KCD, other agencies and community-based organizations from across our county, region, and state are working in coordination to quickly adapt resources so that farmers are supported in this unprecedented time. This landscape is evolving rapidly, so please check back on our blog and at the resources below regularly for the best information.
Recently, I have had few folks ask me what we can do to support local farmers and agriculture since farmers markets in the City of Seattle have been shut down.
Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets has multiple avenues available for you to support and sustain local farmers during this time and keep getting fresh, local produce and products.
Washington State Farmers Market Association had multiple webinars last week on how current policies are affecting Farmers Markets and local producers. Those recordings can be found online on their COVID-19 Resource Page.
For other farmers markets around King County and the rest of the state, you will need to reach out to those organizations or follow their social media.
And Audra Mulkern from Female Farmer Project has another resource list as well.
Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has multiple resources for farmers, ranchers and consumers.
For farmers:
Washington Young Farmers Coaltion March 18, 2020 Farm Resilience Webinar recording and materials are available.
Oregon Tilth posted the Online Sales Platforms for Farmers webinar recording and questions to ask from March 20, 2020.
American Farmland Trust launched The Farmer Relief Fund to help farmers. Eligible farmers have access to cash grants of up to $1,000 each to help them weather the current storm of market disruptions caused by the COVID-19 crisis. Initial focus is on farms that sell at farmers markets or to restaurants, caterers, schools, stores, or makers who use farm products, but could change over time as the negative impacts of the crisis become more widespread. Initially, eligible applicants include small and mid-size direct-market producers (annual gross revenue of between $10,000 and $1 million) from sales at the above mentioned outlets.
Cornell Small Farms Online Courses are now free between now and 9am PT on March 27. Go to www.smallfarmcourses.com and choose up to two courses in which you would like to enroll. Select a course, proceed to checkout enter COVID19 in the “Add Coupon” field. They ask that you limit your use of this coupon to two courses. The recorded lectures and other content is there for your self-directed study. Complete the course(s) before April 30 as you will lose access to the course materials.
And lastly, Food Insight Group (FIG) is collecting video footage to document how all kinds of districts are procuring, preparing, and distributing food to kids, and they need your help to see what’s working, where the gaps remain, and how they can better prepare to keep our communities nourished now and in the future. If you work in or volunteer with school foodservice, or if you or your family member(s) are currently receiving school meals, FIG needs your help. Visit FIG’s COVID-19 information page. Schools are likely to remain closed for the next few weeks and beyond. Help FIG document what’s happening across the country.
Do you have information or resources to share? Send them to news@kingcd.org.
Liz Clark is a Project Coordinator on the Engagement Team at King Conservation District and is a founding member/market manager for Enumclaw Plateau Farmers’ Market.
Project Coordinator, Engagement
O: 425-282-1901 – C: 425-773-0320
Liz works as a Project Coordinator on the Engagement Team and is a strong advocate for KCD programs and services. In 2014, she joined KCD as an Educational Outreach Assistant on the Boise Creek Community Project in the Boise Creek Watershed area of southeast King County. She wears many hats at KCD and enjoys helping each team showcase their best and brightest projects and accomplishments. Outside of work, Liz, her husband and son own a 10-acre farm in Enumclaw and have horses, goats, sheep and poultry, and grow hay. Currently, she also spends a great deal of her time volunteering as the market manager for Enumclaw Plateau Farmers’ Market.