Blue Mountain Chapter
The Blue Mountain Chapter of Oregon Rural Action (based in Union County)
The Blue Mountain Chapter formed in 2001. Union County members have worked on many different issues over the years. Interest has centered around three main topics: healthy, local food and sustainable agriculture; locally generated renewable energy; responsible and sustainable land use and planning; land conservation and preservation of open spaces.
Get Involved. Contact nella@oregonrural.org if you are interested in attending a meeting or otherwise getting involved.
CAMPAIGNS AND PROJECTS
- La Grande Community Garden - In its fourth year of coordinating the La Grande Community Garden, the Blue Mountain Chapter is looking at another successful garden year for 2011. Read more>>
CHAPTER BLOG AND UPDATES
Chapter Update: Winter 2011
The Blue Mountain Chapter has been busy over last several months cleaning up the La Grande Community Garden and pressing cider in October, looking into campaigns to support the local economy after John Fullerton's presentation at our annual meeting, holding an art auction, and creating a strategic plan for the chapter.
Local church supporting La Grande Community Garden
Oregon Rural Action receives wonderful support from our community partners. One of the recent examples of this support was the generous donation of $500 from the Zion Lutheran Church in La Grande to support the local community garden that members of the Blue Mountain Chapter help coordinate.
A great season in the La Grande Community Garden
Another great season in the La Grande Community Garden with a doubling in size from 14 to 28 beds, a mix of gardeners including those gardening for the first time, work with Head Start and Cove Ascension School, and a fun-filled, drizzly workday and cider pressing to round out the year.
Chapter Update: Summer 2010
Blue Mountain Chapters members participated in ORA's Building Wealth in Local Communities workshops, kicked off 'Harvest of the Month' tasting tables through the Farm to School program, and put on the first Eastern Oregon Solar Fair.
Chapter Update: Spring 2010
I am excited to say the Blue Mt Chapter (BMC) has been very active through the late winter and spring reestablishing the ORA Energy Team, supporting the La Grande Farmers Market, showing Food Inc, expanding the La Grande Community Garden, supporting anti-hate group activism in John Day, and preparing for the Building Wealth in Local Communities workshop.
Chapter Update: Fall 2009
The chapter remained busy and hopeful, hosting a showing of Good Food, as well as sponsoring a presentation on "Grande Ronde Valley Gardening: A Community Conversation on Growing Local, Healthy, Fresh Fruits and Vegetables in Union County" featuring a presentation by Cottage Grove resident Jess Camp- bell, a member of Rural Organizing Project, on her local group's work on creating a strong network of community gardens and smaller personal victory gardens.
Growing with the La Grande Community Garden
A report on the second year of the La Grande Community Garden under ORA coordination. The community garden was awarded a $1000 Elaine Joines Memorial grant from the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon, increased the number of gardening families and raised beds, donated produce to the food banks and Senior Citizen Center, and added flowering plants for visual appeal.
Chapter Update: Summer 2009
The Blue Mountain Chapter has worked hard at engaging in the local policy process in Union County. In February members pitched the idea of a solar access ordinance to the La Grande Planning Commission and also began efforts in support of an amended livestock ordinance that would allow for backyard chickens and rabbits.
In Memoriam: Barbara Applebee
The Blue Mountain Chapter recently lost one of its newest members – a gregarious and intelligent 68-year old woman by the name of Barbara Louise Applebee...
Building Coalitions for Healthy Kids, Healthy Farms, and Healthy Communities
As Oregon Rural Action’s programs expand and our capacity increases, we are putting a greater focus on collaboration with a variety of different community organizations. It is our belief that through working with a myriad of organizations, government bodies and businesses we will be able to more effectively achieve our vision. One of our most exciting collaborations is with Union County Fit Kids (U.C. Fit Kids).
The Chicken Manifesto
A spectre is haunting La Grande – the spectre of backyard chickens.
Our Solar Access Campaign
In March, the chapter’s Renewable Energy Committee worked fast and furious to make a good case for protecting solar access in La Grande. Members scoured over other cities’ solar access provisions, met to discuss the possibility of urging the Commission to adopt a Solar Access Ordinance, and produced a sample ordinance that was given to the City Planner and the Planning Commission.
Keeping the pressure on
At the March 10 Planning Commission work session, the Blue Mountain Chapter kept the pressure on the Commission to maintain its proposals on the backyard chickens and rabbits ordinance. The turnout was great with 22 members of the public in attendance in addition to the commissioners and city employees themselves. A majority of these were Oregon Rural Action members, who were able – for now – to argue for keeping the proposed number of chickens and/or rabbits at a cumulative total of six.
Chapter members make impact at commission meeting
Blue Mountain Chapter members made a big impact at the La Grande Planning Commission work session on February 17th! Mike Boquist, the City Planner, and the other Commission members in attendance all remarked that they were impressed by the number of people who turned out – mostly to support an amended ordinance that would allow for backyard chickens and other small livestock – as well as the positive tone of the meeting.
Another successful year in the La Grande Community Garden
A year-end report from Liang Ho, Blue Mountain Chapter member and past co-coordinator of the Community Garden: On the basis of this year's growth in the number of raised beds put in, and the planned expansion of them to a total of 12 or more for the 2009 season at its current location, the La Grande Community Garden program seems destined to continue building upon its auspicious beginnings.
Chapter Update: Fall 2008
The Blue Mountain Chapter has continued its monthly meetings. Many local members volunteered and played an instrumental role in the success of the Annual Convention...
Cellulosic Ethanol - Can Corn Be Dethroned?
If you’ve ever thought about where beer comes from then you probably already know something about alcohol production from starch... Massive recent investment in industrial production of ethanol from plant starch has affected American agriculture dramatically.
Chapter Update: Summer 2008
The Blue Mountain Chapter has continued its well-attended monthly meetings, as well as separate issue committee meetings, showing a screening of "King Corn," partnering with Eastern Oregon Locavores, and taking on the La Grande Community Garden as a chapter project.
Members hold Congressman accountable
On March 25th two Oregon Rural Action members visited the local La Grande office of Congressman Greg Walden to express concern over the Congressman’s recent vote against H.R. 5351 which would extend renewable energy tax incentives.
Chapter Update: Spring 2008
The Blue Mountain Chapter has begun its regular monthly meetings again on the first Wednesday of each month at 11:45 am at Mamacita’s Restaurant in La Grande. There is major interest in both local foods and renewable energy.
