PTFM Education

JCFMA is dedicated to educating consumers about the health, environmental and community benefits of buying and eating food that is sustainably produced, marketed, and sold. In addition to operating our Farmers Market toward this end, JCFMA has also provided funding to the following organizations and projects:

Educating Consumers
Farm Visits: In partnership with Washington State University, JCFMA is a cosponsor of the annual Jefferson County Farm Tour in which numerous farmers open their farms to the public to educate them on sustainable farming and where their food comes from. Also included on the tour are community gardens and fiber farms.  In 2009, JCFMA contributed $3,000 to sponsor the event and promoted it heavily at the market.

Outreach: JCFMA is an active participant in Fresh and Healthy Food for Everyone, an outreach campaign conducted in cooperation with the Women Infants and Children Nutrition Program (WIC) and the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to educate and assist low income individuals and families on the benefits of healthy eating, which has resulted in a threefold increase in food stamp purchases at the PTFM.

In 2008, JCFMA sponsored the first annual WIC-nic, an educational event directed at women in the WIC program. WIC clients learn how to use their checks and are treated to a great lunch and cooking demonstration of a simple recipe using fresh vegetables. Translators and childrens activities are also provided.

Study Groups: In 2009, JCFMA made a $330 contribution to the Northwest Earth Institute, a 501c3 organization, to assist with their educational program “Menu for the Future”, a program designed to explore food systems and their impact on culture, society and ecological systems and to promote sustainable agricultural and individual practices.

Cooking Classes: JCFMA has retained the services of local chef Arran Stark to conduct cooking classes at the Saturday market approximately twice a month during market season. The classes are designed around simple recipes using fresh local produce to create healthful, tasty meals. The demonstrations are open to all.  We are looking into purchasing a small mobile demonstration kitchen that could be used to extend our cooking demonstrations to other venues, including schools, the health department, and senior centers.

Providing information: JCFM distributes educational materials at its booth at every market, including recipes, information on Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), other farmers markets and organizations, including Tilth, Puget Sound Fresh, and Cascade Harvest Coalition. Our website contains links to other organizations that share its purpose and vision, as well as a reading list of culinary, environmental and agricultural book titles.

Collaboration: JCFM is a member of the Jefferson LandWorks Collaborative, a consortium of 8 community organizations that are working strategically to keep the rural landscape economically viable by offering landowners a variety of tools to assist them in business planning, resource conservation, education, technical assistance, and marketing. Other members include the Jefferson County Conservation District, Jefferson Land Trust, Washington State University Extension, the Food Co-op, Northwest Natural Resource Group, and Shore Bank Enterprise Cascadia. The Collaboratives goal is to help small scale farmers and foresters be economically successful so that agricultural and forest land can remain part of the local landscape.

Celebrations: JCFM holds an annual harvest dinner which is an event designed to showcase and celebrate local and sustainably grown foods, educate the public about local agriculture and how their food is produced, and raise funds to support its many community projects. The event includes an educational program including a keynote speaker as well as shorter presentations by local farmers.

Educating and Helping Farmers and the Community
Developing Locally Adapted Seed: In 2009, JCFMA contributed $2,000 to Organic Seed Alliance (OSA), a 501c3 organization, to help fund a new project aimed at enabling year round sustainable food production on Jefferson County farms.  OSA is working with local farmers to develop healthy stores of locally adapted seed varieties for a range of vegetables and grains.

Food donations: For the past several years, JCFMA has coordinated donations of local produce that's left over after the market to the Jefferson County Food Bank, gathering up to 100 lbs. of produce per week for distribution to low-income households.

Supporting small farmers in need: In 2007, JCFMA donated $1,000 to the Olympia Farmers Market to assist farmers who suffered serious losses as a result of catastrophic storms and flooding in West Central Washington.

Non-profit booths: For the past two years, JCFMA has provided complimentary booth space at its market for the following non-profit organizations: Gathering Place (serving the developmentally disabled), Jefferson County Animal Shelter, Greyhound (dog) Rescue, Second Chance (private animal shelter), Master Gardeners, Washington State University, Master Gardeners, Slow Food, the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, the Port Townsend Film Festival and the Jefferson Trails Association.