As temperatures spiked above 100 degrees last month, many Pacific Northwest residents struggled to keep cool, seeking respite in the water or in air-conditioned spaces such as cooling centers. For farmers across King County, these extreme temperatures presented additional challenges of working safely outdoors and protecting vulnerable livestock and crops.

As extreme heat events become more common in the Pacific Northwest, farms will face continued weather-related emergencies. The Local Food Initiative, in partnership with the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks and the King County Agriculture Commission, organized this list of recommendations and resources to help farmers prepare for stressful summer conditions like heat, drought, and wildfires.

King Conservation District is supporting the economic and environmental sustainability of working agricultural lands in King County through Regional Food System Program Grant funds.

The program funds projects that support the goals of King County’s Local Food Initiative and contribute to the economic viability of local farmers, encourage new farmers, expand acreage in food production, improve food access, and increase demand for King County farm products.

Proposals are due by 4 p.m. on Aug. 17.

This growing national resource for Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farmers exists to “generate and facilitate idea sharing across the CSA community and to build awareness of the value of CSA to consumers.”

Their website is full of resources contributed by partners and collaborators, including on-demand learning tools about topics such as building a strong CSA membership agreement, properly storing vegetables for distribution, and launching a successful early bird sign-up campaign. All of their content is designed to address the primary challenges faced by the CSA farming community.

They also host free online events, such as their webinar next month called “Moving from Food Access to Food Justice.”

Cheers,

Local Food Initiative team