Volunteer Resources

This page contains resources for GGFN's committee volunteers.

IMPORTANT:  As of February 2008, only the FARMERS MARKET and STEERING COMMITTEE groups are active; as part of GGFN's 2008 Strategic Planning, we are reworking our committee structures and will roll out the new system in March 2008. If you wish to get involved, contact GGFN's Coordinator directly - there are many fantastic ways to get involved with GGFN right now!

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Scroll down and find out more about each of GGFN's committees:

Information for ALL Volunteers:

CONNECTIONS-NETWORKING COMMITTEE:

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<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->SEED to FARM summer pilot program: developing curriculum for K-12, probably run through Community Ed. MB will offer a 5-week program, DMF will offer a “Farm Camp” two week program for ages 5-10 coordinated and run by TO, and JP will offer a program or will assist in the other programs.

   ACTION: each program description needs to be written up, we need approval from Community Ed, dates need to be set. POINT PEOPLE: MB and TO.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->SCHOOL GARDEN PROGRAM: offering schools support, guidance and curriculum around their own school garden. Some schools already have gardens (Hood River Middle School, Mosier, Pine Grove(?)) that we need to make sure get maintained and used, some schools are eager to have gardens (Stevenson? Mid Valley Elementary?), and some schools have yet to be won over.

   ACTION: Apply for an AmeriCorps, NCCC, Northwest Service Academy Job(s) “Gorge School Gardens Implementer / Coordinator” so that we have a point person devoted to this. POINT PERSON: JP or KM

<!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->LOCAL FOOD served in schools: In order to get local food in schools we need to work on the whole way school meals are prepared (i.e. not from a package). Mosier is one example of a cooking from scratch school. LW and KW are on the Wellness Committee for the HRC Schools, and believe that this committee is ready and willing to make some changes in the way Hood River County provides nutrition to students. One of our first steps is to meet with the Wellness Committee at Mosier to get some of the dollars & cents information. This will be a long-term project.

   ACTION: Begin negotiate the sale of local food to our schools, and other partnership  opportunities between farmers and the schools; collect data; and try to get approval for / a location for a pilot school in Hood River County or across the river. POINT PERSON: KW.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->4. <!--[endif]-->GORGE GROWN LEARNING FARM: Having a farm of our own would advance many of our educational and food self-sufficiency goals. Conduct a survey of available land for this purpose. Considerations: signing a lease, buying property in ten years, water, needed infrastructure. This is also a long-term goal.

   ACTION: Assess available land, write a business plan, and visit other examples. POINT PERSON: MB.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->5. <!--[endif]-->FOOD LABELING AND CONNECTIONS: Educate consumers by labeling nutritional benefits and by a “picture of the farm / farmer” both in grocery stores, and at markets, etc. POINT PERSON:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->6. <!--[endif]-->ADULT EDUCATION: Adult / farmer continuing education, but not overlapping with programs already in place, like OSU and WSU Extension Services. Tours and classes can be available. This project should collaborate with the HEALTH committee. Some adult education programming should involve nutrition classes and resources for doctors and other health practitioners.
ACTION: Learn how we may support / expand (providing gardeners training on-site) on La Clinica's community garden. POINT PERSON:

FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE:

10-year Vision:

1-year Plan:

HEALTH COMMITTEE:

10-year Vision:

1-year Plan:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·   Look for Health Committee Chair

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·   <!--[endif]-->Determine stakeholders within medical community, begin contacting

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·   <!--[endif]-->Link to Archimedes Movement on Web site (see top of page) – contact/support movement

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·   <!--[endif]-->Have every doctor require a 5 day food diary from patients.

               >Start in 2007 - start with 1 or 2 in each major community  >design or adapt

                  -How to reach doctors to encourage receptiveness

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·   <!--[endif]-->Labeling of nutritional information – farmer’s market, schools, grocery stores,  restaurants

          >Start in 2007 (steady growth first 5 years)

                           -Produce and disseminate pilot project 2007

               -The Dalles and Hood River , Columbia Gorge CC living project, Art Project/Art Contests          

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·   <!--[endif]-->Empowering individuals in personal health

     >Maybe start in 2007

       -Have regular social health groups (ex. Walking, Tai chi, yoga, dance…) 

