Tag: local food systems

SAVE THE DATES! 2015 Northwest Permaculture Convergence

Posted on by Julia Havens

The 2015 Northwest Permaculture Convergence will take place August 28, 29 and 30 at the River Road Neighborhood Park District Recreation Center, 3 miles northwest of downtown, Eugene, Oregon.

Each year, the Regional Permaculture Convergence alternates between Oregon and Washington State. The Convergence features panels and presentations, networking and fun. There will be site tours, panels and presentations, plenary sessions, a kid zone, Green Neighborhood Summit, a Saturday educational Expo and more.

The Convergence is a unique opportunity to share what we are learning to reduce our environmental footprints, build resilient communities and take care of more needs closer to home.

Who Will Be Interested

2015 Northwest Permaculture ConvergencePeople into – green lifestyles, resilient neighborhoods, organic gardening, permaculture, reducing our eco footprints, solar design, green business, rural resilience, social cohesion, DIY, mutual assistance with friends and neighbors, fun, alternative culture and economy, peaceful and healthy world, local food systems and the suburban frontier. To name only a few.

Over the years, the Convergence has been held in a variety of locations, urban and rural. This will be the first time the Convergence will be in a suburban neighborhood. Many out of town participants will be accommodated in the neighborhood with back yard camping and home stays.

Within a fifteen minute bike ride of the Rec Center, there are numerous home permaculture projects with more in Eugene. Tours on Friday will visit sites featuring front yard gardens, rain water systems, green building, solar design, edible landscaping, accessory buildings, community filbert grove, reclaiming automobile space, collaborations between neighbors such as cooperative projects, fences down and shared properties.

River Road is also developing a green culture at the same time it increases on the ground green infrastructure. Many neighbors are working together in mutual interest such as taking fences down, educational initiatives, social occasions and property sharing. Dharmalaya Center and Suburban Permaculture are core parts of the River Road permaculture zone with outreach to the broader community. Its the very early going but River Road provides an early preview for what suburbia can become.

2015 Northwest Permaculture ConvergenceThere are many more sites to visit in Eugene such as East Blair Housing Co-op, Maitreya Eco Village, Duma Co-op, Common Ground Garden, home scale permaculture, green businesses and much more. Important permaculture learning centers near Eugene; Lost Valley, Fern Hill Sanctuary and Aprovecho will also be hosting tours

What To Expect

The Convergence will include plenary sessions, presentations, panels and break out groups that will touch on many realms of interest, urban and rural. We want to show and tell examples of culture and economy that provide a preview of a far more peaceful and green future. Key words – home economics, greening neighborhoods, faith communities go green, youth education, co-ops regional food systems, allies and assets, “green preparedness” and more.

An educational Expo is also planned which will include informative local non profits, Kid Zone, green businesses, and Skill Share. The site tours on Friday and Saturday Expo will be free and open to the public. Indoor panels, presentations, Saturday party and dining will be by modest admission. Residents of River Road who live in the county will receive reduced admission.

Out of town participants will be encouraged to bring bikes, car pool, take the bus or train to minimize cars in the neighborhood. River Road is transportation friendly with the Rec Center served by city bus. An Amtrak station downtown is three miles away with a beautiful bike path from town to within ten minutes of the Rec Center. Accommodation is separate from Convergence registration, check FAQ on the Convergence website.

2015 Northwest Permaculture ConvergenceUpdates

Please check back to the Convergence website in coming weeks for program updates, volunteer information, registration, proposing a presentation and more. www.northwestpermaculture.org

Mark your calendars, August 18, 29, 30. The 2015 North West Permaculture Convergence will be a memorable experience!

Informational Interviews About Local Food

Posted on by Julia Havens

Evelyn Perdomo Lane Regional Food Hub CPW Community Planning

My Community Planning Workshop (CPW) team is working with the City of Eugene Planning Department and the Lane County Economic Development Division to determine the need for a year-round regional public market and food hub in Lane County. We will be conducting a market analysis to determine the region’s potential to host a year-round public market.

For our project, we will conduct a lot of research about local food in Lane County. So far, the most interesting aspect has been our interviews with our Technical Resource Group (TRG) and other key peopled involved with local food. We invited people involved in local food efforts to be a part of our Technical Resource Group to help us process and understand market research data and survey data. Our data will identify and analyze trade areas for the potential public market or food hub. Trade areas represent potential consumers in an area. Members of our group include a farmer, food producers, a distributor, a public health representative, representatives of nonprofit organizations, and restaurant and retailer representatives. The interviews have allowed us to draw on their local food background and identify what is happening in Lane County around local food.

The interviews have been a great learning experience because I knew very little about local food when we started the project. The most interesting thing I have learned is that increasing local food consumption would provide a tremendous boost to Lane County’s economy. Increasing local food consumption would provide new jobs and keep millions of dollars in Lane County.

Throughout the interviews, I have also learned that small farmers face several challenges to get their products in stores or to institutions. However, it has been promising to hear that several organizations make an effort to help small farmers overcome barriers. One of these organizations is the Willamette Farm and Food Coalition (WFFC). WFFC runs an online farmers’ market and has started a campaign (Lane County Food Makes Dollars and Sense) to increase consumer demand for local food. Increasing local food purchases by one percent would result in $11.7 million staying in Lane County. I have also learned how some school districts are making a conscious effort to purchase local food for their school lunches and other catered events. Despite all the challenges local producers face, it is encouraging to see how local organizations and institutions are getting behind the local food movement. For instance, our interviewees have noted that several restaurants are making a strong effort to serve more local food. Also, our interviewees have said that they have noticed consumers become more interested in purchasing local food, which is really promising because Lane County would benefit tremendously from increased local food consumption.

 

Evelyn Perdomo Lane Regional Food Hub CPW Community Planning WorkshopAbout the Author: Evelyn Perdomo is a first year Community and Regional Planning Graduate Student at the University of Oregon. She is originally from Daly City, CA. Her professional experience includes working as a Project Assistant for an affordable housing developer in California.