EVENT: FOOD FORUM - May 1, White Salmon WA
EVENT: Gorge Green Drinks - Eating Locally: May 4, Bingen WA
EVENT: Gorge Grown Farmers’ Market Volunteer Gathering: May 6, Bingen WA
EVENT: Cherry Mania! Cherry Festival Weekend: April 23-25, The Dalles OR
EVENT: Farm Life Voices - Sharing the Rural Experience and Harvesting Images: Mondays, Hood River OR
WORKSHOP: Orders and Inventory Webinar for Meat Producers and Processors: April 27
WORKSHOP: FDA Listening Session for NW Producers - fresh produce food safety standards: May 5, Portland, OR
WORKSHOP: Spotted Wing Drosophila Workshop: April 28, Vancouver WA
ARTICLE: Agricultural regulation: For Oregon's farms, one size doesn't fit all
ARTICLE: Secretary Vilsack Makes Case for Stronger Rural America
FOOD FORUM: May 1, White Salmon WA
Saturday, May 1st, 2010
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
The Pioneer Center
501 NE Washington St
White Salmon, WA
Gorge Grown’s Food Forum is an opportunity for Gorge residents, farmers, and decision-makers to come together and learn more about the state of our region’s food system and what needs to happen in order for Gorge farmers to succeed and for Gorge communities to eat well. Our vision: 20% of what local residents eat will come from local sources by 2020. Just 20% by 2020. What would that look like? How can we get there? It is a bold vision, one that will be supported by energy, ideas, and commitment from YOU.
Come to Food Forum to:
LEARN about our local food system - through a plenary and panel of local farmers and experts.
DEVELOP your food skills - through hands-on workshops in seed saving, composting, and more!
PARTICIPATE in the creation of Gorge Grown's 20x2020 plan. What role can you play?
This event is FREE!
Pre-registration is strongly encouraged and will guarantee you a free boxed lunch for the event. Pre-register by emailing info@gorgegrown.com or picking up a ticket at Waucoma Books, Klindts Books, Collage of the Gorge, or the Skamania County Chamber of Commerce. Lunch provided by Solstice Wood Fire Cafe with support from WSU Horizons.
9:00 -10:15 am : Opening general session followed by morning workshops and breakout discussions.
10:15-11:30 am: Choose one workshop or one discussion group to attend.
11:45 -1:30 pm: Lunch and Luncheon pane
1:45 -3:00 pm: Afternoon workshops and Strategic planning with the GGFN Board of Directors. Choose one workshop or sit in with the Board to plan our local food future.
------ Workshops: practical, tangible actions that help to build a regional food system
Beekeeping
Home Food Preservation
Menu for the Future - hosting a discussion
Backyard Poultry
Worm Composting
Composting
Community gardens
Fruit Tree Maintenance and Pest Management
Seed Saving
------ Breakouts: issues that are key challenges in building a regional food system and will need to be addressed as part of the strategic planning for the future.
Farm to School in the Gorge
Small Farms/New farmers
Consumer/Producer relationships
Supply and Distribution for year round local food
Education and awareness
----- Strategic planning/brainstorming with GGFN’s Board of Directors
Based on the morning breakout discussions, this interactive session will discuss ideas and strategic planning direction to build towards 20% by 2020. Everyone’s input is welcome and necessary as we continue to build the infrastructure towards a regional food system and prioritize potential projects.
Gorge Green Drinks - Eating Locally: May 4, Bingen WA
Columbia Gorge Earth Center invites Gorge residents, business owners, government and nonprofits to Green Drinks, a monthly networking event for people interested in sustainability issues. This month, the focus is on local food.
Ever wonder how much of our region's food is grown locally? And how much of it stays here?
Sarah Hackney, Executive Director of Gorge Grown Food Network, will present key information from the organization's recently completed Community Food Assessment, which covers farming, food, and hunger in the 5-county Gorge region.
Tuesday, May 4th
6 PM
Solstice Wood Fire Café, Bingen, WA
Come early and get your local grub on:
$10 pizza and salad bar, local beer on tap
Gorge Grown Farmers’ Market Volunteer Gathering: May 6, Bingen WA
Spring is upon us and it is time to get rolling for our fifth year of the Gorge Grown Farmers’ Market. It is going to be a grand season and there is lots of interest buzzing in the community...