       -Monthly speakers

      - Sponsors a health school, 30 yr. project, steady growth

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·   <!--[endif]-->Garden design for particular health issues- to maximize nutrition per square foot 

          (John Jeavons)    

               >Start in 2007- promote at Farmer’s Market, Master Gardeners, hire consultants to do garden design, subsidize

                      -garden designers linking with herbalists      

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·   <!--[endif]-->Connect doctors with nutritional counselors

               >Hhelp with interpreting

               >Conduct poll/survey

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·   <!--[endif]-->Health Insurance – get health insurance. to reward proactive behavior (i.e. good food,  exercise)  

               >Acquire a public voice/liaison

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·   <!--[endif]-->Outreach for pregnant women

               >Gorge Grown class for pregnant women

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·   <!--[endif]-->Local Food for all food serving institutions (hospitals, senior centers, schools, etc.)

         >Examine successful models, identify hurdles

         >Have other groups collaborate

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·   <!--[endif]-->Medicinal Herbs

       >Network of herb growers, herbalists, and outlets (markets/stores) for sale of herbs          

               >Survey current situation, what is current public awareness

        - Write a plan for years ahead

INFORMATION-CLEARINGHOUSE / TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE:

10-year Vision:

1-year Plan:

What started as a request at Hood River News to write an on-going column managed by GGFN but to be a myriad of voices within the Gorge that are a part of the inclusive, interconnected process, evolved into an exploration of producing a Special Section to come out this summer ’07. 

There are several goals this piece could help us achieve:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.       <!--[endif]-->Tell the GGFN story in depth—from its inception, mission, goals, vision but  also to show how interconnected GGFN is with so many different segments of the community—education, health, farming, environment, water resources, extension service, orchardists, La Clinica, food bank/food security.  Thus we hope to engage every stakeholder to write an article (or at least give input) relative to their interest/connection with GGFN and our mission. 
For example—education and the connection with children, nutrition, school lunches or orchardists and their powerful influence/wisdom that has driven the Gorge for centuries as an economic and agricultural powerhouse.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.       <!--[endif]-->On-going marketing piece so when you meet someone and they ask what is GGFN—this is something that you could hand out.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.       <!--[endif]-->Membership drive/fundraising—our goal is to encourage membership as our primary source of revenue. With 20,000 families in the Gorge, if half joined at $10 each that would pool $100,000 and that would be all we need each year to make GGFN a success.  So, we hope this Special section will be used as a membership/fundraising tool.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.       <!--[endif]-->A resource guide for local food, connecting consumers with farmers, farmers with other farmers, and many other residents through food.

Local Food Festival – GGFN (541/490-6420)

What started as a foggy idea for a community food conference filled with education about local food issues has been transformed into a local food, renewable energy, and sustainable living festival first scheduled to be held April 21, 2007, but now is in the process of being rescheduled.

The goal of this first local food festival is to connect farmers and consumers; to showcase CSA farms, farmers’ market vendors and local farms interested in connecting with restaurants/chefs. Gorge residents want to meet Gorge farmers and forge relationships around food. They’d also like to enjoy great food during the festival, break away from conventional conference settings and gather and contribute a donation upon attendance based on the festival’s value to that individual.

We’re working on finding an exceptional speaker from the PNW to share their wisdom with us as we grow our movement to create a regional food system in the Gorge. During the festival, we’ll be offering child care for kids where they’ll get to participate in an educational activity with food, and we’ll coordinate a car pool site so those of us without transportation can ride share, along with those of us who’d like to reduce fuel use for the day.

If you’d like to join an enthusiastic team and help create this festival, contact GGFN.

Addtional Project List:

1. Develop software for consumers to make farmers’ market or direct-from-the-farmer purchases online.

2. Develop databases to manage data.

3. Partner with HRC econ dev to promote and make use of findfoodstuff.com, including using it in conjunction with gorgegrown.com to get information about what farmers have available each week out to consumers and restaurateurs/chefs.

10-year Vision:

1-year Plan:

The Steering Committee serves as an advisory board for GGFN. A representative from each of the other six committees participates in this committee. Gorge Grown Food Network is ready to found itself as an organization in the region, establish a reputation, and expand its recognition. The Steering Committee makes sure the organization is on track to continue moving forward in its development.
ACTION: craft organizational mission, case statement, strategic plan (goals, objectives, and plan for evaluation), steering committee member job descriptions, annual budget.