Resources for Community

How do we balance the needs of a growing population with a finite planet? By the year 2050, our planet will be home to another 2 billion people. How will we feed them all? Not only will there be more people, but everyone will have more money to spend on food. Where, on an increasingly crowded planet, will we grow all of it? Picture what would happen if we could freeze the footprint of food by doubling the productivity of farming.

Community Council

The mission of the Community Council is to foster a civic culture that inspires a citizen-driven, consensus-based, problem-solving process to prepare the greater Walla Walla area for future growth, change and challenges to enhance the quality of life for everyone.

The Community Council in conjunction with the Oregon State University Umatilla County Extension have developed a Value-Added Agriculture website of resources that should be helpful for instructors in developing curriculum on that topic as well as for students.

To learn more about Community Council visit their website.

Value Added Agriculture

As the result of a study by the Community Council, a Value Added Agriculture resources website was developed in conjunction with the Oregon State Extension Service for Umatilla County.  The website offers information on funding opportunities, regulations, related government entities/infrastructure, logistics, and other resources. To learn more about Value Added Agriculture, visit the website.

The Healing Ground~

The Agricultural Center of Excellence has recently partnered with the Walla Walla VA Medical Center with plans for a Therapy Garden for their patients. The Center brought together the VA Hospital and a Volunteer from Blue Mountain Action Council to plan the gardening stages of the new project. The two agreed to donate the produce to the food bank hosted by Blue Mountain Action Council and began planting a therapy garden for the veterans early spring, 2012. AmeriCorps sent the Center a VISTA member to host at Walla Walla and assist in the gardening project from June through August. The Summer VISTA, Kristen Whittington, made time daily to pull weeds, pick produce, and assist Vets in the garden while maintain the blog below.

2012-AmeriCorps Summer VISTA Blog

I am Kristen Whittington the AmeriCorps Summer VISTA Associate that will be helping with the garden project until mid-August. Enjoy me stories and photos about the garden’s progress throughout the summer.
Click on the date to read Kristen’s blog for that day.

Monday, August 6th, 2012

Monday, July 30th, 2012

Monday, July 16th, 2012

Monday, July 9th, 2012

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012

Monday, July 2nd, 2012

Tuesday, June 26th, 2012

Wednesday, July 25th, 2012

Wednesday, June 21st, 2012

Wednesday, June 20th, 2012

Last Updated 9.24.12