Change for Good in August: KS Wild
This month's featured organization in the new Change for Good register round-up program is KS Wild (short for Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center).
KS Wild is one of the most prominent land conservation and stewardship organizations in the region. They focus on the Klamath-Siskiyou region, which includes large swaths of Southern Oregon and Northern California (inculding the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument). This bioregion is one of the most diverse in the country, home to populations of wolves, rare plants and unique geographic formations.
KS Wild is also the parent organization of Rogue Riverkeeper, an advocacy group for local waterways and member of the international Waterkeeper Alliance.
Below are many of the programs that KS Wild works on - and some campaigns you can take action on. And put KS Wild's annual dinner & auction on your calendar for September:
Join KS Wild's 2020 Annual Dinner & Auction: At Home in the Wild
Silent Online Auction: open bidding September 21st - 25th
Live Online Event: September 26th, 6:30-8pm
More information here: https://www.kswild.org/annual-dinner-2020
Forests:
ForestWatch monitors and influences public land management across seven forest districts and two federal agencies, across the 8 million acres of public lands in the Klamath-Siskiyou region of southwestern Oregon and northwestern California. It is at the heart of KS Wild's conservation mission and advocacy.
Learn more here.
Climate:
KS Wild’s Climate Program engages policy makers and land managers at the local, state, and federal levels to take bold action to prevent the worst impacts of climate change, while also advancing on-the-ground projects that prepare our region for coming changes.
Learn more here.
Waterways:
KS Wild protects rivers and their fish by opposing projects that harm salmon and water quality while advocating for actions that help restore riparian health. Along with our Rogue Riverkeeper program, KS Wild works to retain streamside forest canopy cover, prevent destructive in-stream mining activities, and reduce the impact of poorly maintained logging roads on streams and creeks are continuing priorities.
Learn more here.
Wildlife:
The forests, wildlands, and rivers of the Klamath-Siskiyou provide refuge for a remarkable variety of wildlife. By preventing the logging of our old-growth forests we are protecting many species, but especially sensitive, at-risk species. KS Wild also collaborates with our conservation allies to petition the US Fish and Wildlife service to list at-risk species as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act including the Siskiyou Mountain Salamander, Pacific Fisher, Wolverine, and Lamprey.
Learn more here.
Stewardship:
As part of our mission to protect wild places, roadless areas, wildlife habitat, and watersheds, KS Wild collaborates with agencies and community members to restore natural areas through land stewardship projects. Public Lands and You (PLAY) is our volunteer-based stewardship program that protects important wildlife and botanical habitat from further degradation on public lands. Many of these areas are threatened by unauthorized off-road vehicle use, cattle grazing, and irresponsible recreation.
Learn more here.
Specific Campaigns & Actions:
Monitor Grazing
For decades the Klamath National Forest has authorized and encouraged extensive grazing of the Siskiyou Crest that damages meadows and springs in the backcountry. The Klamath National Forest believes grazing public lands for private profit trumps all other values of these special places. Every year the cows released by the Klamath on the drier south side of the Siskiyou Crest trespass onto the wet meadows and headwater streams on the north side of the Siskiyou Crest in the Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest. The private cattle ranchers benefit from this trespass grazing while botanical hotspots, meadows, and watersheds pay the price. It's easy to get involved by simply documenting what you see during hikes in sensitive areas. Click here for our grazing manual and impact report form, which includes a how-to guide, where to go and park along the Siskiyou Crest for monitoring, and a form to submit a report if cows are evident.
Climate Executive Order
Oregon's forests are a powerful tool for carbon storage and slowing climate change. Unfortunately, we are not using the tool to its fullest potential. If we take action, Oregon's forests could make a far greater contribution to the global climate effort by storing far more carbon. Take action to demand that ODF work with the Oregon Global Warming Commission to take Oregon's Climate Executive Order seriously and reform Oregon's forest practices to store carbon, protect water quality, and prevent air and water pollution.
Take action here.
More Co-op News
Ashland Food Co-op Signs Contract to Purchase Property
The Ashland Food Co-op expects to soon complete the purchase of an undeveloped lot at 120 Clear Creek Drive in Ashland. The parcel is located directly behind Ashland Lumber. This purchase is a major step in the Co-op’s vision for growing its downtown presence.
