation, physical damage, disease, individual marketing decisions, local price deviations or any other cause of loss).
There are two steps to buy LRP coverage: 1) producers must submit an application. Once the application is approved, the livestock crop insurance provider will assign a policy number; and 2) the producer activates coverage at any time by applying for a Specific Coverage Endorsement (SCE). No insurance coverage is provided until the producer submits an SCE. Insurance will attach immediately when RMA confirms the SCE has been accepted.
Premiums are due on the day an LRP insurance endorsement is purchased and includes a 13-percent subsidy on the premium from RMA. To determine a premium, an insured producer will select the appropriate insurance period covering the expected sell or slaughter date; choose a coverage price based on the chosen coverage period; provide the number of livestock expected to be ready for sale or slaughter at the end date and the target weight at time of slaughter; and the percentage share of ownership in livestock to be insured.
Sales for the 2011 crop year will begin July 1, 2010 and continue through June 30, 2011 (or until the maximum underwriting capacity (as established by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation) is reached).
Cattle and swine producers are encouraged to contact a local livestock insurance agent to learn additional details. Federal crop insurance program policies are sold and delivered solely through private crop and livestock insurance companies.
A list of livestock crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers throughout the U.S. or at the RMA Web site address: http://www3.rma.usda.gov/tools/agents
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OSU Expands Rural Energy Program
Oregon State University is making the services of its Energy Efficiency Center available to Oregon farmers and rural businesses looking to save money on energy expenses.
The program, which provides assessments of energy use and recommendations for savings, is open to any small rural Oregon business or farm — as defined by the Small Business Administration — that makes more than half of its gross income from agriculture.
OSU reports that a pilot program showed that those participating in the program saved an average of 10 percent of their annual energy cost.
The service is supported by a two-year grant from the Rural Energy for America Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
"We can work with small farms or larger agricultural operations that spend anywhere from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of dollars a year on energy," said Nathan Keeley, manager of the new program and a mechanical engineering graduate student at OSU, in a news release.
Most of the energy assessment cost will be paid for by the federal government, leaving only a flat fee of $370 for any farm or business operation to participate.
The rural energy assessments include facility tours, data collection, meetings, an estimate of implementation costs and payback periods, and a final report.
More information can be obtained by calling 541-737-3004 or email, ruralenergyaudits@engr.orst.edu
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Grassroots Food Networks Get a Hand from Vancouver City Hall
by Randy Shore
June 17, 2010
Source: www.vancouversun.com
The City of Vancouver has earmarked $100,000 to fund five neighbourhood-based food security projects that will do everything from divert edible food from local businesses to community kitchens to buying organic produce from wholesalers for non-profit resale to people with low incomes and creating shared neighbourhood composting systems.
The five Greenest City Neighbourhood grants range from $15,000 to $19,926 and reward innovation by local groups that create just and sustainable food systems.
"One of the goals of the Quick Start report is to reduce carbon emissions related to food production by 30 per cent and local food production is one of the easiest ways to get to that goal," said Coun. Andrea Reimer.
Erin Nichols is organizing a pocket market coupon program in which people on social assistance or small fixed incomes can buy coupons at the beginning of each month for a small fee and redeem them later in the month for fresh fruits and vegetables at a mini-farmers market in the neighbourhood. The Trout Lake Cedar Cottage Food Security Network will buy the produce from local farmers directly. Cash shoppers are welcome to buy at a small mark-up as a way to subsidize the project, Nichols said.
Continue reading here: http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Grassroots+food+networks+hand+from+Vancouver+City+Hall/3168009/story.html
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USDA Touts Tighter Meat Industry Antitrust Rules
By CHRISTOPHER LEONARD
The Associated Press
June 18, 2010
ST. LOUIS -- The Obama administration on Friday proposed new antitrust rules for meat companies that reflect a willingness by the USDA to shift the balance of power between farmers and processors and to regulate an industry long dominated by a handful of corporate giants.
The rules would place the sharpest limits on meat companies since the Great Depression, drastically lowering the bar that farmers and ranchers must meet to sue companies whom they accuse of demanding unfairly low prices.
The rules would dictate how meatpackers buy cattle on the open market, and prohibit them from showing preference to big feedlots by offering them special incentives not available to smaller producers.
They would also limit the control chicken companies have over the farmers who raise birds for them. The companies couldn't require farmers to take on debt to invest in chicken houses, for example, unless farmers were guaranteed to recoup 80 percent of the cost.
Continue reading here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/18/AR2010061802483.html
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Court Lifts Limits on GMO Alfalfa Pending USDA
by Carey Gillam
Jun 21, 2010
Source: www.reuters.com
KANSAS CITY Missouri (Reuters) - A Supreme Court ruling in a case pitting environmentalists against biotech seed giant Monsanto Co could speed up a resumption of sales of genetically altered alfalfa, though any commercialization still depends on action by U.S. regulators.
The Supreme Court said in a 7-to-1 vote on Monday that a district court judge in San Francisco had abused his discretion in barring the U.S. Agriculture Department from effecting a partial deregulation and in prohibiting the planting of the biotech alfalfa seeds, pending the completion of an environmental review.
The ruling, however, does not alter the lower court decision that vacated the U.S. Department of Agriculture's approval of genetically altered alfalfa until completion of a full environmental review. That review is pending.
Continue reading here: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65K3QN20100621?type=domesticNews
For an important analysis and counterpoint on this significant ruling, read more coverage from Grist.org:
"More importantly, the Supreme Court has also now ruled for the very first time that "environmental harm" includes economic effects such as reduced agricultural yield or loss of market due to genetic contamination, as well as the concept of what biologists refer to as "gene flow" (in practice, the idea that genetically engineered
material may get into conventional plants through cross-pollination). The Supreme Court now accepts that this phenomenon in and of itself is harmful and illegal under current environment protections."
Continue reading here: http://www.grist.org/article/food-supreme-court-ruling-on-monsanto-alfalfa
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