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
A Visit with Magnolia Farms
Visit Magnolia Farms and learn more about owner Elissa Thau, who the Ashland Food Co-op is so honored to partner with for more than twenty years.
A Visit with Emerald Hills
Visit the Emerald Hills Ranch and learn more about this fourth generation ranching family that the Ashland Food Co-op is so proud to partner with for more than twenty years.
A Conversation with Katie Falkenberg, Photographer and Filmmaker
Katie Falkenberg's photography and filmmaking has taken her all over the world, and lucky for us - she's been calling the Rogue Valley home for a couple years now. Exquisitely and harmoniously capturing the world around her, she is documenting not only through the lens but also through her peaceful and loving spirit. Katie reached out to us in hopes of collaborating after falling in love with the co-op soon after moving here.
March Change for Good Recipient: North Mountain Park Nature Center
March's Change for Good Recipient is
North Mountain Park Nature Center,
a division of Ashland Parks and Recreation, that encompasses demonstration gardens, a nature playground, and approximately 14 acres of Natural Area that is managed for wildlife preservation and public education.
February Change for Good Recipient: Ashland High Arts Advocates
January Change for Good Recipient: Rogue Valley Mentoring
Since 2005, Rogue Valley Mentoring (formerly the Rose Circle Mentoring Network) has trained over 500 adults who have mentored over 2,000 youth in our valley; letting young people know that they are not alone. A caring and compassionate ear shows them that they matter, and they they are experts of their own experience.
Coronavirus Preparedness at the Co-op
Update as of March 15th, 2022: Oregon Health Authority no longer requires face coverings to be worn in all public indoor settings.
Shopping Safely & Efficiently
As coronavirus cases increase in Jackson County, the Co-op is taking extra precautions to protect shoppers and employees.
To ensure social distancing in the store, the number of persons allowed in the store at once has been reduced to 50% capacity. Understandably, this may lead to a short wait outside of the store, but please be assured the line moves quickly.
In order to keep the wait as short as possible, here are a few steps you can take to help out:
10 Ways to Shine Your Light in Dark Times
By Allan Weisbard L.C.S.W.
Since 1963, autumn has been a difficult time for me. Two months shy of my 13th birthday I lost my younger brother to cancer, then shortly afterwards, President Kennedy was assassinated.
Masks Required for All In-Store Shoppers
To protect the health of Co-op staff and shoppers, all shoppers and other visitors on Ashland Food Co-op property must wear face coverings over mouth and nose except when dining in an approved area. As of November 11, 2020, face shields will not be permitted unless worn with a mask.
From the Board: Co-ops Look in the Mirror
By Annie Hoy, Board Secretary and Chair of Owner Engagement Committee
Food Co-ops around the nation proudly display signage saying EVERYONE WELCOME. Or they use the slogan, “Anyone can shop. Anyone can join.” But are food co-ops, and other cooperative businesses, walking the walk?
November/December GM Update: Overcoming Challenges
It’s probably already cliche to say “it’s been one heck of a year.” There have been challenges a-plenty for all of us, whether we’re working or shopping at the Co-op - but I’m so proud of how all of us have persevered.
End of year wrap-up on Strategic Energy Management at the Co-op
Hi there. I hope this finds you well. It’s me, Nina Friedman, Strategic Energy Management (SEM) intern for the Ashland Food Co-op. The global and local crises have only devolved into further chaos since we last spoke. As we sit with the reality of coworkers, neighbors, and friends who’ve lost their homes and businesses to the recent fires, and thousands more across the nation losing their loved ones to COVID-19, I imagine many are feeling frozen and powerless to help those that are suffering.
SNAP in the Co-op Kitchen and Thanksgiving
Use your SNAP EBT benefits for all Co-op Kitchen items through November 20th, 2020!
Recognizing the difficulties in food preparation for families who lost their homes in the local wildfires, the State of Oregon has expanded SNAP benefits to be used for hot foods, like made-to-order and hot bar meals from the Co-op Kitchen, through November 20.
And starting on November 16, you can get an early taste of Thanksgiving as the Co-op Kitchen hot bar rolls out the full Thanksgiving spread.
Black Lives Matter
We acknowledge that the Ashland Food Co-op has not had a culture where all employees and community members felt safe sharing their experiences of discrimination in our store. We apologize for this. We are on a learning journey. We have reached out for help, and are listening to our Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) employees and owners who want to be part of the positive change we seek.
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