- A Guide for Consumers About Food Safety
Links to an impressive number of articles covering food handling safety, food-borne illnesses, home kitchen food safety, restaurant food safety, and food safety resources.
Kelly and her students in Vermont recommend this site!
- Safe handling of Fruits and Vegetables
from Ava's Flowers Net, recommended by Anna Jones and her group of library volunteers from Seattle
- Proper Food Storage
from Wine Cellar Innovations, also recommended by Anna Jones and her group of library volunteers from Seattle
- Friends of the Farms
A Bainbridge Island group dedicated to preserving local farmlands.
- Chimacum Corner Farm Stand
A great new "small rural grocery", advertising "Food From Here", benefiting farmers, small businesses, and customers in the northeast Olympic Peninsula area.
- PCC FARMLAND TRUST
"PCC Farmland Trust secures, preserves and stewards threatened farmland in the Northwest, ensuring
that generations of local farmers productively farm using sustainable, organic growing methods."
- Emergency Food Network and Mother Earth Farm
A Pierce County, WA organization since 1982, farm in operation since 2000. "We provide food and other essentials at no cost to over 65 food banks, hot meal sites and shelters for distribution to low-income families and individuals."
- The Horinko Group
An environmental consulting group providing services in Water Resources Management, Sustainability Services, and Regulatory Policy Consulting.
They have some interesting-looking webinars on their site.
- permies.com
advertises itself as the largest permaculture site on the internet.
- GREENBANK FARM TRAINING CENTER on Whidbey Island, WA.
"This full-time, 7-month long experiential program is for aspiring farmers seeking to learn and practice the technical and business skills needed to run a sustainable small-scale organic commercial farm. Through cooperatively managing the Center’s five-acre farm and attending weekly lectures, discussions and demonstrations on topics including organic crop production, soil science, business planning, and direct marketing, participants will acquire a thorough education in organic small farm management."
- Civil Eats
"Civil Eats promotes critical thought about sustainable agriculture and food systems as part of building economically and socially just communities."
- ECOTRUST
"Ecotrust's many innovations include co-founding the world's first environmental bank, starting the world's first ecosystem investment fund, creating a range of programs in fisheries, forestry, food, farms and children's health, and developing new scientific and information tools to improve social, economic and environmental decision-making."
- Global Source Education
Includes the EduCulture Project -
"The EduCulture Project creates locally grown learning experiences that bridge farms and schools, enliven classrooms, enrich curriculum, serve lunchrooms, feed communities, model farm stewardship and nurture food citizenship."
- FARM RESCUE PROJECTS IN KITSAP COUNTY
- Hansville Farm Project
Located in North Kitsap, this group is seeking community support and funding
to acquire the old Pope and Talbot tree farm between Driftwood Keys and Buck Lake County Park,
to establish community-owned organic farmland. Available land: up to 144 acres.
They need volunteers interested in putting in time and effort for the welfare of our region,
and donations to accumulate purchase funds and qualify for grant monies.
- Petersen Farm near Silverdale
The Great Peninsula Conservancy group, in partnership with the estate of Gerald Petersen,
has preserved 120 acres of the 167-acre Petersen Farm as a fully-functional, working farm.
As you may know, farm land near Silverdale, WA has been profligately overbuilt and paved.
This project retains some country in the area.
It also allows extension of the Clear Creek Trail to the north, and protects the stretch
of Clear Creek which runs directly thru the property.
Please help these outstanding projects, with time and / or money!
There is a significant resurgence of interest in local food and local farms,
but we need to preserve the farmland to support the interest!
- Bainbridge Barter
"Connecting neighbors for cash-less exchanges."
Laura recommends this page!
- USDA Food Desert Locator.
This is part of a national initiative to bring sources of healthy food into underserved areas.
North Kitsap has no "food deserts", by this reckoning, although parts of Bremerton and Port Orchard are mapped.
Unfortunately for those of us who are Walmart-phobic, it is the large, national chains
that are being tapped to solve this problem.
- Stockbox Grocers are in response to the Food Deserts -
"... a miniature grocery that’s tucked inside a reclaimed shipping container and placed into the parking lot of an existing business... we’re working to fix the grocery gap in a neighborhood near you."
- http://www.richsoil.com/
Permaculture articles by Paul Wheaton and others.
