Newsletter

SAMMAMISH VALLEY GRANGE #286

Working to preserve the Sammamish Valley’s rural heritage—since 1909!

Sammamish Valley

Grange

Welcome to our first attempt at a monthly newsletter! Since this is all new to us too you can expect this format to change and grow as we find our way.

Our purpose in using this form of communication is to better inform our members about grange news and activities on a timely basis. Grange members are like extended family and, like all families, the more we are in contact the more responsive we can be in support of common goals.

This month we start off with a message from our own Worthy Master, Eric Clark:

Welcome Grangers and Friends of the Grange!

It is our desire to keep all Grangers, as well as interested members of our community, informed about the activities of our Grange. For this reason, we decided to put together this newsletter to inform you of all the activities that this Grange does.

In this newsletter you will see that our Grange is heavily involved in activities to promote small farm, sustainable agriculture. Approximately five years ago, we voted to make this the major mission of this subordinate Grange.

Over the last five years, we built a Heritage Garden south of downtown Woodinville. We also help 4-H, and members of this Grange took the lead in creating the Small Farm Caucus, to help promote legislation that will benefit the small sustainable producer. You will learn more about our activities in subsequent editions.

In addition, you will read in subsequent editions my suggestions to prepare members to successfully accomplish major endeavors. In the past 150 years, a small number of Granges have taken on projects or causes which have positively affected their communities. While we have enriched the Sammamish Valley in the last century, this Grange never had this kind of impact. A lot of current members have big dreams, but it takes the right kind of preparation to completely bring our dreams to fruition. It is my desire to give us the skills necessary to fulfill these dreams in the next generation.

If we can successfully implement our ideas, not only will we bring tremendous benefit to our community, not only will we become one of the most important Granges in the country, but we can provide a roadmap for other Granges to follow so as to bring new strength to the Grange itself. I hope you join me in this.

Fraternally,
Eric Clark
Worthy Master

Down on the Farm in Woodinville

The Sammamish Valley Grange hosted its first "open to the public" educational meeting on January 19, 2011. The guest speakers were Mary Embleton, Executive Director for Cascade Harvest Coalition and Sheryl Wiser, Public Relations Manager for Puget Sound Fresh. Cascade Harvest Coalition has been active since the late 1990's helping to connect farmers with the tools and resources they need to be more sustainable. CHC provides a unified voice for agriculture in Western Washington. Puget Sound Fresh educates consumers in 12 counties about the health and environmental benefits of buying and eating locally grown. The popular Puget Sound Farm Guide features a comprehensive listing of farms, Farmers Markets, CSAs and U-Picks. For more information go to: www.pugetsoundfresh.org

Lila Chapman

On the third Wednesday of each month, the Sammamish Valley Grange will provide informational speakers, open to the public, on topics such as agriculture, eating local, gardening, going green and re-skilling. Watch for future events here or on the reader board at the hall each month for the topic and time.

We had great fun at the Winter Solstice Celebration on December 21st near the Heritage Garden in front of the Olympic Nursery greenhouses which included a Campfire Potluck! Please join us every full moon for a campfire and good company at the shack at the Heritage Garden. For more information reach Ron Baum at r@windowsart.com

Our own Trish Knox leads the effort to develop and expand the Heritage Garden. The Heritage Garden is located near Woodinville’s Sammamish River Trail on the grounds of Olympic Nursery and is open to the public during daylight hours.

The purpose of the garden is to display crops pioneers in the Woodinville area grew, and give an idea as to the farming techniques these pioneers used. This garden is sponsored by the Sammamish Valley Grange.

What’s next?

AG Film Festival

Join the Sammamish Valley Grange for their monthly AG Film Festival on the first Sunday of the month.

Our next film is Sunday, February 6^th.

Pot Luck starts at 6pm, Film starts at 7pm.

On February 16^th we have a guest speaker in the person of Tom Quigley of Olympic Nursery speaking on the topic: Saving Our Valley Farms

Square Dance Lessons

Two 8-week sessions of beginner lessons are offered on Tuesday evenings at the Grange hall starting March 15^th at 7:30 p.m. sponsored by the Woodinville Square Crows.

For more information call Alice at 425-319-093 or go to: www.squarecrows.org

Transition Woodinville

What is it?

by Trish Knox

Transition Woodinville is coming to life in the greater Woodinville area, spearheaded by citizens who share concerns about oil de- pendency and a desire to create sustainable communities.

The Transition Network, of which Transition Woodinville is a part, began with Rob Hopkins, author of the “Transition Handbook” published in England in 2008. The book focuses on climate change and the growing scarcity of oil, helping communities prepare for the future by undertaking projects such as generating their own power or using locally sourced building materials.

It's very inclusive. The idea is to come together as a diverse population to build resilient com-munities and encourage a more local way of living, like getting to know your neighbor, buying local food or having our own currency.

Although in its early stages here, there is a planned public event this April to officially launch Transition Woodinville, bring more awareness to the cause and make Woodinville a Transition Town. The event will have the mantra ‘Bee Resilient’ which makes a play on the fact that the bee population in Sammamish Valley is declining. Beehive art, “re-skilling” classes – such as how to make your own clothing or food canning – and live music will all be a part of the planned event

Transition Woodinville also has the support of the Sammamish Valley Grange, which leases an acre to the organization as a community garden.

For more information contact Trish Knox at sammamishvalley.trish@gmail.com.