Streamside Shade & Legislation – Salish Current

Posted on February 28, 2022 by Al Bergstein

The Lorraine Loomis Act named in honor of the late Swinomish tribal leader, failed in the Legislature this year. . The bill focused on protecting, restoring and maintaining habitat along salmon-bearing streams and drainages. Here’s a bit of why it did, despite the Governor’s backing.


Salmon recovery is a priority for many in Washington who see vegetated streamside buffers as important to salmon-friendly habitat. But some in the state’s agricultural community see the threat of loss of productive farmland from proposals such as the Lorraine Loomis Act discussed earlier in this year’s legislative session. Lauren Gallup reports. (Salish Current)

Streamside shade: fish and farm advocates struggle to find common ground

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EVENT: “The Horse-Powered Market Garden” 5 January

Posted on December 29, 2014 by Al Bergstein

January 5th ( Monday) , 7:00 Quimper Grange Program

Caitlin Arnold and Brandon Wickes spent eight months as draft horse interns
on a successful organic vegetable farm in Ontario Canada this past year and
will talk about working with the horses, and the tools and equipment they
used to grow vegetables for a 220–member CSA. They see draft horse farming
as a viable alternative to using fossil fuels and are hoping to start their
own draft powered farm business in 2015. This slide show will provide
attendees with a basic understanding of modern horse-powered organic
farming and will be followed by a Q and A. Resources will be provided for
those interested in learning more about and/or pursuing horse-powered
farming.

Quimper Grange is located at 1219 Corona St (North end of Sheridan)
A suggested donation of $5-10 is requested to help maintain and improve the
Quimper Grange hall.

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WSU Master Goat Farmer Program offered in Jefferson County in January

Posted on December 26, 2013 by Al Bergstein

WSU Jefferson County Extension offers the Master Goat Farmer Program on Marrowstone  Island from January 17-19th , 2014. The 3-day advanced course, offered by WSU since 1988,provides goat farmers/owners in-depth training of goat production topics including nutrition, pasture management, health and disease, lactation, mastitis, reproduction, housing, breed  selection, and food safety.

Course presenters include Susan Kerr, WSU Northwest Regional Livestock and Dairy Extension Specialist; Gary Fredericks, WSU Cowlitz Extension County Director, and Lorrie Conway. Course participants will experience hands-on and classroom presentations, along with a field trip to neighboring goat dairy, Mystery Bay Farm. Participants will also receive a CD of educational publications related to goat care and management.

The Master Goat Farmer Program will be held at WSU Twin Vista Ranch on Marrowstone Island on Friday, Saturday and Sunday January 17th , 18th and 19th

Class size is limited. Cost is $60 per person, plus $30 for additional family members. To register, visit jefferson.wsu.edu.

For more information: Susan Kerr at kerrs@wsu.edu or 360-848-6151 or Kellie Henwood at (360) 379-5610 ext. 201.

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Upcoming WSU Extension Class for Beginning Farmers- Sign up now

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Al Bergstein

Upcoming farm course offers overview of production and marketing options

 

Do you farm and need some help improving your bottom line? Do you dream of farming, and aren’t sure where to begin?  The “Sustainable Small Acreage Farming and Ranching” course offered through a joint effort between WSU Jefferson and Clallam County Extensions provides beginning and expanding farmers with planning and decision-making tools, production skills, and support necessary to develop or improve their sustainable small farm or ranch.

 

Course presenters include successful local producers and university specialists with expertise in direct marketing, value-added processing, production planning, and more.  Course participants will have a chance to participate in field visits to see different operations and processing options up close.  They also qualify for college or continuing education credit.

 

Sustainable Farming and Ranching runs weekly on Wednesday nights from January 22nd thru March 19th, 6:00pm-9:00pm at the Gardiner Community Center in Gardiner, including 3 intensive Saturday field trips to various farms throughout both counties. The class is part of the Cultivating SuccessTM Program, a collaboration of Washington State University’s Small Farms Team, University of Idaho Extension and the non-profit Rural Roots. Support comes from the USDA Risk Management Agency and the Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program. 

 

Class size is limited. Cost for the nine-week course is $250 per farm or family. Paid pre-registration is required.  Register online at jefferson.wsu.edu or contact Kellie Henwood at WSU Jefferson County Extension at 360-379-5610 ext. 201.

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New Local Food Group of Sequim joins our network

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Al Bergstein

Had a chat this morning with Gerry Christensen who is helping Carol Hull and others with the North Olympic Peninsula Local Food Access Network (L-FAN). (I’ve added their link to the NGO section of the left hand front page if you need to find it in the future).

http://localfoodaccessnetwork.wordpress.com/

In their words:

Our primary focus is North Peninsula local food ecosystems with an emphasis on developing and supporting increased and sustainable capacity for production, distribution, and consumption locally.

Our high-level goals are to educate, act, and facilitate the positive actions of others regarding local food related issues within the North Olympic Peninsula area of Washington. We will strive to do this in harmony with businesses, organizations, and citizens within the area.  Our goal is to communicate with all, seek cooperation when possible, and collaborate or partner with various entities concerned with local food.

As I know some of our readers are involved in this area of environmental activism, I recommend that you contact Gerry and introduce yourself and your organization. Gerry and his family are somewhat new to the Peninsula having come out from Colorado, so I’m sure he’d appreciate getting to know more of you that are working in the area of the local food movement.

His contact info is

Gerry Christensen <gerry.christensen@gmail.com>

 

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