Includes some very amusing and some very thoughtful "takes" on a variety of subjects. A bit chatty, but informative without being pretentious.
- The UW Farm
UW takes action to support the concept of urban gardening. "the student farmers ... collaborate with Seattle Youth GardenWorks, sponsored by Seattle Tilth, in a collaborative farm to promote the use of farm-fresh produce on campus and develop leadership skills for UW students and local youth."
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CulinaryIncubator.com
"...dedicated to small food businesses who are trying to find a commercial kitchen to cook their product."
The Farm Kitchen near Kingston, WA is listed on this site.
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Fruit Tree Planting Foundation
"...an award-winning international nonprofit charity dedicated to planting fruitful trees and plants
to alleviate world hunger, combat global warming, strengthen communities, and improve the surrounding air, soil, and water."
AGDEVONLINE
"a 'community of professional practice' website supporting the work of professionals, academics, and activists who focus on agriculture and food issues."
Their on-line journal is at http://www.agdevjournal.com/home.html
"The Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development."
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Sound Food.
"Sound Food is a group of individuals dedicated to local food and farming on and around Bainbridge Island, Washington. We do it for the love of food, our community and the land."
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Greenhouse Grower Magazine
Scott Titus, the developer of Coco-coir, will have a related article in the March 2011 issue.
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RECYCLING USEFUL STUFF
- Freecycle (Kitsap County page)
"...a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting)
stuff for free in their own towns and thus keeping good stuff out of landfills.
Membership is free, and everything posted must be FREE, legal and appropriate for all ages."
You must be a member (free) to use Freecycle, and it can mean a lot of incoming e-mails.
- 2good2toss, the Reusable Materials Exchange (Kitsap County page).
Sponsored by the Washington State Department of Ecology.
"2good2toss.com is Washington’s online exchange for reusable building materials and household items.
The objective of the site is to facilitate the recycling and repurposing of materials and items
that would otherwise be disposed at Washington state landfills and waste to energy facilities,
in addition to promoting an important environmental ethic."
You can sell stuff on this site, although there is a limit to what you can charge -
see the site for details. You can "shop" directly, but you must establish
an account (free) to post items.
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Cultivating Success
"Creating and implementing educational programs to increase the number and foster the success of sustainable small acreage farmers and ranchers in Idaho and Washington."
Offering ongoing training courses in Washington State, at
http://www.cultivatingsuccess.org/coursecalendar_WA.htm
- American Farmland Trust
"Saving the Land that Sustains Us."
"American Farmland Trust is committed to protecting the nation's farm
and ranch land, keeping it healthy and improving the economic
viability of agriculture."
- Stillwaters Environmental Education Center
Located just outside Kingston, WA.
"The mission of Stillwaters is to teach, inspire and support individuals
and organizations to achieve sustainability in the use of the earth's resources."
- Puget Sound Beekeepers Association
(No "sound bites" noted for a quick repeat, but this organization reports
being around since 1948, so should be capable of helping out new beekeepers.)
- West Sound Beekeepers Association
Meetings monthly on the third Thursday, 7 to 9 p.m.
At Steadman's Bee Supplies in Silverdale.
(The way their virtual bee swarm chases your cursor around the screen,
they should provide a virtual pond to jump the cursor into!)
- Washington State Beekeepers Association
"The WSBA was created specifically to serve Washington State Beekeepers in the following areas:
- "To help maintain vibrant local beekeeping organizations
- "To assist the agricultural community
- "To improve relations between Beekeepers, Government Agencies, and the Public
- "To promote Beekeeping and bee products in the State of Washington and abroad
- "To promote and maintain industry connections at the state, national, and international level
- "To collectively represent all Beekeepers of Washington State
- "To promote and enhance academic research into beekeeping practice in the State of Washington"
- Puget Sound Wine Growers Association
"The food we eat and the wine we drink is the landscape we create."
- Growing Grapes in Kitsap County from WSU
Download multiple publications from this site.
- Meet Me In The Cellar
"Meet Me In The Cellar provides education and meeting services for the wine industry."
- Mother Earth News
"The Original Guide to Living Wisely".
Roxann recommends this article from the 21 July 2010 newsletter on
starting a small farm business.
- Small Farmer's Journal
"The international agrarian quarterly."
