Meet our June Change for Good Recipient!
Pollinator Project Rogue Valley is a volunteer-led Oregon-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit concerned about the health of our native pollinators and plant communities. PPRV envisions communities and landscapes working together, supporting diverse ecosystems rich with native plants and thriving native pollinators.
"We inspire, engage, and educate about the ecological importance of native pollinator species and the diverse native plant communities essential for their survival - and ours. We are committed to the creation and restoration of pesticide-free pollinator corridors throughout
Southern Oregon." (PPRV)
Their Values:
Education - We are guided by our passion to teach and engage with the public of all ages. Our work is guided by science to conserve and protect pollinators as well as our local environment.
Gaia Principle - We believe the Earth to be a living system in which both a profound unity and respect for all life is critical, especially as it relates to our local pollination ecology.
Collaboration - We depend on collaborating with the community to carry out our mission and amplify our collective impact.
Commitment - We are a team that is committed to our cause and inspired by a shared devotion to the place we call home.
Integrity - We believe it is vital to be honest and transparent in our organization’s work and with each other.
Respect - We honor and value each person, their experiences, and contributions. This respect extends to the importance of acknowledging the indigenous peoples of North America as well as their culture, stewardship and on-going legacy.
JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) - We respect and support the diverse ways that humanity expresses itself and invite all races, genders, orientations, and abilities to our table and into our gardens. We feel it is important to stay curious and keep learning and adapting with an open mind and heart.
The work this organization does is simple, the more we know about the pollinators and plants that are native to this area, that are in fact essential components for our Southern Oregon ecosystem, the easier it will be for our human society to make decisions that will benefit us now and into the future. While making these solutions accessible and available to a wide range of community members, PPRV is proud to offer a myriad of programs for all age ranges to get outside and learn!
Programs offered:
Pollinator Pals - Providing children and teens, especially those living on low incomes, with hands-on science and place-based environmental education in schools, at community venues, and PPRV's Children's Learning Garden at Blue Heron Park in Phoenix. OR.
Growing Gardens - Engaging and educating students, interns, and volunteers on how to grow native plants, and creating and maintaining native plant demonstration gardens at our office, the Children's Learning Garden, and local schools. Thousands of native plants are grown in our Nursery each year for sale and donation to school gardens and community organizations.
Habitat Academy - Educating and engaging adults in place-based programs, workshops, and hands-on activities, often in partnership with other organizations and businesses, about native plants, pollinators, and the local ecosystem.
Rogue Buzzway - Mapping pollinator-friendly gardens and landscapes in partnership with Southern Oregon University, inspiring people to get involved with planting gardens while illustrating the increase of pesticide-free pollinator corridors in the region.
PPRV is moving! The organization's HQ has moved next door to their old location. This means more space for meetings and events, offices and windows to improve staff work quality and production, but at a higher cost. A generous sponsor has provided a donation of $10k, contingent on the organization matching that number with donations!
If you would like to learn more or support PPRV, please visit www.pollinatorprojectroguevalley.org
More Co-op News
Meet Reagan Roach, AFC Executive Chef & Prepared Foods Manager
The Co-op's general manager, Emile Amorotico, sat down with the newest addition to the co-op's management team, Reagan Roach. Get to know Reagan in the interview below - and say hi when you see him in store!
5 Things You Didn't Know the Co-op Carries for Cold, Flu & Immune Protection
- Wishgarden Herbs - Kick Ass Immune: Your total frontline immune defense!
- Oshala Farm - Oshala Fire Cider: Locally made in the Applegate. It tastes so good you could craft a healthy dressing with this fire cider!
- Mickelberry Gardens - Elderberry: Great Immune support for kids and adults. Made in Oregon.
Choose To Reuse
by Rianna Koppel, Co-op Sustainability Coordinator
At the Ashland Food Co-op, we are committed to becoming Zero Waste by 2030. Along the way, we’ve learned a lot about packaging and single-use at our store. Our owners care deeply about reducing plastic waste, and we do too!
Reusable Bags
At the co-op, we have many different bag options… So what's the best choice?
Lisa Beam: Why I'm a Board Member
Why serve on the Board of Directors at the Ashland Food Coop? This was the question that I was faced with about a year ago.
