Interviews with Oregon environmentalists
In 2001 we traveled around the state interviewing Oregon farmers and ranchers about their environmental concerns, their relationship with environmentalists, and opportunities to work together on common ground. Now we've published a companion report.
Working on Common Ground
For the first time in half a century, Americans care about where and how their food is produced. In growing numbers, we want to support local agriculture, and ensure that it is sustained in the future. This is a unique moment in time that may allow both urban and rural citizens, and eaters and growers, to recognize some of the things we have in common, our interdependency, and the benefits to each of us if we support one another.
Understanding the needs of Oregon agriculture, and finding solutions to environmental problems that work on the ground and for the bottom line is important to OEC. That’s why in 2001 we traveled around the state interviewing Oregon farmers and ranchers about their environmental concerns, their relationship with environmentalists, and opportunities to work together on common ground. The results of these interviews were published in Building a Dialogue Between Oregon Agriculture and the Conservation Community [PDF] in 2002, and still guide our collaborative approach.
A few days ago, OEC published a companion report, Working on Common Ground. In many ways this is a mirror image of the earlier report. It is a summary of author Peter Bloome’s interviews with Oregon environmentalists focused on what they see as the greatest environmental challenges facing Oregon, how these challenges relate to agriculture, and opportunities for working on common ground with the agricultural community.
I hope these reports spur members of both communities, and those who have feet firmly planted in each, to talk, listen, and find and work on common ground. I believe that Oregon will be a better place for it.
