by Kris Bledsoe, Upper Island Farm, Grand Island
Waste Management has offered 450 acres near Riverbend Landfill to the community and established a Stewardship committee of hand-picked locals to help make future plans for that land.
One of the immediate projects is the establishment of a collaboration of small farmers to farm a portion of that land adjacent to the old Whiteson dump. In return Waste Management is using the names of these organizations to help them along in the application process for a proposed expansion of the Landfill.
We have consistently declared that the existence and expansion of the dump is now and will continue to be harmful and is inconsistent with surrounding farms, land value and our local vineyards. Some of the small farmers who are planning to take on the dump land are relatively new to our area and do not fully understand how they are being used.
I encourage you to make your concerns known to each organization. Some of you are probably members of these organizations and do not realize the plans and commitments that are being made. Ask questions and decide for yourself if taking on dump land is consistent with the vision you have for the farming community. The farm groups that are involved are wonderful groups; I fully support their visions. They have much to add to our County. I just wonder if this is the right property to use.
The farm groups involved should not be vilified, rather they should be admired for their willingness to take on new ventures. They are being used because of their deep-seated passions for farming and their strong desire to start up some very useful programs. I suggest that the community should gather together and help these groups find another location.
The farm groups are:
GROW International will provide administration and project management under the leadership of farming advocate Jerry Tindall, who founded GROW International to "encourage global stewardship of land, food, and family." GROW International works with non-profits, governments, and others to educate and empower individuals and communities to nurture land, food and family.
Yamhill Valley Grown will help the farmers market and sell their food, under the direction of Heidi Lindell. Yamhill Valley Grown is an aggregator and online marketplace of food grown and produced in the Yamhill Valley. The group has membership options that allow people to support the local food system and has developed a local food resource guide for the community.
Yamhill Valley Farmers Network, managed by Beth Satterwhite, will provide the farmers access to information and education as part of the group's mission to foster a strong and supportive local farmer community. The Network was established in response to farmer feedback gathered through the Nourish Yamhill Valley Food System Assessment Process held in 2012, which identified challenges facing local farm businesses and the farming community.
Barbara Boyer envisioned the overall project and assembled the project partners. She will serve as mentor to the farmers. Boyer is also working through the Oregon Farm to School Council to strengthen the farm-to-school movement by creating infrastructure needed to provide local food to local children.
Each of these folks has a Facebook presence. If you think what they plan to do is great, let them know. If you have concerns, let them know.
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