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First Annual Ohio Soil Health Week to Take Place November 10-16
From November 10-16, 2024, the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA), members of its Ohio Soil Health Initiative (OSHI), and partners will celebrate the inaugural Ohio Soil Health Week. The weeklong, statewide celebration honors and raises awareness about the importance of Ohio’s soils and those who steward them. It will include outreach, education opportunities, and events to elevate this valuable natural resource. The official designation of Ohio Soil Health Week has been introduced as an amendment to House Bill 162 and is sponsored by Ohio Sen. Tim Schaffer (OH-20). This follows years of advocacy by OEFFA and OSHI to advance soil health legislation in the Ohio General Assembly, drawing…
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2024 Drought Relief Resources
From early harvests to closed pumpkin patches to increased risk of combine fires, Ohio’s prolonged drought is impacting all facets of agriculture. As of October 18, 2024, 49 Ohio counties have been declared primary disaster counties, based on the U.S. Drought Monitor. With conditions unlike any we’ve seen in recent decades, many Ohio counties have been declared primary natural disaster areas. There are resources to support farmers through these trying times. We will regularly update this post as resources become available. If you know of another type of available support that should be included on this list, please email heather@oeffa.org. On Thursday, October 17, OEFFA hosted a virtual Drought Community…
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Member Spotlight: The Stratton Family behind Truest Farms
Originally published in the Summer 2024 edition of the OEFFA newsletter. “It’s been great. It’s been a lot of momentum. We’re doubling and tripling each year,” shared Cory Stratton during my first visit to Truest Farms in May 2023. The Champaign County farm is co-owned by Cory and his father, Mark, but it’s truly a family-run operation. Cory’s high school sweetheart and wife Kirsten uses her background as a veterinary technician to support the pasture-raised livestock, and their five-year-old daughter Claire enjoys playing with the chicks and pushing the chicken tractor. Spanning 21 acres, the regenerative farm is unrecognizable from its previous life planted in conventional corn and soy. All…
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A Message from OEFFA’s Board
Here we are, in the midst of summer 2024, filled with optimism as we collectively witness the fruits of our labor in hundreds of farms and gardens across OEFFA’s region. As we look forward to a bountiful harvest, I want to share the latest updates and some changes we are implementing to ensure we steward OEFFA’s resources wisely for our members and farmers. In May, we welcomed Khara Strum as our new executive director. With nearly two decades of experience in conservation and farming, Khara brings a wealth of new energy and innovative ideas to our organization, and she is stepping into her new position with both confidence and grace.…
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OEFFA Launches Annual Series of Farm Tours and Workshops
The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) and partners invite you to explore farms and farming this summer during the 2024 Farm Tour and Workshop Series. OEFFA’s annual series of public tours and workshops encompasses 24 events, featuring organic and ecological farms in Ohio and Michigan, plus a number of educational workshops. This programming opens the door for farmers, gardeners, educators, and consumers to learn about local foods and farming first hand. Participants will have the opportunity to walk through farm fields, garden beds, livestock pastures, and more during these OEFFA farm tours: Attendees can explore farm programs, understand the organic certification process, navigate farm employment, and more during…
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Status-Quo House Farm Bill Draft Falls Short on OEFFA’s Member-Driven Priorities
In the early hours of May 24, the House Agriculture Committee advanced its farm bill, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 (FFNSA), out of committee. This is long-awaited movement for a bill that should have passed last year but the proposed legislation misses the mark. The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) joins many in the sustainable food and agriculture space in demanding a farm bill that does more to level the playing field for farmers, protect vital nutrition support, and equip producers with tools to address the climate crisis. The FFNSA is a 942-page discussion draft that was released on May 17 in advance of…
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Member Spotlight: Pam Mack of L Marie Ltd
Originally published in the Spring 2024 edition of the OEFFA newsletter. Years ago, Pam Mack began a heartfelt mission to pay tribute to her late daughter: to grow and provide healthy, organic vegetables for everyone. L Marie Ltd is an organic farming company that prioritizes promoting the well-being of the current generation while ensuring sustainability for future generations. Located in Richland County, the farm covers five acres, with approximately half of the land dedicated to cultivating an extensive variety of vegetables. This includes collard greens, kale, Swiss chard, onions, leeks, tomatoes, peppers, squash, beets, zucchini, okra, cucumbers, bush beans, and more. The farm features 40 100-foot rows and 19 raised…
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Khara Strum Joins OEFFA as Executive Director
The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) is pleased to announce that Khara Strum has joined the organization as executive director, effective May 1, 2024. “With over two decades of leadership and conservation experience, Khara embodies the qualities necessary to propel OEFFA forward as a leader in organic certification, land stewardship, and local food advocacy,” said OEFFA Board President Sarah Paul. “By embracing Khara’s wealth of expertise, fresh perspective, and collaborative spirit, we are eager to embark on this new chapter.” For most of her professional career, Strum has worked in conservation and agricultural land protection. She most recently served as director of the Philander Chase Conservancy, guiding the…
Ecological Food and Farm News
