#GivingTuesdayNow

#GivingTuesdayNow is a global day of giving and unity that takes place TODAY, May 5, 2020, as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. It is designed to drive an influx of grassroots generosity, citizen engagement, business and philanthropy activation, and support for communities and nonprofits around the world. Today is a day when we can all come together and give back in all ways. Please consider supporting Friends of Family Farmers so we can continue to advocate for small and mid-sized family farmers and ranchers, provide eaters with resources to support family farms, and connect beginning farmers to farmland across the state despite the pandemic.

Your Opinion Really Matters to Us

We only have a few weeks left to reach our goal of 500 responses to our annual Family Farms Survey. Your responses will help determine what legislation, community events, and programs we will focus on to best serve Oregon's local food community. Whether you're a farmer, a local food lover, or an advocate, we want to hear from you. It will only take 5 minutes of your time. As a thank you, your name will be entered into a raffle to win some great prizes, like a $50 Wilco Gift Card, a Hummingbird Wholesale gift basket, and more!

The survey is available in both Spanish and English.

Once you've completed the survey, feel free to send it to anyone in your community who supports Oregon family farms - the more voices the better!

Check Out OPN's New Website

Give us your feedback! The Oregon Pasture Network has a new website where users can search for pasture raised meat, dairy, eggs, and other farm products in their area. Eaters across the state can find their local OPN producers, and learn more about how OPN members value soil, animal welfare, water, and air quality as they raise healthy, delicious food for their communities. This site is in the beta testing phase so please send feedback to OPN Manager Alice Morrison at opn@friendsoffamilyfarmers.org.  

Virtual Events for Farmers and Eaters 

Farmers: FoFF has always brought farmers together to share ideas, commiserate on common roadblocks, seek advice and find creative solutions. The virtual Farmer Social is purely a space for farmers to talk with other small and mid-sized Oregon farmers. The next one is May 18th, 7:30pm.

Good Food Movement Supporters: Both eaters and farmers have a stake in the food system. When those two groups connect directly, it makes our local and regional food systems stronger and makes real change possible. Please join us for the next two virtual statewide InFARMations, starting at 6:30pm.

FoFF Calls on DEQ to Address Mega-Dairy Emissions 

On Earth Day, April 22nd, as a member of the Stand Up to Factory Farms coalition, we urged the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to include mega-dairy emissions control in their new rulemaking plan. This plan is required under Governor Brown’s new Executive Order 20-04, which directed state agencies to propose how they will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by May 15, 2020. We have not yet received a response from DEQ.

COVID-19 Resource Page 

Looking for information on CSA and farmers markets, grants and loans available for your farm, food safety, online sales platforms, or podcasts/books/webinars to educate yourself? Check out our Resource page for farmers and eaters! The best we can do in the face of such vast uncertainty is to gather the facts and make thoughtful and informed decisions to ensure ourselves, our families, neighbors and our communities are as strong, well fed, and resilient as possible.