- World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms
"In return for volunteer help, WWOOF hosts offer food, accommodation
and opportunities to learn about organic lifestyles."
- Organic Gardening Magazine
(The site didn't have a quick quote I could repeat here, but they have
a history of interesting articles.)
- North American Biodynamic Apprenticeship Program
"provides an opportunity for apprentices to pursue their particular
agricultural interests within the context of a comprehensive training
curriculum and with greater access to networking, support, and educational
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- Scythe Works in Victoria, BC
"Scythe Works has a complete offering of European Scythes, Scythe Blades, Scything accessories, and other human powered tools. Scythe Works also offers online instructional materials and local scything workshops on Vancouver Island."
- Cascade Harvest Coalition
"Our key goals:
- Increase public awareness, appreciation and support for the economic, environmental, and cultural benefits of agriculture in the region.
- Promote preservation and protection of agricultural lands and resources.
- Enhance community food security and health by improving access to and consumption of locally-produced food.
- Promote coordinated action and dialogue among the broad diversity of agricultural interests on issues affecting the region’s farmers, agricultural resources and quality of life."
- Managing Change Northwest
"Managing Change Northwest’s mission is to help people achieve their goals while improving the environment and society toward a sustainable future."
- Seattle Chefs Collaborative
"...works with chefs and the greater food community to celebrate local foods and foster a more sustainable food supply."
- UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE RISK MANAGEMENT AGENCY (www.rma.usda.gov/)
announces the availability of a newly created website titled: Rural Tax Education (www.ruraltax.org) providing farmers and ranchers a resource for agricultural related income and self-employment tax information that is both up-to-date and easy to understand.
- Puget Sound Fresh
Information around Puget Sound, listing CSAs, farmers' markets, harvest schedules, agriculturally-oriented events, recipes.
- Washington Native Plants Society
"...a forum for individuals who share a common interest in Washington’s unique and diverse plant life."
Includes a handy list of native plants, ordered by county, although I noted at least one invasive species listed ... (Scotch Broom!) To cross-check against invasive species, go to the Kitsap County Noxious Weed Control Board site.
- Northwest Agriculture Business Center
"NABC provides Northwest Washington farmers with the skills and the resources required
to profitably and efficiently supply their products to consumers, retailers, wholesalers,
foodservice operators and food manufacturers."
- WSU Pacific Northwest Vegetable Extension Group
"Assist with diagnoses of vegetable diseases, pests, and other problems."
Julia found this page for us.
- 12,000 Rain Gardens in Puget Sound
"Washington State University and Stewardship Partners are leading the groundbreaking campaign
to install 12,000 Rain Gardens in the Puget Sound Region by 2016."
- Stewardship Partners
"We collaborate with diverse interest groups to build bridges and find solutions that achieve mutual goals of environmental protection, economic health, and community well being. Our projects restore fish and wildlife habitat, improve water quality, protect open space, and "green up" the built environment while maintaining working landscapes of farms, forestland, and livable communities throughout the State."
- The Modern Victory Garden
http://www.modernvictorygarden.com/
"A Grassroots Food Revolution...taking back responsibility and control of our own food supply."
Kinley recommends this site, and Laura, the MVG owner, is also supervising
Giving Garden operations!
- Hoop House Information courtesy of WSU:
WSU Greenhouse Resources for Small Scale Producers
WSU Crop Tunnels and Plastic Mulch
- Horses for Clean Water
"Your online resource for environmentally sensitive horse keeping."
Kinley recommends this site!
- ORGANIC FARMING RESEARCH FOUNDATION
"OFRF’s integrated strategy of grantmaking, policy, education and networking initiatives
supports organic farmers’ immediate information needs while moving the public and policymakers
toward greater investment in organic farming systems."
- Foxglove Farm, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia
"The Centre for Arts, Ecology & Agriculture was established to demonstrate and interpret the vital connections between farming, land stewardship, food, the arts, and community well being; to model the economic possibilities for small and medium scale sustainable agricultural and forestry projects, and to nurture the human spirit through public programs, classes, and events."
- http://raincreekpottery.com
provides excellent advice on caring for new chicks!
- Alan Trunkey's Backyard Chickens Guide
A helpful and pragmatic guide hosted by Suquamish Farmers Market.
