THE BACKPACK PROJECT

Cindy Darnell tells us:

Sad but true fact....Finding ways to make a difference in people's lives is getting easier and easier as times get tougher. Here's one for you. A few years back a friend and I were brainstorming ways that we could make a difference with a hands-on project when we came up with an idea of providing school backpacks for poor children in our community. We asked friends and family for donations. I buy the backpacks for $5.25 ea. from a wholesaler and we fill them with basic school supplies, hand soap, toothbrushes,granola bars and other basic supplies, depending on how much money we collect.

The first year we did 25 backpacks, the second we did 50 the third 60, last year we did 60 again. This year there is a greater need then ever. We are adding the Maslow project and they need 500 bags for homeless youth in Jackson County. I doubt if we will get enough money to get those numbers but who knows. Miracles... if you expect them, they will come.

We are not an official non-profit agency. If you want a tax deduction for your contribution you can donate directly to the Maslow Project. Thanks in advance for anything you can do to help.

Contact Information:
You have a choice of three places to send your money. Please make your check out to:
Arlene Aron 1684 Humbug Creek Road Jacksonville OR 97530
Cindy Darnell 13503 Duggan Rd Central Point OR 97502
Ronit Gibb PO BOX 298 Jacksonville OR 97530

A Gifting Tree Grows in Ashland

The Gifting Tree Wellness Center is part of a "gift-economy," which represents a shift from consumption to contribution, transaction to trust, scarcity to abundance and isolation to community. Our Wellness Center was conceived and created in the spirit of giving, to empower individuals to create optimal health and wellness by providing integrative health care services and education via sustainable partnerships with clients, practitioners, community, and environment.

The Gifting Tree Wellness Center is an opportunity for practitioners and clients alike to engage in sharing our gifts. The practitioner offers their gift, at the request of the client, in a way that supports their healing. The client is then given the opportunity to give a gift to the practitioner, the Gifting Tree and/or to the community, in the direction and proportion their guidance dictates. Through these acts of giving, the client, the practitioner, the clinic and the community all benefit with the flow of mutual generosity.

We invite you to explore, in your own way, the true art of giving and receiving.

Contact Information:
Web: http://www.giftingtree.net

Go CarLite with Ashland CarShare

Ashland CarShare is a not for profit membership organization that provides neighborhood-based fuel efficient hybrid vehicles for personal use without the hassles and expenses of car ownership. Mission driven, not profit driven, their aim is to promote car-sharing as a means to reduce automobile dependence and to enhance the environmental and social integrity of our urban neighborhoods and planet. Carsharing offers an opportunity to be more conscious about the transportation choices you make every day in our community by providing: short term rentals; neighborhood based vehicles; self-accessing; different vehicles for different uses (coming soon); and full turnkey service.

Your participation and support of carsharing helps:
• reduce carbon emissions, traffic and congestion
• promote transit and alternative transportation choices
• reduce your costs for transportation
• reduce land needed for parking

How does it work? You pay a one time joining fee and then an annual fee based on the plan you choose. You can reserve a car anywhere from up to three months in advance to just hours before. You pay only for time and distance, Ashland CarShare pays for everything else.

Carsharing offers a practical, tangible way to improve the environment, promote community and build local economy.

Feel good, not guilty about your transportation choices!

FARM to FORK to You!

FARM to FORK, a traveling farm-to-table restaurant, local food fundraiser, and community celebration, will change your relationship with food! These unique dinners are designed to reconnect people to the source of their food, and to honor the talented farmers, food artisans, winemakers, and chefs that contribute to the growing culinary reputation and local food community of Southern Oregon.

Experience a remarkable artisan meal in the company of friends, neighbors, and fellow supporters of our local food and wine community. Proceeds from the dinners will be contributed directly to local farmers, wineries and organizations that support small farms, food security, and greater accessibility to healthy, local food.

An essential part of the FARM to FORK mission is to directly support local farmers and organizations that support small farms, food security, community resiliency, and greater accessibility to healthy, local food.

Summer FARM to FORK events in the Rogue Valley are sold out, so (get yourself on the waiting list!) and sign up for the Sept, Oct and Nov events!

Contact Information:

Web: FARM to FORK 2010 Schedule

Image: By S Baker. Wikimedia Commons.

Rogue Valley Farm to School (Jamie Oliver would be proud)

Rogue Valley Farm to School’s mission is to educate children about their food system through hands-on farm and garden programs, and by increasing local foods in school meals. The organization works to inspire an appreciation of local agriculture that improves the economy and environment of the community, and the health of its members.

• The Farm Education Program teaches students about local organic agriculture and nutrition through hands on activities that incorporate math, science, art and writing as well as practical life skills such as cooking, gardening, problem solving, and working together.
• The School Garden Program helps local schools establish and sustain their own gardening projects, and develop educational activities in the school gardens.
• The Farm to Cafeteria Program creates connections between local growers and the school lunchroom. Rogue Valley Farm to School works with school food service staff to evaluate annual produce needs that in turn assist farmers in planning their seasonal planting. Rogue Valley Farm to School also keeps track of local and regional product availability to facilitate ordering, receiving, storage and distribution of fresh, local produce according to school menus.

Contact Information:
Web: Rogue Valley Farm To School

Image: By Frank Wouters. Wikimedia Commons.

Did You Know? City Of Ashland & Phoenix Biofuels

By switching to B5 biodiesel in June 2009, the City of Ashland became Southern Oregon's largest municipal fleet running on domestic biodiesel blends.

By replacing 5% of their 38,000-gallon annual diesel usage with a domestic biodegradable fuel, they save 30,000 pounds of greenhouse gasses from Rogue Valley skies. In a year, that's like taking 3 of their cars off the road, or importing 45 less barrels of foreign oil.

Contact Information:
Web: Rising Phoenix

Image: By Shizhao and Wilfredor. Wikimedia Commons.

Get Your Farm ON! OSU Small Farms Program

The Oregon State University Small Farms Program is the go-to educational resource for small farms in Jackson County. The program provides one on one consulting for commercial producers and small acreage landowners, and resources and classes for new and beginning farmers and ranchers.

Class topics include:

• business planning for small farms
• pasture management
• small-scale grain production
• integrated pest management
• marketing
• and much more

Contact Information:
Web: Oregon Small Farms
Phone: (541) 776-7371
Email: maud.powell@oregonstate.edu
melissa.matthewson@oregonstate.edu
Staff: Instructors Melissa Matthewson and Maud Powell; program assistants Tracy Harding, Shelley Elkovich and Julia Pederson.

Image: Wikimedia Commons.

Local Food Thrives With The Siskiyou Sustainable Cooperative

The Siskiyou Sustainable Cooperative (SSC) is an agricultural marketing cooperative with nine member farms in the Applegate and Williams valleys.

SSC markets primarily through a Community Supported Agriculture program, which provides weekly boxes of fresh produce, meat, cheese, eggs, bread, honey and coffee to 135 families in the Rogue valley. SSC farmers are passionate about providing organic, fresh, and seasonal produce to community members as a way to build a thriving local economy.

SSC accepts the Oregon Trail card. Tom and Maud Powell coordinate the CSA program.

Contact Information:
Web: Siskiyou Sustainable Cooperative
Phone: Maude at (541) 899-9668
Email: maud@siskiyoucoop.com

Image: By edibleoffice. Wikimedia Commons.