Were you a volunteer last year? Come on out May 6 and enjoy some free Solstice pizza in thanks for your help last season!
Interested in getting involved this year? Come out to learn more and get plugged in!
A message from Todd, market manager:
The market truly could not function without your dedication and support. This year we figured it would be fun to gather ahead of time to acknowledge those helping out last year, orient those brand new, and plug in those wishing to assist with the planning stages of the market also... SO, our volunteer training/gathering will be on Thursday May 6th at Solstice Café in Bingen from 6-8pm. Let me know if you would like to carpool... And please RSVP so we can plan accordingly. We will get to know each other a bit, review last year’s operations, orient everyone to how things will run this year and begin filling out the volunteer schedule for the season. As I have told many of you personally, you can be a HUGE help even if your schedule only allows you to come to market once a month or can only help distribute posters. It ALL helps and is GREATLY appreciated!!
Cherry Mania! Cherry Festival Weekend: April 23-25, The Dalles OR
Cherry Mania Saturday, April 24, is the biggest day of the NW Cherry Festival!
Be prepared for the following:
April 24 Annual Northwest Cherry Festival Parade, begins at 11:00am. The biggest parade of the year in The Dalles, The Cherry Festival. Sponsored by Bob Stone Freeway Autocenter. Be there as a spectator or as a parade participant.
April 24 State Senator Ted Ferrioli Open Air Market & Entertainment Stage. Artists/Crafters/Food Booths, 9:00am to 5:00pm. Bring your pocketbook as you are going to want to eat and shop at the 4th Street Open Air Market and Entertainment Stage. The market will be opened all day from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Enjoy!
April 24 Health & Safety Fair, 10am-3pm, located on 4th street. Don’t forget to check out the Cherry Red Glow of good health and healthy living at the Health and Safety Fair on 4th street between Washington and Court Streets. This is another all day event.
Farm Life Voices - Sharing the Rural Experience and Harvesting Images: Mondays, Hood River OR
A series of Monday evening programs developed to educate and inspire. All programs will be held at The History Museum starting at 6:30 p.m. Free Admission. Donations Appreciated.
_______________________________________
April 26, 2010
Sharing the Rural Experience The Appeal and Promise of Agri-Tourism
To the travel industry it's known as "Agri-Tourism" or "Agri-Tainment" or "Rural Recreation." To a child, and to many adults, it's simply a fun day at the farm. That fun continues to grow as a vital segment of Oregon's economy. Kristin Dahl, Travel Oregon's Tourism Development Manager, will discuss current efforts and future plans to market our state as a must-see rural destination. Dollie Rasmussen, a local "early adopter" of the agri-tourism concept, will also be on hand to share stories of the early days of the Fruit Loop and to highlight the adventures of hosting locals, as well as world travelers, seeking a unique rural experience.
Harvesting Images
Stories of A Photographic Journey Across Oregon's Farmland
If a picture is worth a thousand words, can a thousand words, even ten thousand words, begin to describe photographer Peter Marbach's passion for rural Oregon that was captured in his stunning collections "Oregon Harvest" and " Hood River Valley: Land of Plenty"? We'll find out as Peter leads us on his personal and professional journey to award winning photography that not only graces the permanent collection of OSU's Art About Agriculture Exhibit but will also be featured this spring on the cover of National Geographic's Central Cascades Guide.
Speaker: Peter Marbach, Peter Marbach Photography
The History Museum 300 E Port Marina Drive (Exit 64 off I-84)
Hood River, OR 97031
541-386-6772 TheHistoryMuseum@hrecn.net
Orders and Inventory Webinar for Meat Producers and Processors: April 27
“Orders and Inventory Management” A free online webinar for meat producers and processors
Tuesday, April 27
10 AM
This webinar will describe several useful tools and systems processors and meat businesses use to manage orders and inventory.
