Meet our August CFG Recipient!

 

Meet our August Change for Good recipient, The Crest at Willow-Witt! This organization is an environmental education nonprofit located in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. They believe believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to build a meaningful connection with the natural world. Through outdoor school, summer camps, field trips, volunteer opportunities, and public events, The Crest welcomes thousands of youth and adults to the ranch each year.

 

Willow-Witt Ranch includes 445 acres nestled in a valley at almost 5000’ elevation, in the central Cascade Range and within the boundaries of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. The terrain at Willow-Witt Ranch supports ecologically complex systems, which are enhanced through responsible management practices. 

 

This nonprofit relies on donations to support youth programs and give community groups the chance to experience the wonders of nature to learn about and feel a connection to the natural world. The Crest at Willow-Witt also works to remove barriers to participation by providing scholarships and transportation assistance so that more students can experience hands-on environmental education.

 

Their vision includes five main pillars:

  • Conservation: “Use our resources wisely as we only have one earth.”
  • Reciprocity: “This land has been home to people for over 8000 years. All humans have impacted the land. We strive to return to balance and to follow nature’s teachings.”
  • Education: “We respect the land as our teacher.”
  • Stewardship: “We strive to cultivate a continuum of care for land, people, relationships, and ways of accessing and learning as our world evolves.”
  • Trust: “We follow the principles of reciprocity and respect for the earth and people.  We strive to foster love, compassion, knowledge and care for all people and nature.  We monitor our efforts to remain on this path.”

 

The diverse landscape and daily work at The Crest offer countless opportunities to explore organic regenerative farming, holistic land management, animal husbandry, restorative forestry, wetland restoration, and archaeological discovery. Whether your visit is for an hour or for a week, their programs encourage schools, community groups, and families to take full advantage of this rich and dynamic outdoor classroom!

 

For more information, visit www.thecrestatwillowwitt.org


 

More Co-op News

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Sustainability Update

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5 Items to Try: Spreads, Condiments & Snacks

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10 Ways to Enjoy: Ginger Spread

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Meet Your Board: Melina Barker

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Melina Barker

 

Smart Chicken® Holiday Giving in 2019

During the month of November, Co-op shoppers can nourish their own families and help fight hunger in the Rogue Valley.

Over the years, Smart Chicken® and Ashland Food Co-op have teamed up to donate thousands of pounds of chicken to ACCESS. Smart Chicken® will once again donate Smart Chicken® products based on the total volume that shoppers purchase at Ashland Food Co-op to ACCESS.

Henry in the Garden: Already Preparing for the Spring

The bane of all gardeners is powdery mildew - that white substance that collects both on the tops and bottoms of the leaves of your healthiest vegetable plants. Cucumbers and zucchini seem to be more easily affected by this scourge than many others.

GM Report: Gratitude for a Great 2019 at the Co-op

It’s the season of gratitude and reflection on the year that has passed, and there is so much to be thankful for as a Co-op owner. 

2019 started off with the news that over $13,000 in emergency donations had been raised from Co-op owners and shoppers for support and relief efforts after Paradise, CA was leveled by a wildfire. This outpouring of our support was critical in the months after the fire, after the news trucks had left and the work of rebuilding began. I know how grateful we all are for the much calmer smoke season that our region experienced this summer. 

Rounding Up in October

Part of what makes co-ops unique are the guiding 7 Principles of Cooperation. One of the seven that is felt strongly in Ashland is "Concern for the community" - and that's why the Co-op is offering a new way to give back to our community for the month of October. When you pay at the register, you can round up your total to the nearest dollar. For example, $11.68 becomes $12, and $0.32 is donated.

Fall Staff Picks

Thanks to alpine trails and shaded valley creeks, outdoor recreation is year-round in the Rogue Valley. But fall usually makes for more frisky feet, so we asked Co-op employees for their favorite fall activities and recommendations for what they grab before they head out. 

 

Applegate products joining Co-op Basics

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Applegate sandiwhc

2019 Farm Tour Recap

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Visitors of all ages enjoying Goodwin Creek Gardens
Visitors of all ages enjoying Goodwin Creek Gardens

AFC Celebrates 20 Years with Magnolia Farms

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