Shepherd
03-08-2011, 05:06 PM
The Agrarian Grange Flourishes
By Shepherd Bliss
https://www.waccobb.net/forums/waccobb/ImagesforMembers/Grange.pngSebastopol’s grassroots Grange grows. Founded in 1867, the Grange has a history (https://www.nationalgrange.org/about/history.html) of being a unity place where diverse persons who respect tradition and want to respond productively to rapidly changing conditions gather, communicate at various levels, build community, and do good work.
It’s membership has been declining as older members pass away. However, in recent months, younger people have joined. Last year I kept hearing about the Hessel and Sebastopol Granges. So I wandered over to the Hall on Highway 12 toward Santa Rosa to hear author Richard Heinberg (https://richardheinberg.com/) talk to over 100 people about the global economy. I joined.
“Grange” comes from old English farms that connected into community. We could use more community in our fast-moving, technological America. I don’t remember feeling isolated while visiting our family farm in Iowa and working the fields. At times here in the 21st century, I do feel isolated. Inside the Grange Hall, I felt connected. It is easy to meet new people and see friends.
A Sheaf of Wheat symbolizes the Grange, representing its agrarian heritage. It embraces rural, urban, and suburban folks, while retaining a commitment to agriculture. Over 10,000 people are now members in more than 200 California chapters.
Today’s Grange is experiencing a national “Renaissance,” according to California leader Bob McFarland. “Change is in the air,” he asserts. I like the history of what the Grange stands for and its current commitment to serve agrarian communities and beyond. “In its simplest form the Grange is a family,” McFarland notes. “We need to be there for each other.”
Whenever I attend a Grange meeting I learn more about Sonoma County’s rich agrarian tradition. Martha Stefenoni, last year’s Master, is a wealth of history. Grange activities during the 19th century included supporting legislation to regulate railroads and developing one of the U.S.’s first water policies.
Granger Brock Dolman of the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center’s brings permaculture students to help design its 2 ˝ acres. Among the it’s services are a Credit Union, youth program with a Summer Camp, and an Insurance Group.
https://www.waccobb.net/forums/waccobb/ImagesforMembers/Joseph.jpg
Soon-to-be Worthy Master: Joseph Stefenoni
This Jan. 30 over 100 people from a couple of years old into their 80’s ate a tasty meal together at a Grange’s breakfast. It reminded me of being on our farm in the early l950s. Farmers and cooks filled the kitchen. Laguna Farm’s Scott Mathieson brought collards. Someone donated 70 pounds of fresh local potatoes, which quickly became home fries. The syrup was real maple syrup. A sign noted the many local farms that had donated food. Sebastopol’s new, young Master Joseph Stefenoni, a fifth generation Granger, was among the dozen smiling faces serving us, transforming a cold morning into warm hospitality.
An invitation to the breakfast included the following: “The Grange has a rich 140 year old history that goes back to when farms formed collectives to create healthier, resilient communities and give local farmers an economic voice against powerful corporations (railroads). Sound somewhat familiar with our current times?”
“The Sebastopol Grange is having a renaissance with economic localization, food security, emergency preparedness, and community connection being some of our focus to creating resilience,” writes Granger Gary Abreim. “We have members from the Transition Sebastopol community, local farmers, climate protection activists, Community Emergency Response Team members (CERT), long time Grange members, Spiral Foods (local food coop organizers), businesspeople, musicians and more.”
The Sebastopol Grange recently initiated its website—www.sebgrange.org (https://www.sebgrange.org/).
Shepherd Bliss has run the Kokopelli Farm since l992, currently teaches at Sonoma State University, and can be reached at [email protected].
By Shepherd Bliss
https://www.waccobb.net/forums/waccobb/ImagesforMembers/Grange.pngSebastopol’s grassroots Grange grows. Founded in 1867, the Grange has a history (https://www.nationalgrange.org/about/history.html) of being a unity place where diverse persons who respect tradition and want to respond productively to rapidly changing conditions gather, communicate at various levels, build community, and do good work.
It’s membership has been declining as older members pass away. However, in recent months, younger people have joined. Last year I kept hearing about the Hessel and Sebastopol Granges. So I wandered over to the Hall on Highway 12 toward Santa Rosa to hear author Richard Heinberg (https://richardheinberg.com/) talk to over 100 people about the global economy. I joined.
“Grange” comes from old English farms that connected into community. We could use more community in our fast-moving, technological America. I don’t remember feeling isolated while visiting our family farm in Iowa and working the fields. At times here in the 21st century, I do feel isolated. Inside the Grange Hall, I felt connected. It is easy to meet new people and see friends.
A Sheaf of Wheat symbolizes the Grange, representing its agrarian heritage. It embraces rural, urban, and suburban folks, while retaining a commitment to agriculture. Over 10,000 people are now members in more than 200 California chapters.
Today’s Grange is experiencing a national “Renaissance,” according to California leader Bob McFarland. “Change is in the air,” he asserts. I like the history of what the Grange stands for and its current commitment to serve agrarian communities and beyond. “In its simplest form the Grange is a family,” McFarland notes. “We need to be there for each other.”
Whenever I attend a Grange meeting I learn more about Sonoma County’s rich agrarian tradition. Martha Stefenoni, last year’s Master, is a wealth of history. Grange activities during the 19th century included supporting legislation to regulate railroads and developing one of the U.S.’s first water policies.
Granger Brock Dolman of the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center’s brings permaculture students to help design its 2 ˝ acres. Among the it’s services are a Credit Union, youth program with a Summer Camp, and an Insurance Group.
https://www.waccobb.net/forums/waccobb/ImagesforMembers/Joseph.jpg
Soon-to-be Worthy Master: Joseph Stefenoni
This Jan. 30 over 100 people from a couple of years old into their 80’s ate a tasty meal together at a Grange’s breakfast. It reminded me of being on our farm in the early l950s. Farmers and cooks filled the kitchen. Laguna Farm’s Scott Mathieson brought collards. Someone donated 70 pounds of fresh local potatoes, which quickly became home fries. The syrup was real maple syrup. A sign noted the many local farms that had donated food. Sebastopol’s new, young Master Joseph Stefenoni, a fifth generation Granger, was among the dozen smiling faces serving us, transforming a cold morning into warm hospitality.
An invitation to the breakfast included the following: “The Grange has a rich 140 year old history that goes back to when farms formed collectives to create healthier, resilient communities and give local farmers an economic voice against powerful corporations (railroads). Sound somewhat familiar with our current times?”
“The Sebastopol Grange is having a renaissance with economic localization, food security, emergency preparedness, and community connection being some of our focus to creating resilience,” writes Granger Gary Abreim. “We have members from the Transition Sebastopol community, local farmers, climate protection activists, Community Emergency Response Team members (CERT), long time Grange members, Spiral Foods (local food coop organizers), businesspeople, musicians and more.”
The Sebastopol Grange recently initiated its website—www.sebgrange.org (https://www.sebgrange.org/).
Shepherd Bliss has run the Kokopelli Farm since l992, currently teaches at Sonoma State University, and can be reached at [email protected].