Wow, this was intense! I probably should have known, but really had no idea the tree farms were this bad. We like to go out on a sketchy adventure into the national forest up in the Cascade foothills on Dec. 1 each year to thin a small tree, but we will probably stop doing that once our kid is less invested in the magic of the season. I like the idea of decorating something else in the house, not a tree.
Also, checked out your linked article on farming in the Willamette valley and it's funny you mentioned the percentage of the valley in grass seed crops. I had just been reading your earlier piece on home gardens feeding us and wondering if some/most of those grass seed farms could be converted to grain crops. Sounds like that might be a tougher road than I imagined, with all the pesticides currently used there. Certainly it would be hard to convert to organic food crops, as you've described.
We get all our fruit and veg for about 9 months of the year from a CSA, and could also cover our dairy and egg portion of our diet through a CSA if/when needed. Don't eat much meat. Fish can be obtained directly at the docks or fish market, if desired. We don't eat much grain, due to an autoimmune situation. For folks reliant on grain, it would sure be nice to have a local grain economy though.
I'd also love to see some of that grass-seed and Xmas tree acreage rewilded to Willamette Valley oak woodlands, as previously maintained with fire and selective harvesting by local tribes. My understanding is this was once a quite productive food system here. Lots of toxic remediation would be required though. Ugh.
I had no idea it was this intense before I researched it!
Oh that's cool you read the one about farming in the Willamette Valley. Yes, it was a huge challenge to try to farm organically on land that had been so poisoned for so many years. A lot of that kind of land probably just needs to lie fallow for a few years as a first step, to let some of the toxins dissipate. There are also various plants and mycorrhizae that can help with remediation. So the fact that time is an element means the sooner some of the land gets taken out of grass seed production the better.
I ran a CSA farm in Portland for a few years. I really think it's one of the best ways to support local agriculture. Good for you for participating!!
As for local grains, I don't know if it's still going but there was The Southern Willamette Valley Bean & Grain Project for awhile:
It was started by Harry MacCormack, who was one of the founders of Oregon Tilth and the organic movement back in the day (the '70s). I had the great pleasure of being acquainted with Harry for a number of years when I lived and farmed around Oregon. Last time I was at the Corvallis Food Co-op (at least 5 years ago?) they had local grains in there, and a mill for grinding them into flour fresh. That was really cool.
And yeah, the indigenous folks tended a great foodshed here at one time. Indeed they used fire and their methods we drubbed “pyroculture” by Oregon archaeologist, Leland Gilsen, which is certainly a great word.
There are so many sustainable creative ways to create your own unique tree. Christmas tree farms growing & cutting down “Xmas” trees in this day and age is baffling…I have a drift wood tree and don’t miss the pine needle mess, or the fire hazard , use metal , branches or just draw one on the wall / door and add some lights! , The hidden life of Trees book by by Peter wohlleben is worth the read or audible.
We cut ours down from our yard and therefore know there were no chemicals! I had no idea there were so many involved in producing them. Thanks for this
Wow, this was intense! I probably should have known, but really had no idea the tree farms were this bad. We like to go out on a sketchy adventure into the national forest up in the Cascade foothills on Dec. 1 each year to thin a small tree, but we will probably stop doing that once our kid is less invested in the magic of the season. I like the idea of decorating something else in the house, not a tree.
Also, checked out your linked article on farming in the Willamette valley and it's funny you mentioned the percentage of the valley in grass seed crops. I had just been reading your earlier piece on home gardens feeding us and wondering if some/most of those grass seed farms could be converted to grain crops. Sounds like that might be a tougher road than I imagined, with all the pesticides currently used there. Certainly it would be hard to convert to organic food crops, as you've described.
We get all our fruit and veg for about 9 months of the year from a CSA, and could also cover our dairy and egg portion of our diet through a CSA if/when needed. Don't eat much meat. Fish can be obtained directly at the docks or fish market, if desired. We don't eat much grain, due to an autoimmune situation. For folks reliant on grain, it would sure be nice to have a local grain economy though.
I'd also love to see some of that grass-seed and Xmas tree acreage rewilded to Willamette Valley oak woodlands, as previously maintained with fire and selective harvesting by local tribes. My understanding is this was once a quite productive food system here. Lots of toxic remediation would be required though. Ugh.
I had no idea it was this intense before I researched it!
Oh that's cool you read the one about farming in the Willamette Valley. Yes, it was a huge challenge to try to farm organically on land that had been so poisoned for so many years. A lot of that kind of land probably just needs to lie fallow for a few years as a first step, to let some of the toxins dissipate. There are also various plants and mycorrhizae that can help with remediation. So the fact that time is an element means the sooner some of the land gets taken out of grass seed production the better.
I ran a CSA farm in Portland for a few years. I really think it's one of the best ways to support local agriculture. Good for you for participating!!
As for local grains, I don't know if it's still going but there was The Southern Willamette Valley Bean & Grain Project for awhile:
https://mudcitypress.com/beanandgrain.php
It was started by Harry MacCormack, who was one of the founders of Oregon Tilth and the organic movement back in the day (the '70s). I had the great pleasure of being acquainted with Harry for a number of years when I lived and farmed around Oregon. Last time I was at the Corvallis Food Co-op (at least 5 years ago?) they had local grains in there, and a mill for grinding them into flour fresh. That was really cool.
And yeah, the indigenous folks tended a great foodshed here at one time. Indeed they used fire and their methods we drubbed “pyroculture” by Oregon archaeologist, Leland Gilsen, which is certainly a great word.
This was an eye-opener! Thanks for the information. Now I can appreciate that we just decorated with indoor lights and no tree.
I ♥️ Christmas lights.
There are so many sustainable creative ways to create your own unique tree. Christmas tree farms growing & cutting down “Xmas” trees in this day and age is baffling…I have a drift wood tree and don’t miss the pine needle mess, or the fire hazard , use metal , branches or just draw one on the wall / door and add some lights! , The hidden life of Trees book by by Peter wohlleben is worth the read or audible.
We cut ours down from our yard and therefore know there were no chemicals! I had no idea there were so many involved in producing them. Thanks for this