June Change for Good Recipient: Our Family Farms

June's Change for Good Recipient is

Our Family Farms

Our Family Farms, an Oregon 501(c)3 non profit organization, is hard at work educating and inspiring farmers, policy makers and the community at large to support regenerative agricultural practices.

Our Family Farms - Seeds

Our Family Farms envisions a thriving, sustainable food and agricultural system with seed diversity and farmable land for generations to come.

"We educate and inspire farmers, policymakers, and the community at large to support regenerative agricultural practices."

Our Family Farms

 

In 2014,  Our Family Farms ran a successful campaign banning the growing of GMO crops in Jackson County!

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After September's fires, Our Family Farms helped create the Farmworker Fire Housing Fund, helping farmworkers and their families.

 

 

With the outpouring of support of generous donors from around southern Oregon and around the world, they raised over $300,000 to help farmworkers replace their homes lost in the Almeda and the South Obenchain fires and have awarded seed grants directly to 46 families.

The remainder of the funds are being reserved to support a long term affordable, sustainable housing solution for agricultural workers in the Valley. They are engaging and investigating with other community organizations on long term solutions and will be sending updates as things progress.

 

Our Family Farms

 

Our Family Farms will also be taking part at this year's Rogue Valley Farm Tour! 

The Farm Tour is a free event and a great opportunity to visit over 30 farms and meet your local farmers.

Visit the Our Family Farms table at Oshala Farm on July 18, 2021. They will be sharing information about Pollinators and Regenerative Agriculture practices that help farms be more resilient to the changing climate. 

With help from Pollinator Project Rogue Valley, they created a Pollinator Scavenger Hunt for Farm Tour participants to complete as they explore all the farms on the tour.

Our Family Farms

 

Learn more about the Our Family Farms by visiting https://www.ourfamilyfarms.org/

 

What is Change for Good?


The AFC Gives committee focuses on ways that the Co-op community can support local organizations and groups doing important work in the Rogue Valley.
2020 was the first year of Change for Good, a register round-up program to benefit a slate of ten organizations, voted on by Co-op owners, through the cumulative donations of shoppers choosing to round-up their shopping total to the nearest dollar.
From one cent to 99 cents, it all adds up to feeling good about supporting the community.

More Co-op News

Staff Picks: Favorite Local Products

September is Love Local Month!  All month long we’re celebrating our local farmers and vendors with demos, events and more. Here are some of our staff's favorite local products.

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How Can I Reduce My Plastic Use at the Co-op?

By Rianna Koppel, Sustainability Coordinator

Plastic pollution today is a global dilemma. Did you know that more than 40% of plastic is used once, then tossed? In 2015, 79% of total plastic waste ended up in landfills or the environment. How can our co-op help reduce the amount of single-use plastics? Luckily, we offer a variety of options for owners.

Stainless Steel Straws

Meet Pachamama Coffee Cooperative

By Lauren Taber, Pachamama Coffee Cooperative

Pachamama Coffee Cooperative started in 2001 with a few simple questions in mind: what would it look like to take Fair Trade a step further? How can coffee farmers be in direct relationship with end consumers in the United States?

We found that the answer was even simpler: cooperative ownership. Pachamama Coffee has been 100% farmer-owned since day one, and is currently owned by 140,000 small scale family farmers across the coffee producing regions of the world.

Community Cider Backyard Fruit Drive

How often can you browse the shelf at your neighborhood grocery store, see a bottle of hand crafted, local cider and say, “Hey, I help make that!” Well, at the Co-op you can.

2018 Board Election Results

The AFC Board of Directors is pleased to announce the results of the 2018 Board Election. There were three excellent candidates running for two Board positions. In total, 905 votes were cast.

Congratulations to the following candidates who will serve three-year terms on the Ashland Food Co-op Board of Directors.

Thank you for voting!

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Meet Store Manager Barry Haynes

By Barry Haynes, Store Manager

Twenty three years ago my wife and I began our quest to relocate our family from the midwest to the west coast. We were looking for a beautiful area with an  engaged community that would enable our children to thrive. Equally important, we wanted our new home to have a vibrant natural food store. When we arrived in southern Oregon, we felt as though we hit the jackpot.

Beat the Heat

When the heat of summer takes over, it can be hard on our bodies and moods. Don’t let the scorching temps get you down, cool off with one of these refreshing Staff recommendations.
 

Report from the Board of Directors: Strategic Plan Update

By Jeff Golden, External Relations Committee Chair

Ashland Food Co-op is striding into the future with careful intention. We’re especially focused on the three top priorities of our strategic planning process, a collaboration of our board and management team. A quick update:

Riding off into the Sunset

 

By Annie Hoy, Retiring Marketing Manager

Since I was born and raised in far West Texas, I cannot help but use some imagery from what is so familiar to me.

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.

 

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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.