Supporting Stream Smart: Our June Change for Good Partner
We are delighted to announce our June Change for Good partner, Stream Smart, a remarkable local organization dedicated to improving the health of our streams and rivers.
What is Stream Smart?
Stream Smart is an educational campaign that empowers individuals to make environmentally conscious choices to protect and enhance our local waterways. Their mission is to increase awareness of how our daily habits impact our streams and rivers. By making simple changes at home—like picking up after pets, using porous materials in landscaping, and planting trees to restore riparian areas—we can all contribute to turning our streams from brown to blue.
Rogue Basin Salmon Watch Program: A Highlight of Success
One of Stream Smart's shining achievements is the Rogue Basin Salmon Watch program. This program has reached nearly 2,000 students and hosted 34 field days during the 2023-2024 season. It provides students with hands-on learning experiences about watershed health, water quality, and the importance of riparian areas. Students gain insights from local experts, including fish biologists, hydrologists, and botanists, who generously share their knowledge during these field trips. Best of all, this program is offered at no cost to schools, thanks to the generous support of numerous funders, partners, and volunteers.
Community Involvement: Making a Difference Together
Stream Smart also thrives on community involvement. Every spring and fall, hundreds of volunteers join forces to clean up local waterways, remove invasive species, and plant native trees and shrubs. These efforts not only enhance the beauty and health of our creeks and rivers but also provide essential habitats for a variety of aquatic plants and animals. The program supplies everything needed for these events, from tools and gloves to snacks and educational materials, ensuring that volunteers can focus on making a positive impact.
Recent Events: Celebrating Community Efforts
On April 20th, 2024, Stream Smart collaborated with the Bear Creek Stewards for the Bear Creek Stewardship Day, a biannual event in honor of Earth Day and National Public Lands Day. Over 100 volunteers gathered along the Bear Creek Greenway to remove several tons of trash, plant native species, weed pollinator gardens, and install bird nesting boxes. This massive effort spanned from Central Point to Ashland and significantly benefited both Bear Creek and its surrounding areas.
Similarly, on May 18th, the 32nd Annual Rogue River Cleanup and Let’s Pull Together Weed Pull saw over 150 participants come together to pick up trash, pull invasive weeds, and inventory aquatic invasive species along the Rogue River. This event not only cleaned up the river but also fostered a stronger sense of community and stewardship among participants.
Long-term Commitment: Adopt-A-River and Beyond
Stream Smart’s commitment to our waterways is unwavering. As part of SOLVE’s Adopt-A-River program, they have adopted a section of the Rogue River near Hog Creek County Park. This initiative has expanded their educational outreach and volunteer opportunities. From trail building to installing pollinator gardens, controlling invasive weeds, and setting up educational signs, Stream Smart continues to make a lasting impact.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, Stream Smart adopted a section of the Bear Creek Greenway and Riparian Corridor. Collaborating with various partners, they have restored the area affected by the 2018 Peninger fire, installed educational signs, hosted events, and planted native species to revive the ecosystem.
Join Us in Supporting Stream Smart
We at the Ashland Food Co-op are incredibly proud to support Stream Smart through our Change for Good program. Your contributions, simply by rounding up your purchase, directly support the amazing work Stream Smart does in our community. To learn more about Stream Smart or to get involved, visit their website at www.stream-smart.com or email them at [email protected].
Together, let's continue to make positive changes for our streams, rivers, and the entire Rogue Basin. Thank you for your generosity and support!
More Co-op News
March Change for Good: KS Wild
As we step into March, we are thrilled to introduce our Change for Good partner – KS Wild, an organization dedicated to preserving the breathtaking landscapes of Southern Oregon. At the heart of our community lies a shared commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, making KS Wild the perfect ally in our ongoing quest for positive change.
What is KS Wild?
February Change for Good Partner: Rogue Climate
As we navigate the challenges posed by climate change, it becomes increasingly vital to support organizations dedicated to creating positive environmental impacts. This February, Ashland Food Co-op proudly introduces Rogue Climate as its Change for Good partner. Join us in supporting their mission to empower Southern Oregon communities most affected by climate change.
