Local Foods Extravaganza! Hermiston

Hermiston is famous for it's watermelons. As the bus rolled into town, Hermiston's water tower displaying a giant watermelon welcomed us and set the tone for the rest of the day. In Hermiston, food is good, fresh and is taken seriously.

In Hermiston, the crew was welcomed by ORA members Ken and Nancy Gummer. Nancy is a local and sustainable foods mover and shaker. As the Foods and Nutrition Services Director at Hermiston's Hospital, she has transformed food for the hospital, it's staff, patients and visitors. She has also created a connection between local farmers and ranchers and the hospital. "Food is so good here that released patients ask to come here for their birthday dinners!" Nancy said. Nancy and Ken invited us to lunch at the hospital so we could see for ourselves, and we agree, the food was excellent! As a dietitian, diabetes instructor, and avid cyclists, Nancy's perception of food is both inspiring and unique. To read more about Nancy's work, check out:

http://www.healthcaredesignmagazine.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=9B6FFC446FF7486981EA3C0C3CCE4943&nm=Articles&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=9CBC5AFD93494603A3695421A2E0CC7F

After our wonderful lunch at the hospital we set up at Hermiston's Chamber of Commerce where we were joined by a Ken and Nancy as well as a local bike shop. Interest in biodiesel was very prominent in Herminston, as were appropriate building techniques especially solar technologies. Food, however, followed us to the Chamber of Commerce where ORA members and local farmers, Chris and John presented us with the biggest gift of all: a famous Hermiston watermelon that we happily ate as we chatted with folks about renewable energy options for the area. Later, Gus, another ORA member and local farmer gave the crew buckets of fresh tomatoes, peppers, squashes, and of course a magnificent watermelon!

After our time at the Chamber, talking to folks, learning from Nancy and Ken, and trying out new bikes in the parking lot, the ORA staff invited the crew along with Gus and his wife to dinner. The Farmer's Table restaurant, whose local flair, mostly local foods menu, unique atmosphere, and great company were a wonderful treat and a great way to end our stay in Hermiston. Thank you everyone for your hospitality, stories, and local food!

Weiser High School

The bus caught a few gawking students over the lunch hour as it wafted the sweet smell of fried food in the air at Weiser High School.  It was the first week of classes and the crew rolled the bus into the garage to set up and speak to two agricultural classes about the homegrown prosperity tour and the benefits of biodiesel in rural communities.

In a class where most of the students lived on a farm or ranch, students could appreciate the value of our mission on the tour. Homegrown prosperity can be achieved by using renewable energies like solar or wind power. Students pointed out despite growing some agricultural products and raising various livestock, the school lunch program served pre-packaged foods which were simply heated in a commercial oven at lunch. 

Biodiesel was the topic of which drew the most interaction. The Department of Agriculture has developed a geographic line which influences the ability to grow canola as an oilseed crop in this part of Oregon.  Politics as usual is playing a hand in what can be sustainably grown around the community of Weiser, ID. The bus piqued student interest to the potential of growing oilseeds and producing their own biodiesel.

Port of Umatilla

Kim, of Umitilla, OR, gave us a tour of the Port today. This did not exclude the proposed biodiesel plant site. It was quite a treat to hear about Kim's past experiences with ethanol, corn based and cellulosic, and his reasoning behind shifting away from ethanol to biodiesel. He made a very interesting comment on the possibility of distilling glycerin, the byproduct of biodiesel, into ethanol and thus creating ethanol from a waste product. He has not ruled out the prospect of building an ethanol plant right next to the biodiesel plant if distilling glycerin into ethanol is possible.
He decided that 5 million gallons of biodiesel a year was the most economically and environmentally sustainable amount for the future plant. He justified tis with the number of cattle that would plausibly be fed the meal byproduct of the seed crushing process, the # of fallow acres in the area, and the distribution capability.
We heard the bussiness perspective along with some advise from Kim, right down to strategy on how to fund the project . . . Who is on the appropriations committee and what is in their best interest? Is the project non-partisan? Have persistent patience. To make it all work, you need a VERY diverse team of specialist who are honest and aren't greedy. Thanks for the words of wisdom Kim.

Crossing the Blues, La Grande, Oregon

La Grande is proud. It is proud of it's mountains, art scene, and extraordinary local produce, so proud that they've decided to celebrate it with a festival. As a homage to what makes this place special and to the Blues as it's backdrop, the first annual Crossing the Blues Festival was in full gear when the bus tour arrived.  