Staff Picks: Summer Hikes and Trail Snacks
Our staff loves to head outside and enjoy the gorgeous Oregon outdoors. Here's a few of their favorite trails and the Co-op snacks they like to take with them.
Be a Zero Waste Hero in Four Easy Steps
By Stephanie Koerella, Education Coordinator
Reducing our waste has continued to be of greater concern for Rogue Valley residents, especially since January, when options for recycling became even more limited. While the Ashland Food Co-op is ramping up our efforts to reduce waste as a business, there is a lot that our community can do at home to help the cause.
On the Road to Sustainability
By Laura Pfister, Media Coordinator
Forty six years ago, a group of families formed a buying club to access sustainable, local organic food as an alternative to modern industrial agriculture. This humble foundation of social and environmental responsibility started the Ashland Food Co-op and has shaped every decision we’ve ever made. It’s how, over four decades later, that a small buying club became a 30 million dollar, 17,500 square foot Certified Organic Retailer diverting 82% of their discards from the landfill.
Staff Picks: Earth Friendly Products
In celebration of Sustainability Month in April, we asked our Sustainability Committee to share their favorite eco-friendly product.
2018 Kids Summer Camps
We’ve teamed up with Rogue Valley Farm to School to offer three different camps this summer. Each week campers will dive into food production, preparation and exploration, with a mix of farm and kitchen experiences that delight the senses and inspire the soul. Join Rogue Valley Farm to School staff as they cultivate the ability to grow and cook delicious, healthy, seasonal meals. Monday - Wednesday at the Co-op Community Classroom, Thursday & Friday at the Farm at SOU.
Update on our Strategic Initiatives
By Ed Claassen, Board President
Your Board and Management Team invested a significant amount of time in 2014 developing a set of strategic initiatives that we believe are vital in shaping the future of our business and furthering our mission. We formed a Strategic Planning Steering Committee consisting of 3 Board members and 3 Management Team members to guide the implementation of these initiatives.
2018 Electronic Coupon Schedule
To further our sustainability efforts and to serve you better, we began offering Electronic Owner Coupons in January 2017 at the register.
No more forgetting to bring your owner coupons. No more waiting for your newsletter to arrive. Cashiers simply ask if you want to use your owner coupons when you check out.
As we enter our second year of Electronic Coupons we wanted to share a couple of friendly reminders and the 2018 month by month schedule.
Please note:
What Does Democracy Have to Do with Cooperatives?
By Annie Hoy, Marketing Manager
We often refer to cooperatives as “democratic enterprises.” But what does that really mean? The Ashland Food Co-op, like all other co-ops in most economic sectors, is owned and controlled by the people who use its services.
Co+op Basics: High Integrity, Low Price
Looking to stretch your grocery budget? So are we! We've lowered the price on over three hundred items to create a set of high integrity staples for every shopper. Welcome to Co+op Basics.
Co+op Basics includes over 300 pantry and household staples. From beef to milk to cereal, we’ve lowered the margin and price on all those items to make organic, healthy food accessible to every shopper.
Co+op Basics Staff Favorites
After the holidays, we usually find our pocket books a little lighter. Here are a few favorite Co+op Basics items our staff turn to when the money is a little tighter.
Proposals Sought for the 2018 Community Grants
The funding cycle for the 2018 Co-op Community Grants for nonprofit organizations is now open.
Every spring, for more than 20 years, we’ve been donating to area nonprofits through our Community Grant program. We are committed to creating healthy, sustainable communities and this program helps us fulfill that commitment by supporting the amazing work of local nonprofits. The Community Grant program is also the highlight of Cooperative Principle 7, Concern for Community, and is something we take to heart.
From the General Manager’s Desk
By Emile Amarotico
As we commence our lap around the sun in 2018, I wish to recognize the longstanding contributions of an amazing group of professionals. We are blessed with the dedication of eleven department managers expertly coordinating the daily flow of people, products and services that breath life into our Co-op!
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Lynne (35+ years’ tenure) our Grocery Manager oversees keeping the aisles abundant with shelf stable products and coolers full of fresh perishables.
The Role of the Board in Co-op Governance
By Gwyneth Bowman, Vice President
After serving on the AFC Board for fourteen years my passion for the Co-op model has strengthened my commitment to the Cooperative Principles and Values. Of special importance is how we work together as a governing body with one voice. We are the ultimate decision-makers of our Co-op and hold a trusteeship for the benefit of our owners and community.