North Coast Chapter Report
As fall sets in, the North Coast chapter is enthusiastically initiating new programs. Our steering committee developed its key priorities during the first half of the year. Successful fundraising efforts and program development allow us to begin acting on these priorities. We hosted a very successful fund raiser at the Davis Bynum Winery in August. We raised money for our Food Belt and Buy Local Campaign.
This multi-faceted campaign stresses the importance of supporting small scale, sustainable farmers and designated food belt areas around our cities to environmental organizations, government officials and individuals. We are working with local environmental groups that support open space to push local buying among their constituency as a means to meet our mutual goals to preserve open space, support small-scale farmers, provide healthy food and strengthen local economies. We made presentations to several local groups including the Sonoma County Conservation Council, Preserving Land for Agriculture and Nature, and the Sierra Club.
The Sierra Club took a strong interest in the campaign, partnering in our efforts, publishing our ideas of where to find sources of local food, and inviting us to speak at a recent general membership meeting.
Other activities related to the campaign include working with California Farmlink and Select Sonoma County to choose farmers wishing to lease lands held near cities by the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (SCAPOSD). SCAPOSD is interested in offering affordable leases to farmers (of crops other than grapes) using sustainable practices.
In Mendocino County, a group of farmers, distributors, retailers and individuals from restaurants have been meeting to discuss opportunities to increase markets and create a "Mendocino Fresh" brand. This group emerged from our May Lighthouse meeting and has met twice since then. Mark Mulcahy, proprietor of Organic Options, is leading the group, which recognizes the need to respond to market challenges and create new economic options for farmers.
CAFF is actively participating in the newly formed group Food Matters in Sonoma County (FMSC). This group aims to foster a stable supply of healthy, local food to people throughout Sonoma County as well as a solid market for growers.
The groups' first tangible effort is to assist the Healdsburg Unified School District in its attempts to start a Farm-to-School program. A forum to build support and encourage other school districts to follow Healdsburg's lead is planned for February 5, 2002 in Santa Rosa.
In our quest to establish food belts around our cities, we are working with the Sonoma County Planning Department (PRMD). They have initiated a two year general plan update. We met with planners and submitted a list of recommendations. This included promoting the foodbelt concept along with numerous practical suggestions to support small-scale farmers and those farming in the urban-rural interface.
Our chapter is engaging several other efforts simultaneously. We are currently surveying farmworkers and employers to determine which subjects to offer LFN programs in Spanish next year. Rikka Rasmussen is leading this effort as a new CAFF consultant.
We are initiating work to help growers establish hedgerows of native plants to conserve soil and water resources while increasing habitat for beneficial insects and wildlife. An LFN meeting is planned for November 8, while we identify growers interested in establishing a hedgerow on their property in the coming year.
Lastly, we have been setting up a CAFF table at the Whole Foods market in Sebastopol. This opportunity allows us to spread CAFF's message, while Whole Foods supports us financially by setting up collection boxes at each register and matching donations.
It has been a very productive time for our region as we move into exciting new programs.
All those interested in participating in CAFF's work on the North Coast should contact CAFF North Coast Regional Coordinator Keith Abeles at (707) 823-6788 or e-mail kda@sonic.net.
