NOTE:   Please wait to take the survey until after you have finished your visit here – you will end up at the Survey Monkey web site.

Click here to take survey

Washington School Nutrition Association (WSNA) and the Washington State Department of Agriculture Farm-to-School Program are partnering to celebrate Washington agriculture on September 29^th with TASTE WASHINGTON DAY.  Schools around the state will be serving a locally-sourced meal and providing education and activities to celebrate the farms that feed us.

WSDA Farm-to-School Program will provide support to match up farms and schools and facilitate the purchasing process.  We would love to include your farm as a participating farm. Many school nutrition directors are off for part of the summer, so we’d like to start the process as soon as possible.

WSNA has recommended the two menus below, or schools can make their own menus.  We encourage schools to try alternatives if they have willing farm partners who grow other things.  For instance, a district might decide to use another kind of potato, or to do a bean or lentil chili, or to add carrots with tops or another available vegetable to round out the offerings.

We will also help schools add educational activities to the day, whether that’s posters in the cafeteria, inviting a farmer to lunch, or visiting or lunching in a school garden.  We want Washington’s kids to spend that day considering the farmers who grow their food, and we want you to help us bring that to life!

For more information, to be listed as a participating farm, or to get help linking to your local school districts, please contact Tricia Kovacs, WSDA Farm-to-School Program Manager, at tkovacs@agr.wa.gov or 206-256-6150.

The June newsletter has information on the recent executive order Governor Gregoire signed regarding food policy, updates to a guidebook for water right holders in Washington, action from the recent Lind Combine Derby, meeting times for the Farm Transition Network Annual Conference, the date for the 2010 Seattle Mariners Farmers Day, grant opportunities, and much more.

Also updated is the Washington Agriculture News and Views feature. This is a collection of news stories from around the state that relate to agriculture and efforts to preserve farming in our state. You can view this by going to: Washington Ag News and Views June 7 – June 23

Check out the National Tree Benefit Calculator web site to get an estimation of the environmental and economic benefits provided by the trees on your property.   Six different values are assessed,  including storm water interception, property value, and CO2 reduction.

September 4^th

9 am.   “It’s all about Butterflies” – Garden tour with displays and information to start your own butterfly garden.

11 am.  Poor Man’s Disc Golf (prizes for everyone!)

1 pm.  Dutch Oven Cooking Demonstration (the samples are delicious!)

3 pm.  Bingo (with prizes for the kids)

8 pm.  Living History.  Stories of yesteryear with a marshmallow cookout!

September 5^th

9 am.  Nature Hike (Learn about the flora, fauna, scat and track)

11 am.  Mini Olympics (prizes for the kids)

1 pm.  GPS Treasure Hunt (the treasure will be worth the trek)

3 pm.  Bingo (with prizes for the kids)

8 pm.  Living History.  Diary accounts from the folks who lived it.

Volleyball, horse shoes, and Frisbees available all weekend.

In addition to the picnic area, Brooks has tent and RV camp sites available on a first-come, first-served basis, plus cabins and a group camp site that can be reserved.  For more information, call Brook Park at 773-4611.

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The April 22, 2010 edition of The Goldendale Sentinel features a front-page story, letter to the editor, and opinion piece regarding CKCD’s proposed acquisition of Brooks Park.   You can view those articles on-line at these links, which will take you to the Sentinel‘s web site.

Front page (scroll down to second article)     Editorial Letter to the Editor.

Go to our Brooks Park page (see tabs above) for more information on CKCD’s involvement with Brooks Memorial State Park

CKCD is selling beautiful full-color posters, suitable for display in your home, classroom, or office. Each fine art poster depicts a specific group of native Northwest plants, and features a keyed identification system, including common and botanical names.

We offer Northwest Woodland Flowers (36 x 24), Northwest Native Broad-leaved Trees (36 x 24), Northwest Native Conifers (36 x 24), and Hummingbird Garden (24 x 18).

Suggested donation is $10.00 each.