Next Meeting Of The KCAA
Tuesday, January 13th
7:00 PM
Norms Dicks Center
345 Sixth Street
Bremerton, WA
Promoting bonds between agriculture and the community is one of KCAA’s main goals and accordingly it wants to extend an invitation to new people to join their ranks… from both the agricultural and overall community.
Who does this mean? It means YOU! It means anyone who grows, grazes, or otherwise produces our local food. It means anyone in the community who sees the nutritional, ecological and economic value in buying our locally produced food. And it means anyone who sees the value in supporting local agricultural business people …people who in turn purchase their own goods and services from others in their community. It also means the people who produce their products from farm goods, such as salsa-makers, wool spinners, and jelly and jam makers.
And it means someone who maybe, just maybe, might become interested in being a farmer. This could include someone who wants raise a few backyard crops for their own consumption and is looking for some education in how to do it.
With the growing national interest in “buy and eat local”, Kitsap County and its environs are seeing this national phenomena surface here in a major way – eight healthy, growing farmers markets in this area are a tribute to those who are supporting the movement to buy fresh, local food.
What does this mean? It means that KCAA wants to reach more people who are interested in helping to expand and promote involvement in local agricultural production. It wants to hear from you and listen to your ideas on how this can be accomplished. It wants you to be a part of the excitement, reward and satisfaction of helping to sustain your community through involvement with your local food producer.
“We have a growing demand here for fresh food from local producers that is outstripping the supply,” says KCAA treasurer Bill Looney who says he was formerly an advocate and advisor for more than 500 farms with 1400 budgets over a 32-year span in the Columbia Basin.
Members of KCAA say they are very grateful for and appreciative of previous work that was done by several farming and agricultural groups before them, particularly the Kitsap Food and Farm Alliance. But in 2006, when current KCAA president Nikki Johanson, Looney, John and Lisa Hudson, Marilyn Holt and others shared a vision for agriculture in Kitsap County, the KCAA was born.
“We had a vision of protection of the right to farm and of having a community that respects the perpetuation of the sort of place we want to leave for our children and grandchildren – a place that enhances life, family, and community,” says Looney.
An important part of the KCAA mission statement includes advocacy on behalf of agriculture and ranching with elected officials and policy makers of the county. Another part of their vision includes becoming the leading advisor to Kitsap County on agriculture matters, along with promotion of local agriculture through media outlets and collaboration with other regional agriculture groups.
Education of both the consumer and the farmer is another important element of KCAA. Monthly meetings with programs are presented on various aspects of farming, problems facing the farmer, understanding food sources and more. Articles can also be found on this blog site and more information about KCAA membership is on their web site, www.kitsapag.org
But KCAA leaders agree – more participation is needed in KCAA, both by farmers and community members in order to help them maintain and develop more sustainable agriculture in the greater Kitsap County area. Starting this month all meetings will be on the second Tuesday of the month at the Norm Dicks Government Center at 345 6th Street, Bremerton
In keeping with their goal of promoting bonds between agriculture and community, KCAA is starting out the year with a bang. This month’s January 13 meeting will feature local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farmers who are invited to participate in a presentation to help the public understand how a CSA functions. And they are welcome to display information about their own CSA and take subscriptions.
For people interested in learning more about and supporting our agricultural community or who might be interested in purchasing a share in a CSA for the forthcoming season, this would be an ideal meeting to attend. For more information on participation, CSA farmers can contact Nikki Johanson at: nikkijwas@yahoo.com or give her a call at 360-697-6224.
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