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Fall 2009 Update
The Blue Earth Farms Project was launched in 2007 with a vision to create an educationalworking farm to assist our community in exploring & implementing healthy lifestyles & living practices with a practical focus on organic gardening, nutrition & environmental sciences.
Based on this vision, we began to create an “action plan” to assist Lewis County in exploring healthy sustainable lifestyles. These goals included;
Working with Local Schools to bring in healthy whole local foods
Workshops free to families focusing on nutrition and healthy lifestyles
A farmer’s co-operative that works together to supply our community with healthy local foods
A website providing access to educational resources
Our efforts began in the summer of 2007 in collaboration with NW Pediatrics & Centralia College’s ECEAP Program with the launch of monthly workshops held at the farm. The workshops cover topics on health and environment in a relaxed atmosphere with hands on preparation of healthy meals.
In the spring of 2008 a community garden was implemented at the farm providing over 3,000 lbs of produce to families during the first year.
In the fall of 2008, we became involved with the Lewis County Healthy Family Coalition bringing new depth and experience to our program as well as vital connections to many of our community’s educators, health professionals, and concerned citizens. With the inception of our collaboration we turned our mutual focus towards the growing interest in local food systems for farm to school and school-yard gardens as well as continuing educational outreach.
At the close of a very busy 2009 summer season we are happy to say we are making our way with those goals envisioned in 07’. Monthly workshops continue at the farm through out the summer season, and the community garden is drawing to the close of the second year. We are now participating in our local schools Health Fairs as well as bringing educational outreaches into the classrooms and other suitable venues and have touched over 2,000 of our community members to date! We are very excited to be adding a commercial greenhouse, which will be completed by 2010 & commercial processing kitchen plans are underway to bring new market potential to our local small-scale farmers. The kitchen will serve as an educational facility as well.
Gardens are now being implemented at the following schools / locations;
Lewis County Head Starts in Chehalis, Salkum, Toledo and Randle
Olympic Elementary Centralia College ECEAP house
LC Adventist School.
Morton Elementary & Packwood Fire Department were planted this spring & RE Bennett’s existing garden has been recovered for planting next year.
We look forward to continuing to work with our community and, as always, we ask for your input and feedback so don’t hesitate to contact us!