Recent Updates to the Site:

• Several of people from Port Townsend were interviewed about community gardening efforts/development over the past year or two. Here are three 5 minute radio stories about various aspects of that effort.
  
  
• Looking for information about starting up a Community Garden? Check here to review the profiles of existing gardens. Lots of great information!
  
  
• Over 500 kids in Quilcene and Port Townsend school districts are learning about food too: Jefferson School Garden/Compost Project.
  
  
• Farm to School Coalition's Petition
  Jefferson County Residents are being asked to sign this online petition, which the Farm to School Coalition plans to present to the Port Townsend School Board.  To sign, please visit:
  http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/jc-farm2schools-coalition
  
  
• Farm to School Initiative in Jefferson Count
  
  
• Wondering where to find the resources you need to start your garden?  Check out this Resource List (PDF 275 KB).
  Contact  Marla Streator at streator@cablespeed.com if you have information you would like to see added to the list.
  

Current discussion topics and meeting minutes are here.

The Action Group has initially focused on supporting the establishment of cooperative community gardens, as people and places become available for that purpose.  In 2008 there were 5 well established community gardens.  In June 2009, there were over 20 gardens in various stages. Our committee continues to support community gardens in various ways.

The emphasis on community gardening is already working its magic in supporting collaboration between groups that might not otherwise have come together. There is already a plan in place for the County Public Works Dept. Solid Waste Program to team up with the WSU Master Gardeners Program to offer free compost building workshops at various community garden sites. The long range vision is to reduce central waste collection by encouraging residents to situate compost bins in neighborhoods where nutritive value of organic food waste can be returned to local garden soils while also reducing the burden on local landfill operations.

Other types of projects will happen within this Action Group as motivations for additional local food initiatives begin to surface. For instance, one new member of the Action Group is particularly interested in food preservation. By promoting local workshops in canning, drying, and freezing food, we will greatly increase our access to emergency food supplies year round.

The Food Resiliency Action Group welcomes new members and new initiatives. For further information, contact Judith Alexander.