The big green bus joined the festivities and set up along with farmer's market's stands and street vendors in La Grande's Adam's Ave. With live music in the background, and in the midst of street dancers, market goers, and festival aficionados, the crew, Liberty, Andrea as well as a handful of ORA members talked to interested and interesting folks about renewable energy opportunities in the area. While ORA members talked to their peers about the potential of woody biomass for local schools, the crew talked to folks about renewable energy and biodiesel. A solar oven baking solar homemade cookies was displayed across from the bus by a locally owned solar energy company  and ORA member Steve brought along his Chinese seed press to show his community what pressing seeds and making biodiesel entails. In addition to making biodiesel out of his own canola seeds, he is also working on a hydrogen fuel cell with his son. 

 

The bus, the solar baked cookies and seed press received a great deal of attention. Folks interested in green building stopped by, like the lady who built and lived in an earth-ship or the folks living off the grid for thirty years. People interested in biodiesel production and distribution also paid us and Steve a visit.  We also talked with local artisans, farmers, and small business owners about enhancing homegrown prosperity in the community. All in all, the first Crossing the Blues Festival was a success. La Grande certainly lived up to it's name, with a magnificent display of local foods, music, art, and good humor for all to enjoy!

Elk Valley Wind Project

Wind Tour in La Grande, OR 8.22.08

Elkhorn Valley Wind Farm - Tour Guide: Ryan Dela

Owned by Horizon Wind, which is the 4^th largest wind producer in the US, they are one of the only large scale operators that focuses employment local to the wind farm location. The wind turbines, on the other hand, are a product of many countries. The blades are built in Austrailia, the towers in Vietnam, the cells in Spain and the controllers and hubs in Denmark.

The production of wind equipment cannot keep up with the demand at present, so we are shipping equipment half way across the world to shift to a renewable energy economy. If you ask me, we need to start producing wind equipment in the US. Some states that have already jumped on the band wagon in wind turbine component production are Iowa, Pennsylvania, and North Dakota.

The top blade speed of the turbines at the Elk Valley Ranch is 150 mph, so if you were sitting on the end of a blade, that is how fast you would be zooming in circles. The wind turbines are built to withstand 300mph winds and have an 8-47 mph range of operation.

All 32 people on the tour with Ryan arrived on the big green bus and were able to go inside the base of on of the giant wind turbines. There was a little girl with us conveniently named Windy who spent much of the tour munching on freshly picked apricots. All present learned a lot about the local energy project, a successful day of wind education in La Grande, OR.

Community Gardens Galore!

At the community gardens in La Grande we got a little bit of insight into the "growth" of the garden scene. There are 8 luscious plots of sustenance popping up in front of the elementary school for the children to oogle over. These kids are lucky to be exposed to food not of the packaged sort. Most kids don't know that carrots live in the dirt before they are picked, washed, packaged, and trucked the 1500 mile average to their plates. One little girl named Windilynn assisted as I pulled weeds from Zachary's plot of corn. At two years old, she knows right where her food comes from. The folks involved in the garden are looking into compost options so that they can expand the garden, adding some raised beds, and sharing the joy of growing your own food.

A Day in Baker City

The day in Baker City began with a biodiesel demonstration at Agricultural Extension Office. About 20 people were present when Derek gave a talk and demonstration about the sustainable benefits of biodiesel use and production. Randy and Lauren were present with their biodiesel processor to discuss some of the particulars of producing their own biodiesel for use in their diesel vehicles.

Baker City’s Pollman Park becomes more than a children’s playground and hang out spot, twice a week (Thursday s and Saturdays) this quaint city nestled between the Elkhorn and the Wallowa Mountains puts on a wonderful local foods market. On the Thursday evening we joined the market, about a dozen farmers and growers brought their goods to market. Flowers, blackberries, peaches and melons were plentiful amongst the crowd. Potatoes, green beans and onions are also in season in this dry and hot part of Oregon.

Ellie, Baker’s Market Manager said “we get all kinds of folks with all kinds of goods, lots of crafts too, for Saturday market mostly”. The diverse background of Market growers and supporters is phenomenal in Baker. There are urban farmers who are able to grow enough food to partake in the Market each week. They are joined by new time farmers who moved to area for its extended growing season as well as folks whose family history is one and the same with farming in the area.

Ramon and Carolyn, Market board members have been local food promoters in the area for over 30 years.  They started a food co-op out of their basement in the 70’s and have continuously and consistently been engaged in the foods movement including a recent discussion group “localvores” on the importance producing, selling, buying and eating locally. Local was a theme that continued on at the park well past the farmer’s market closing bell. Oregon Rural Action's Baker City Chapter put on a 100-mile potluck dinner to celebrate local foods and renewable energy.

The shared community meal was not only extremely tasty and fresh but it was also educational. Maps and notes of where each ingredient and dish came were present at the serving table. The meal was complete with flowered tablecloths, local flower bouquet center pieces, fresh and tasty salads, casseroles and desserts, and great conversations and company! Thank you Baker City!