Food Security Group

Comment

Comment by Heather K on July 3, 2010 at 6:28pm

Brian K at Inspiration may have some ideas on combining a meeting with hands on work...Let us know what you think Brian when you catch your breath..
.although anytime the sun is shining in this climate is not the time to gather for a meeting when there is so much actual work to be doing outside.....

(.....Farm workers are Farmers & Gardeners too!)

Kate, could you repost the list you attached within a Discussion under this group so I could view it? My computer's virus protection mode was unable to open and allow me to view the list. ( ie Whatcom County Food Security Groups and Efforts.doc ).

Comment by Kate Clark on June 29, 2010 at 7:11pm

Current list....Whatcom County Food Security Groups and Efforts.doc

Comment by Kate Clark on June 28, 2010 at 7:31pm

I totally forgot a really important one- the farm workers!

Linda- can you share that list with me when its done?

Comment by Deanna Lloyd on June 27, 2010 at 12:35am

Thanks Kate for complying all that!

I'd definitely agree with the idea of overlap. The Whatcom County School Garden Collective (an organization housed under Common Threads Farm) for example is listed under "grow food" as that is what we're doing at the schools, but the organization is actually focused on education so really would best fit under the "related to food growing"....I imagine there are others we can be that nit picky with....Long story short, Kate, another huge thanks for gathering those and getting the initial arranging done!

"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe." - John Muir. Seems especially appropriate in regards to the people and organizations of Bellingham....

Comment by Linda J Fels on June 26, 2010 at 7:30pm

Kate, I agree wholeheartedly. There is a group in town supporting local sustainable meat and dairy farmers. It is the local chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation. We are compiling a resources list based on visits to local farmers. We hope to have some kind of presence online soon. That is my project this summer. More soon.

Comment by Kate Clark on June 26, 2010 at 12:42pm

An afterthought...we seem to be heavy on the vegetable matter and may be missing some pieces in terms of locally raised meat for food.

Comment by Kate Clark on June 17, 2010 at 10:20pm

I love Heather's idea of meeting while doing something productive in the gardens...how could we do that? Is there a BUGS garden someone is working on that we could volunteer for and do our meeting at the same time?

Comment by Kate Clark on June 14, 2010 at 8:50pm

Walter- thanks for your suggestion about buying from local farmers every week! (does the farmer's market count- I can ride my bike there). We need a Local Farm Food Pledge...I, Kate, so solemnly swear that I will buy at least $30 worth of produce directly from a local farmer each week.

Comment by Kate Clark on June 14, 2010 at 8:36pm

Thanks Heather and Deanna for the additions to our list. Deanna, can you email me the list of food bank/pantries? (kateclark101 at hotmail dot com)

And I hear you Walter, I have limited tolerance for processing- hence my decision to step out of the TWIG and focus directly on the Food Security Group. At the same time, some people really enjoy it and our efforts do need to be organized somewhat, so I'm glad someone else likes to do that stuff!

I do feel that there is a need both for ongoing activity in everything from working with the Ag industry here to individual projects on a neighborhood level and everything in between. These projects and groups are busy "doing their thing", and I couldn't be happier about that. Talk about an organic process!

However, I also see the need to take a step back and assess the food situation from both the countywide to the individual levels, to see 1) where there may be gaps that need more attention; 2) how TW can support the existing efforts (better publicity? making connections?), 3), what kinds of actions are necessary to engage a wider number of residents, and finally, 4) what should our goals be for 10-20 years and what are the steps for getting there?

Comment by Heather K on June 14, 2010 at 1:55pm

Hi farm food gardener friends! I'm interested in finding others who wish to purchase together land of 5 acres or more with rich soil, sun exposure, water access, decent growing season, low ag property taxes. Especially before our local land gets bought up by out-of-state investors. Fertile soil & water increases security.
I'm also a supporter of Kulshan CLT's vision of purchasing farmland that is held in a land trust similiar to their housing trust program.

As far as meetings & plans, some of us gardeners & farmers would rather meet & talk outside in the field while our hands are busy & productive.

Per Walter's encouragement for eating local in the now:
Partial list with Whatcom Food & Farm Finder:
http://sustainableconnections.org/foodfarming/guidetoeatinglocal
The printed map is much easier to read than this online version, which takes scrolling down to find the links. Looking at the map overall, you get a sense of where the best soils are for edibles.

There are also some U-Pick Fruit farms that are not listed on the farm map, but often the local paper prints a seasonal list/map.
Urban BUGS is offering garden-shares this year, that also includes attending all their educational classes for no charge.

Walter if you or others aren't on the specific SC Farm list/map, would you provide your farm name/address?
I have an apprentice who would like to come out and work with you sometime...he also is working some at Cedarville.

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