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About Applegater. (Jacksonville, OR) 2008-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2012)
Applegater Winter 2012 17 MY OPINION FROM BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR Some perspectives on 2011 and beyond BY CHRIS BRATT Opportunities to support local agriculture Last year Joan and I decided to become members of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program that began this past December. The CSA winter program we joined is run by Barking Moon Farm. It’s a small-scale organic home farm a half mile beyond us on Thompson Creek Road. They also use two other leased parcels close by on Highway 238 and North Applegate Road. The farm family consists of two adults, their two small children, and one farmhand. (During the main season the crew expands to about seven people.) The Barking Moon folks are happy and excited to have our support, but they can’t be more excited or happier than we are by receiving their local fresh vegetables through these colder and darker months. By joining the Barking Moon CSA, we are receiving fresh organic vegetables— broccoli, beets, cabbage, carrots, chard, various lesser-known greens, kale, spinach, turnips, onions, shallots, leeks, rutabagas, parsnips, potatoes, winter squash, radishes, salad mix, cauliflower and a couple of other surprises—every two weeks into February. The boxes of produce we have received so far are remarkable in size (we could feed a family of four), freshness and taste. They even provide recipes to cook common and uncommon vegetables. This is such a great way to get our fresh food and support our local farmers at the same time. They are also our neighbors, who are committed to growing wholesome organic food. Community Supported Agriculture is such a good idea to patronize wherever you live. Whether urban or rural, all CSAs are helping to make a healthier food system and more sustainable communities and agriculture. You might think about signing up for a CSA program in your area this coming year. You’ll be supporting your local farmer, eating well, and saving money. For more information about the above CSA, call 541-973-6914 or email barkingmoonfarm@gmail.com. for the forest and the community. BLM indulges in collaboration (again) Given that the Pilot Thompson The Bureau of Land Management area contains important salmon habitat, (BLM), also our neighbor, manages most several pairs of northern spotted owls, of the public forestland near residents in the old-growth trees and me, BLM must put entire 500,000-acre Applegate drainage. forest restoration activities first and timber Once again, they are experimenting with sale volume as the secondary consideration. collaborative efforts between various All concerned Thompson Creek and other interest groups when planning timber sales interested folks should be taking BLM and other projects in our community. They up on their offer of inviting participation are also inviting community members and in these Pilot projects that are testing yours truly to participate. So, you may these latest theories of restoration forest receive a letter asking for your comments management. when they begin planning projects in your BLM’s Medford District is also showing area. Hopefully these efforts will continue additional good faith and cooperation to improve relations. with these Pilot projects by allowing a Community folks should be aware community person to participate on their that Thompson, Pilot Thompson iven that the Pilot Thompson Slagle, Humbug, Interdisciplinar y area contains important Forest and Bishop Team (ID Team). C r e e k s a r e a l l salmon habitat, several pairs of T h i s I D Te a m northern spotted owls, old-growth currently designated includes agency f o r t i m b e r s a l e trees and me… staff and biologists activity as part of a who take the larger Middle Applegate Planning Area. lead in planning projects and making BLM is calling each of these subdrainage recommendations to the eventual decision timber sales, “Pilot” projects. Pilot Joe makers. Timber Sale (thinning and fuels reduction) The Applegate community is lucky in the Chapman/Keeler drainage area was to have someone as competent and planned and sold without any protests to knowledgeable as Applegate’s volunteer the Boise Forest Products last year. The citizen forester, Luke Ruediger, working participation and cooperation between with BLM on these ID Teams. Luke has all the interested parties paid off. Pilot already attended an ID Team meeting and Thompson, now being planned for sale in has raised issues within the group that are 2012, will be more of a cooperative telltale of concern to many residents. Luke will since it is three times larger than Pilot Joe. be making email reports (one is already These Pilot projects were proposed available from the first meeting) as the ID by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Team meetings progress. If anyone has any who is BLM’s appointed boss. The idea ideas, comments or suggestions for Luke is to demonstrate the forest restoration to bring forward, or if you would like to principles of well-known forest scientists see his reports, he can be contacted at Jerry Franklin and Norm Johnson. Their elliottcreek@yahoo.com. Pilot restoration principles are designed The recovery of a species and being put forward as a model for all I’m not reporting here on the dramatic future BLM forest management in this and comeback of some rare, vulnerable or other areas. Monitoring and evaluating the endangered wildlife or fish species. “on the ground” results of instituting these Rather, evidence is showing that the real principles will be key to see if they work endangered species is our own human G race and we are in dire need of rehabilitation. I believe we, the Chris Bratt human species with our perceived dominance over the earth, have put ourselves and all other species on the planet at risk. We can no longer ignore the unpleasant realities we have created in every area of our human activities. Like the BLM and local farmers above, we have to try some new theories of living in harmony with the earth and each other. We must overcome our predisposition of self-interest, over-consumption and greed, and make new, enlightened choices of how we can live together. There are many small local opportunities and actions we all could take as first steps to a more certain and safe future for all creatures. Let me know if you are willing to try. Chris Bratt 541-846-6988
