Nov 13th, 2019 - Meet Cliff Moore, New Director of Jeff Co WSU Extension

Come meet the new director of Jefferson County’s WSU Extension on Wednesday evening, Nov 13th at 7:00. A “Bring Food Optional” potluck will precede it at 6:30.

Per the WSU website: “Cliff Moore brings years of university, Extension and municipal government experience to WSU Jefferson County. He worked on the WSU campus in Pullman, served as the WSU Thurston County Extension Director and held senior county and city leadership positions for a decade. Cliff started his professional career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in, West Africa.”

We hope to have a brainstorming session with Cliff and others about how the Grange can integrate its educational efforts with WSU, the 4H, and intern programs. The Grange continues to bring in excellent speakers the second Wednesday of every month for years. With coordination, new speakers could be lined up and more people could benefit than we are currently getting to the meetings.

We'd love to see you there!

Oct 9th, 2019 - A Look Back at Re-Introducing Chum into Chimacum Creek

Al Latham will be showing the "Chum Tales" video which was made by Wild Olympic Salmon in the early 1990s. Discussion to follow.

It documents the project done by local volunteers to reintroduce the Summer Chum Salmon back into Chimacum Creek. They had disappeared in the early 1980s and were successfully reintroduced using eggs from Salmon Creek.

July 10th, 2019 - Peninsula Poultry Breeders: About Heritage Breed Chickens

Come learn about raising and breeding heritage chickens on the Olympic Peninsula with the Peninsula Poultry Breeders

June 9th, 2019 - Making Sense of the 2017 Ag Census Data

Hosted by WSU Extension Regional Small Farms Program and Chimacum Grange
Chris Mertz, staff from the USDA National Agricultural Statistic Service (NASS), will be presenting the new 2017 Ag Census Data for Jefferson County and providing interpretation. You can view the latest USDA Ag Census Data here. Those interested in local food systems, farmers, community members, stakeholders and ag/landowner service providers should attend for this very informative presentation. Question/answer and discussion to follow. More info visit jefferson.wsu.edu

What is the Ag Census and what does it tell us?

The Census of Agriculture is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. Even small plots of land—whether rural or urban—growing fruit, vegetables or some food animals count if $1,000 or more of such products were raised and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the Census year. The Census of Agriculture, taken only once every five years, looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures. For America’s farmers and ranchers, the Census of Agriculture is their voice, their future, and their opportunity.

Presentation Topics:

• Census data collection - National, State and County-level data

• Farms and Ranches in Jefferson County - Number of farms and land, Acreage of farms

• Economics - Total value of agricultural production, crop and livestock sales, farm income

• Demographics of Farm Producers - Average age of producers, young producers, new/beginning farmers, veteran farmers, farm and producer characteristics

• Upcoming Census releases

May 8th, 2019 - Brian Tracer on Fire Danger and Preparedness

Fire Danger and Preparedness

Brian Tracer is fire marshal and assistant fire chief for East Jefferson county. He will discuss the danger of a fire like the one that destroyed Paradise California and what we can do to prevent fire individually and collectively. 

March 13th - John Gunning on Growing Crops Year Round

Growing Crops Year Round
John Gunning will discuss growing crops the year around in green houses and the efficient use of
labor. Only 2 people manage all of his greenhouses. The plastic lasts 20 years and there are no weeds to contend with. You can grow all year around in a controlled environment.

Feb 13th, 2019 - Flooding in the Chimacum Valley

Flooding in the Chimacum Valley
Join the North Olympic Salmon Coalition, Jefferson Conservation District and Roger Short of Short's Family Farm to discuss challenges and solutions for flooding in Chimacum Creek.

NOTE: This unfortunately had to be cancelled last minute due to snow. We will try and reschedule at a later date.

Jan 9th, 2019 - Laurie McKenzie of the Organic Seed Alliance

Organic Seed Alliance is a non-profit organization that seeks to support and advance the organic seed industry and the use of organic seed on farms. Laurie McKenzie, who is the Research and Education Associate for the PNW with OSA will talk about OSA's work here on the Peninsula and across the US—highlighting local breeding projects and collaborations with our community of farmers and food purveyors. Laurie manages the OSA Research Farm at the Finnriver Orchard and Cidery and will share from her experiences the expanding role that OSA has come to play in our community.