I have lived, worked and shopped in Ashland for the last 20 years. Many of those years I have actively participated on non-profit boards, civic organizations and committees. However, in the last few years I stepped away from those responsibilities to focus on family and business life.
Henry in the Garden: The Pollinator Plan
By Henry Herting, Co-op garden volunteer
It's that fun time of the year when we get to plan our gardens. This year since our pollinators are taking such a hard hit, we are planning a pollinator garden.
Some plants that are considered good for pollinators are not so good fo the gardeners. They are invasive; they are weeds. Nobody likes weeds in their garden - who likes getting down on their knee pads and clawing at deep-rooted weeds growing in places where you don't want them?
Rogue To Go at the Co-op
We are excited to announce the official launch of Rogue To Go at the Ashland Food Co-op!
Rogue To Go is a reusable container pilot program. The pilot connects five participating restaurants by offering a reusable container that can be used for meals to-go and help eliminate single-use boxes. These O2GO containers are made locally in Bend, Oregon by OZZI. The bright green containers are 100% recyclable through a specialty recycler - truly zero waste!
How can you start using Rogue To Go? Check out the steps below and follow along with a walk-through video.
Apply for an AFC Gives community grant
For over 25 years, the Ashland Food Co-op has been re-investing in the local community by awarding grants to non-profit organizations doing important work in the Rogue Valley. Putting the seventh cooperative principle, "concern for community," into action, over $30,000 was donated in 2019 - and in 2020, there are even more opportunities for non-profits.
The Co-op is getting a refresh
We are giving our store a much-needed fresh coat of paint. We think you'll enjoy the changes!
When
The painting team will begin our project on February 5th, 2020 with a start time of 9pm.
Where
The entire retail store, deli serving area and interior seating area will receive a fresh new coat of paint.
Timeline
If all goes as planned, our painting project should be finished by February 20.
Will Store Hours Change?
No. We will be painting from 9pm to 5am.
Explore citrus!
Looking to explore some new citrus varieties? Know more before you go! Check out the many types of sweet, sour and somewhere in between that you can enjoy at the Co-op! (Availability may vary due to seasonality.)
Taste for Life winter wellness giveaway
It's a month of giveaways from Taste for Life!
Giveaway #1 has finished up - so it's time for #2! This giveaway runs 1/27-2/2, so sign up below.
This package includes: NOW's Sabucus Zinc-C lozenges, Mushroom Wisdom's SX-Fraction, Bluebonnet's Stress Release formula, ChildLife's First Defense immune formula, Vitafusion's Organic Women's Multi vitamin, Quantum Health's Eye Health supplement, Kyo-Green Sprouts Blend digestion supplement, Solgar's full spectrum Curcumin supplement, and Solgar's No. 7 joint comfort supplement.
Rogue Co-ops College Scholarship
As part of the Rogue Co-ops, a group of Rogue Valley cooperative businesses that includes Ashland Food Co-op, Grange Co-op, Medford Food Co-op, and Rogue Credit Union, we're excited to offer a scholarship opportunity to local high school students planning on attending college.
The Rogue Co-ops have collectively funded a $2,000 scholarship (and Grange Co-op offers an additional eight $1,500 scholarships) for students (in public, private or home school settings) who meet the following requirements:
Become an Owner-Volunteer with the AFC Board
The AFC Board of Directors is looking for owner-volunteers for three board committees: the Owner Engagement Committee (OEC), Board Development Committee (BDC), and AFC Gives Committee.
Sustainability Update: Building on a Strong Foundation
Sustainability Update
Our team has been working on many different projects throughout the year, taking great steps to fulfill our four sustainability goals. Our four goals to achieve by 2030 are: carbon neutrality, zero waste, eliminating toxic chemicals, and being a leader in our sustainable community. We look forward to our sustainable success in the upcoming decade!
2020: A vision for the future through Co-ops and local food
As the 2010s come to a close, the “20/20” eyesight analogy couldn’t be more appropriate for the new decade. With our eye on the future, there’s clearly a sense of urgency and awareness of the unique times we’re living in: a changing climate, increases in costs of living, and the shared pressures of a globalized world.