The purpose of this meeting is to bring together individuals and groups that are working separately to advance buy local food campaigns so that a Buy Local Campaign can move forward.

Anticipated results include a multi-organizational entity that is taken seriously by county officials, businesses, other organizations, and the media, which will then contribute to an effective campaign.

NEW DAY: TUESDAY, JANUARY 17
NEW LOCATION: “The Hub” at
Hillcrest Assembly Church
6750 SR 303 NE Bremerton, WA
NEW TIME: 7:00 p.m to 8:30 p.m.

The KCAA is having their Annual meeting and board member elections on Monday November 21st from 7-9pm.  Come and hear the new potential board members outline their vision for the KCAA and learn what the current board has in store for the next year and beyond.

Only $45,000 more is needed for the Great Peninsula Conservancy to be eligible for the USDA Farm Protection grant. Please help them reach their goal before our November 15 campaign deadline. To learn more, see the attached letter from the Petersen Farm Fall Farm Day event.

http://greatpeninsula.org/documents/PetersenFarmOct2011-withphotos.pdf

November 3, 2011 Comcast Arena, Everett

World Class Speakers Highlight Food Protection, Product Advocacy and good cooking along with 24 great workshop classes with 6 industry tracks. Includes 17,000 square foot trade show showcasing everything from tractors to green house supplies to farm insurance. Online registration at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/200212

Petersen Farm Fall Fair - Sunday September 18th from 10am-5pm

This fall, for one day only, Petersen Farm – the historic 167-acre farm that
provides trail walkers and highway commuters expansive, bucolic views of
Clear Creek Valley – will be open for farm tours and a day of family fun.

Visitors to Petersen Farm Fall Fair on Sunday, September 18th have the
rare opportunity to help preserve Kitsap farmland and support the future of
local food in Kitsap while having fun with the whole family at a historic
Silverdale Farm! Hayrides, carnival games, live music, farm tours, vendors
and more run from 10 am – 5 pm. On-site parking is accessible from the
SR3 Trigger Avenue exit in Silverdale. Admission is $7 adult; $5 child (3-
12), or $20 per family. Proceeds support conservation of Petersen Farm and
the future of Kitsap Community Food Co-op.

Learn More At http://kitsaprighttofarm.com/

Kitsap County’s mix of urban and rural lifestyle can often conflict when an agricultural enterprise is encroached on by our rapidly expanding urban growth. We all love our Kitsap way of life with pastoral expanses of grazing livestock and farmer’s fields. Agricultural enterprises are growing in Kitsap County, as more and more people are recognizing the ability and tradition of growing their own food on their acreage. Some even have surplus to sell at our many and diverse Farmer’s markets. We feel the right to farm should be protected from unnecessary complaints and frivolous rules & regulations that defy common sense. Kitsap County is the only Western Washington county that does not protect its agricultural community with Agricultural Zoning, hence the need for a comprehensive Right to Farm Ordinance.

Even though you may not have a farm we are asking for citizen support to continue Kitsap County’s farming heritage.

Farmland can only exist as long as we protect the farmer and the farmer’s way of life. The enterprise must be viable for it to continue and succeed. No Farms, No Food.”

The goal of the Kitsap County Right to Farm Campaign is to pass legislation that would direct Kitsap regulatory authorities to recognize and protect the value of existing and future farms and ranches and work with the WSU Kitsap Extension, Kitsap Conservation District and other applicable local and regional agricultural and farming interests.

Thanks for your help.  SIGN THE PETITION

Hot Summer Nights Farm Walks

This month, KCAA joins with WSU’s Hot Summer Nights Farm Walk at Red Barn Farm/Wyckels Farm.

This is a very small farm that uses intensive multi-cropping and season extension techniques. The farm has two names because Wyckels farm is sharecropping on the Red Barn Farm. Find out how you, too, can farm without owning land.

There is a $15 charge per family. Yes, you read right. KCAA meetings are usually no-cost, but we respect that the Kitsap WSU programs have to earn their way. We ask you to attend and pay this nominal fee.

There is a picnic, too, so feel free to bring something to share. No obligation, but heck, why not?

There will be a brief announcement by the NKHS food project.

Sign up now, because this is proving to be popular.

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For more information, phone our small farms team (360) 337-7026 or email Diane Fish dfish@wsu.edu or Shannon Harkness shannon.harkness@wsu.edu