November Change for Good Recipient

 

Meet our November Change for Good Recipient: The Siletz Health Clinic

 

November is Indigenous Peoples Month. In honor of this, we are proud to partner with the Siletz Tribe and more specifically, the Siletz Health Clinic, to aid in the increase of  tribal member’s food sovereignty and preventative health services for the community. 

“We the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians are the most diverse confederation of Tribes and Bands on a single reservation in the United States. Our ancestors spoke 10 completely different languages, each of which had multiple dialects. Our ancestors brought with them deep connections to more than 20 million acres of ancestral territory combined, including all of Western Oregon from the summit of the Cascade mountains to the Pacific and extending into what’s now SW Washington State and northern California.” - Siletz Indians 

This initiative is further backed by Rogue Food Unites, which is an organization that uses food to heal individuals and communities during times of crisis.

“While meeting the fundamental human right for food, RFU strengthens local economies: fostering collaboration, preserving jobs for residents, building resilience, and ensuring food security and sovereignty in Oregon.” -RFU 

In 2023 the Siletz Farm produced 6,531 pounds of fresh produce and in 2024 there were 13,146 pounds of fresh produce harvested (101% Increase). All of the food harvested and produced by the program is distributed at no-charge to Tribal members, the Siletz Valley Charter School, other CTSI program collaborations, and on-farm visitors as a preventative health service for our community. Creative collaborations and distribution channels such as Siletz Valley Charter School, Tribal USDA, Area offices, other program distribution, and the Food Sovereignty Box Program have allowed for double the impact of fresh organic food going to our communities in just one year!

We encourage you to not only learn more about the land that you reside on, but invest in those who give back to you.

 

More Co-op News

The Co-op Community Classroom - Learn from local educators!

Located at 300 N Pioneer St, just behind the Co-op, sits our lovely community classroom. Here, we host delicious cooking classes, free lectures, sustainability classes, health and wellness events, cookie parties, community dinners, board meetings, and more! Owners get discounts!

You can find all events happening in the classroom at ashlandfood.coop/events, or look around the store as you shop for information teasing our upcoming classes. 

If you are interested in TEACHING a free or paid class, you can contact education@ashlandfood.coop for more information.

Meet our January Change for Good Recipient

"Moving people from crisis to stability," Opportunities for Housing Resources and Assistance or OHRA is a non profit organization whose mission is to help low-income people build better lives. This is done by offering both hope and access to various social services, 

"We encourage those in need on the path to self-sufficiency." 

December Change for Good: Jackson County Fuel Committee

If you’ve lived through even one Rogue Valley winter, you know the cold settles in quickly. The frosty mornings, the long dark evenings, the kind of chill that lingers no matter how many layers you put on - winter can be tough. And while many of us can manage with the help of heaters, woodstoves, and warm homes, thousands of families in our community struggle to access the heat they need to stay safe and comfortable. That’s where the Jackson County Fuel Committee (JCFC) comes in!

Celebrating Indigenous Food and Traditions

Each October, when so many across the country celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day, the Ashland Food Co-op pauses to reflect on the land we call home, the people who've cared for it, and how food and connections to the land can help us return that inheritance in a positive way.

Meet our August Change for Good Partner - Ashland Schools Foundation

August's Change for Good partner is a perfect fit for this month as our kids head back to school. Ashland Schools Foundation (ASF) is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting quality education in Ashland's public schools. You may have run in the Monster Dash or noticed the "Perk Up for Students" sign at our local coffeeshops - these are just some of the (fun and delicious) ways you are already supporting ASF.

Welcome to the Board!

We are happy to welcome two new Directors, Evan Archerd and Elizabeth Walsh, to the Board! And we're thrilled to have Joanna Wnorowski Pecoraro continuing to serve!

Bee the Change: Supporting Pollinators, Art, and Education with Bee Girl

Here at Ashland Food Co-op, we’re buzzing with excitement about our July Change for Good partner: Bee Girl / Bee Regenerative! This local nonprofit is doing some bee-autiful work to protect pollinators, restore habitats, and teach the next generation how to care for the tiny creatures that keep our food systems thriving.

Bee Girl + Bee Regenerative: More Than Just a Name

May Change for Good: Food & Friends

Each May, Ashland Food Co-op highlights a local nonprofit doing vital work in our community—and this month, we're proud to feature Food & Friends, the only Meals on Wheels program serving Jackson and Josephine Counties.