Our speakers are:
Mike Smucker of Smuckers Meats in PA, a small USDA-inspected processing plant
Jeff Peterson of Thousand Hills Cattle Company, a grass-fed beef marketing company based in MN
Rick Reams of RJ’s Meats & Groceries, a custom cutting, sausage, and retail shop in WI
FDA Listening Session for NW Producers - fresh produce food safety standards: May 5, Portland, OR
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering changes to the Food Code, including food safety standards for leafy greens. Many small farmers have expressed concern about how these rules might affect them.
On May 5 in Portland, FDA and the US Dept. of Agriculture will hold a listening session for NW small farms about these proposed food safety standards. This listening session is being co-sponsored by the Oregon and Washington departments of agriculture.
The Pacific Northwest Small Farms Listening Session will be held:
Wednesday, May 5
8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Sheraton Inn Portland Airport
8235 NE Airport Way
Registration is not necessary. For more information, contact Sherry Kudna, ODA, at (503) 986-4619 or by e-mail at <skudna@oda.state.or.us>.
Spotted Wing Drosophila WORKSHOP: April 28, Vancouver WA
NEW PEST OF SMALL FRUITS IN SW WASHINGTON
Spotted Wing Drosophila (aka SWD) maybe one of the most destructive pests to berries introduced. This new pest was found in 10 counties in Washington fruits during 2009. Farmers and gardeners need to prepare for the 2010 season. The WSU Mount Vernon Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center would like to extend an invitation for you to attend a spotted wing drosophila workshop in Vancouver WA.
28 April 2010 - 9:00 AM TO NOON
WSU Vancouver Research Extension Unit
1919 NE 78th Street Vancouver WA 98665
Come learn about: * SWD Identification and Lifecycle
* Monitoring Tools and Trap Construction
* Methods to Check for Infested Fruit
* Recommendations for Raspberry, Strawberry and Blueberry Crops
* Discussion of Organic and Home Garden Management
3 WSDA pesticide license recertification credits have been applied for. These recommendations are derived from research literature and from the California experience. The recommendations discussed are our best
guesses as none of us have hands-on experience. We expect these recommendations will change over time.
CONTACT US
For additional information:
Lynell Tanigoshi - tanigosh@wsu.edu - 360-848-6152
http://mtvernon.wsu.edu
To RSVP:
Contact Todd Murray, tmurray@wsu.edu - 509-427-3931
ARTICLE: Agricultural regulation: For Oregon's farms, one size doesn't fit all
April 21, 2010
Source: Oregonlive.com By Ken Muller
On Feb. 28 in Corvallis more than 70 farmers and ranchers, representing communities from across the state, came together to take back agriculture. For too long politicians have paid lip service to supporting small farmers, the often-cited rural backbone of America, while instituting policies that favor large-scale agribusiness and make it difficult for the small farmer to survive. We don't want subsidies, handouts, favors or even sympathy. We are simply looking to reclaim what should be the right of every American: to produce and consume the food we want.
ARTICLE: Secretary Vilsack Makes Case for Stronger Rural America
USDA Press Release No. 0198.10
WASHINGTON, April 21, 2010 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today testified on the status of the current Farm Bill and the upcoming 2012 Farm Bill before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture. In his remarks, Vilsack provided a national perspective on the challenges facing rural America based on his travels to rural communities throughout the country. He also discussed the state of agriculture today, the need for a strong farm safety net, and new approaches to create income opportunities and generate wealth in a stronger, more prosperous rural America for generations to come.
Below are excerpts from Secretary Vilsack's prepared testimony:
"Let me start off by acknowledging the hard work of the Members of this
Committee and your staff. Having worked diligently with my own staff across
the country over the past 15 months to implement the bill, I can now fully
appreciate the months of hard work that went into crafting this important
piece of legislation. You are all to be commended for the strong bipartisan
bill that overcame multiple obstacles before becoming law.
"As you know, the breadth and depth of the Farm Bill is incredible. With
the programs and authorities that Congress provided to USDA in the 2008 Farm
Bill, we are in turn working to ensure that America's farmers and ranchers
have the tools that they need to remain viable and on the farm. It is also
with these authorities that we work to fund rural hospitals, schools and
fire stations, maintain a safe food supply, and sustain export markets for
the commodities produced by our nation's farmers and ranchers. Congress has
given USDA an amazing opportunity to assist not only rural America with
these tools and authorities, but the world...