- CROP MOBBING at www.cropmob.org
The modern equivalent of the neighborhood coming together for a barn raising.
Washington Young Farmers Coalition provides Crop Mobs in Western Washington!
- How to interpret forage analysis results: Kinley's list of links.
- Seattle Tilth.
"Seattle Tilth inspires and educates people to garden organically, conserve natural resources,
and support local food systems in order to cultivate a healthy urban environment and community."
- City Fruit in Seattle
"City Fruit works neighborhood by neighborhood to help residential tree owners grow healthy fruit, to harvest and use what they can, and to share what they don’t need. City Fruit collaborates with others involved in local food production, climate protection, horticulture, food security and community-building to protect and optimize urban fruit trees."
- Agriculture in Uncertain Times webinars, recorded online at
http://www.farmmanagement.org/aginuncertaintimes/
"These pages are designed to provide current information to farmers,
ranchers and educators about the challenges in today’s agricultural economy."
- The Farm Kitchen,
located on the old Port Gamble - Suquamish Highway, between Kingston and Poulsbo, WA. Cooking, eating, accommodations, and events.
Check out their upcoming
cooking classes! Julia recommended this site.
- Nancy's Green Garden in Kingston has FREE weekly demos on gardening and household topics! Check out her
demo schedule. Nancy is located in the Cleo's Landing building, next door to the Kingston Chamber of Commerce building.
- Sequim Locally Grown Merchantile
"We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods and products possible."
Julia found this site.
- Food Preservation Basics.
Amber recommends this site. It also points to a variety of interesting topics,
such as solar cooking, green ways to dispose of appliances, maintenance to prevent inefficient appliances,
a list of do-it-yourself sites, how to tell kids to wash their hands, how to cook pasta dishes in your dishwasher (!!!), and more!
- Kitsap Peninsula Mycological Society
"...a non-profit organization of folks interested in the fascinating world of fungi!
Our purpose is to study, collect and identify fungi. We strive to educate our members
and our local community in proper fungi identification. Proper identification is the key
in promoting safe and healthy gathering and consumption of fungi."
- North Kitsap Trail Association
"Join us in crafting the North Kitsap String of Pearls Trails...The trails we build and plan for today will shape a legacy of outdoor connections for our children and their children to experience North Kitsap's natural resources."
- Kitsap Farm to Fork blog - a very useful compendium of upcoming events in the Kitsap area!
- National Center for Home Food Preservation
"The Center was established with funding from the Cooperative State Research,
Education and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (CSREES-USDA)
to address food safety concerns for those who practice and teach home food
preservation and processing methods."
- Kitsap County Noxious Weed Control Program
- Western Cascade Fruit Society
The Peninsula Fruit Club, the Kitsap branch,
meets at Sheridan Park Community Center in Bremerton
the second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m.
"This Society is formed to bring together people who will promote
the science, cultivation and pleasure of growing fruit bearing trees,
shrubs, vines and berry plants..."
- Washington Wilderness Hay and Mulch (WWHAM)
A program of the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board.
download the WWHAM brochure at
http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/WWHAM/WWHAM_BROCHURE_3-10-09.pdf)
- PREVENTION Magazine
Think there's no difference between organic and mass-market produce?
Check out this article
(hosted by MSNBC) from the July 2010 issue of PREVENTION.
- SCRATCH AND PECK
"Locally milled soy-free livestock feeds. We source our
organic whole grains direct from local farmers to support
them and our own local economies."
- West Sound Wildlife Shelter
A wildlife rehabilitation center located on Bainbridge Island.
They are the best and closest place to take injured wildlife.
They do wonderful work. We have taken several injured songbirds to them.
They accept donations in person and on-line.
- Wind and solar power system providers:
Sunwind Concepts of Bainbridge Island
West Seattle Natural Energy
of (as you might imagine) West Seattle.
And before all the "rainy Puget Sound" jokes start flying -
solar power load has rendered solar systems quite efficient in our
Western Washington area, despite cloud cover.
And we all know that, if the sun is not shining, the wind is usually blowing!
- Washington State solar tours are listed at http://solarwa.org/tour/sites.
The National Solar Tour site is at www.nationalsolartour.org/
- Hansville Farm Project
recommends these links:
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