Beans for Bags: The Local Food Council

The Jefferson County Local Food System Council

Our mission is to work together to create, expand, and strengthen a local food system that is accessible, healthy, sustainable and economically vibrant. 

The Jefferson County Local Food System Council is an organized group of community members representing the various sectors of the food system, under the umbrella of Local 20/20. We are focused on connecting the various different parts of East Jefferson County’s food system with each other to strengthen the nourishment and resilience of the whole. Currently the Council is composed of members from these sectors: farm production, gardens, environmental education, permaculture, retail, value added producers, grange members, the health department, the Port of Port Townsend, and concerned citizens. Restaureanteers and more members associated with the public sector could provide more perspectives and knowledge of Jefferson County’s food system.

In the last 2 years, the Council has partnered with other local groups and community members to: 

• Instigate 13 “Menu for the Future" discussion courses, in which approximately 100 people participated.

• Sponsor the Farm Film Festival, with an attendance ranging between 20 and 110 people at each movie. Showing 14 different farming documentaries at 28 screenings over the past two years.

• Provide extensive and innovative feedback to the Jefferson County Planning Commission for the Comprehensive Plan 20-year update.

• Initiate a Local Food Expo to narrow the gap between chefs, restaurateurs, institutional food service managers, and local food producers.

• Lead a field-trip to the South Whidbey School District Farm to connect PTSD educators and school garden coordinators to plan for a 2019 curriculum inservice training bringing education into the gardens.

• Start a local food gap analysis at the Food Coop and Chimacum Corner Store to identify opportunities for more locally made products and businesses.

The JCLFSC currently is exploring the idea of initiating a community food forest in the Port Townsend-area. A community food forest would be an edible park, accessible to all, that improves the health of our land and local community.  A food forest mimics patterns of naturally occurring woodland ecosystems with the substitution of edible trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals. This edible green space would serve as a park for recreation and relaxation, gathering and harvesting, educational opportunities, and more -- all while enhancing ecosystem health and local food security. The community food forest would be designed with public input, maintained by community volunteers, and available for shared public harvest. An edible community park, or community food forest, regenerates land and enhances community resiliency by growing nutrient-dense food for the benefit of all.  

The Beacon Food Forest in Seattle is a thriving example of a community food forest (http://beaconfoodforest.org/).

The Council is currently considering new topics, tasks, and projects for the 2019-2020 work period! Please see our page on the local 2020 page and contact us if you are interested in contributing an idea. https://l2020.org/local-food/food-council/