January Change for Good: AHS Culinary Arts Program
Hey Co-op community!
As we step into the new year, the Ashland Food Co-op is excited to continue our Change for Good program, and for January 2024, we're shining a spotlight on a program that's close to our hearts (and our stomachs) - the Ashland High School Culinary Arts Program.
No Hassle Holiday - Thanksgiving Dinner from the Co-op!
This Thanksgiving, let us take the hassle out of your holiday feast preparation!
November Change for Good: Rogue Food Unites
Say hello to our November Change for Good partner - Rogue Food Unites!
Rogue Food Unites (RFU) uses food to heal individuals and communities during times of crisis. RFU was formed in 2020 out of the dual disasters of the Almeda and Obenchain fires and the impacts of COVID-19 on local communities. Within a short time, RFU began contracting with the State of Oregon to supply hot meals, food boxes, and solidarity cards in Deschutes, Douglas, Klamath, Josephine, and Jackson Counties.
Meet Nick Hardee, AFC's new GM!
The Co-op Board of Directors and staff are thrilled to welcome Nick Hardee as the new General Manager of the Ashland Food Co-op! We asked Nick to share a little bit about himself so we'll get right to it!
October Change for Good: Center for Non-Profit Legal Services
This October, the Ashland Food Co-op is proud to partner with the Center for Non-Profit Legal Services (CNPLS) for our Change for Good program. All month long, shoppers can round up their purchases to support CNPLS and their mission to provide access to justice.
CNPLS is a non-profit legal aid firm serving low-income and vulnerable community members in Ashland and surrounding areas. Their team of dedicated lawyers and volunteers work to ensure everyone has access to legal help, regardless of their ability to pay.
It's Co-op Month!
OK, you've got us, every month is Co-op Month here at AFC! But every October since 1964, cooperatives of all kinds have celebrated the cooperative difference. Here at the Ashland Food Co-op, we're excited to recognize the history, benefits, and principles behind our own co-op.
September Change for Good: AFC Community Fund
As we enter the beautiful month of September here in Southern Oregon, we're excited to share that our Change for Good partner this month is our very own Community Fund. As many of you know, the Community Fund allows us to support amazing local projects and organizations doing great work right here in Southern Oregon.
August Change for Good - Partnering with ACCESS to Make a Difference!
We are honored to partner with ACCESS this August - a fantastic organization that has been serving our community for over four decades. ACCESS, which stands for "A Community in Action, Connecting, Empowering, and Strengthening Self-Sufficiency," is dedicated to addressing hunger, homelessness, and poverty in Southern Oregon.
Empowering Our Community: AFC's Community Grants Now Accepting Applications
As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the local community, AFC is thrilled to announce the that we are accepting applications for our Community Grants program.
Ashland Food Co-op's Community Grants program is designed to foster meaningful change in the Southern Oregon region. Through these grants, we seek to support projects that align with our mission of promoting local and sustainable food systems, addressing food insecurity, and promoting community engagement.
July's Change for Good Partner - Maslow Project
Ashland Food Co-op is thrilled to partner with Maslow Project for our Change for Good program! Maslow Project is an incredible organization that works tirelessly to support homeless youth and families in Southern Oregon. Their mission is to empower individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency, and they do this through a range of services including housing assistance, medical care, and educational support.
June 2023 Change for Good Partner: Southern Oregon Land Conservancy
The Ashland Food Co-op is teaming up with the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy (SOLC) as its Change for Good partner for this month. This collaboration aims to support SOLC's mission of conserving Southern Oregon's natural landscapes and habitats.
Bicycle Benefits
Here at the Co-op we are on a mission to promote healthy lifestyles and sustainable practices within our community.
May 2023 Change for Good Partner: Talent Maker City
Talent Maker City's mission is to build a more connected, prosperous, and resilient community through hands-on creativity and innovative STEAM-based learning. (STEAM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math.) They have a bustling Makerspace facility, brimming with creative energy in downtown Talent offering hands-on STEAM-based workshops and programming for curious minds of all ages!