Local Food Systems – Friends of Clark County in SW Washington

June 10, 2024

Our Comments for Clark County’s Environmental Impact Scoping on the Comprehensive Plan Update

in Climate Change, Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Farmland & Forests, Local Food Systems, Mining, Parks, Trails, & Open Spaces, Railroad, Responsible Development, Rivers, Lakes & Aquifers, Wildlife Habitats

FOCC agrees the comprehensive plan, and the development it could authorize, is likely to have many different and significant probable adverse impacts on the environment and, thus, agree with the County’s determination that an EIS is required. FOCC agrees with Futurewise that building for growth cannot take precedence over the need for maintaining, protecting, and […]

May 20, 2024

June Forum – Save the Date!

in Climate Change, Farmland & Forests, Local Food Systems

On Thursday, June 20th from 5 – 6:30 pm, we will be hosting a companion forum titled Returning To Local Food Production In The Era Of Climate Change. We will have more information about panelists, topics, and how to RSVP in your inbox soon—but for now, SAVE THE DATE!

May 20, 2024

Will Clark County Finally Get an Agricultural Commission? The answer may be YES!

in Farmland & Forests, Local Food Systems

Photo from Red Truck Farm in Ridgefield, Washington For years, farmland advocates, including Friends of Clark County, have been asking the County to create an Agricultural Commission. Clark County has 33 citizen commissions and advisory boards that advise the council and staff on a host of issues, but we do not have one that covers […]

May 19, 2024

How Green Spaces Disappear Before Our Very Eyes: Site Specific Requests

in Climate Change, Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Farmland & Forests, Local Food Systems, Parks, Trails, & Open Spaces

Most of us don’t see Site Specific Requests, nor are we aware of this process that can result in the loss of acres and acres of beautiful, soil-rich, productive agricultural land and carbon-sequestering forest lands in Clark County. As part of the Comprehensive Planning process, the County accepts site specific requests from landowners hoping to […]

April 23, 2024

Read About our Priorities on Housing in the Comp Plan Update

in Accountability, Climate Change, Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Farmland & Forests, Housing & Transportation, Local Food Systems, Parks, Trails, & Open Spaces, Position Statements & Policy Recommendations

We provided public comment at the Population, Housing, and Employment Hearing today emphasizing two important points: 1) Nothing in the current studies, reviews, or discussions justifies any urban growth area (UGA) expansions. This position has been echoed by Clark County’s cities and by Community Development. Although both the Department of Commerce and Community […]

April 23, 2024

Clark County Needs an Agricultural Commission

in Climate Change, Farmland & Forests, Local Food Systems

Over the past several years, members of the farming community, including Friends of Clark County, Clark/Cowlitz Farm Bureau, local farmers market organizers, and the Clark Conservation District have expressed to Clark County the need for agricultural interests to be represented in Clark County government. Currently, there are NO voices representing the agricultural community while the […]

March 15, 2024

Preserving Farming and Local Food in Clark County: March 2024 Forum

in Climate Change, Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Events & Fundraising, Farmland & Forests, Local Food Systems, Position Statements & Policy Recommendations, Responsible Development, Wildlife Habitats

Thanks to all who attended our March 2024 Forum on Preserving Farming and Local Food in Clark County! And thank you again to our knowledgeable panelists! In case you missed it, or in case you want to go back and review all the great information that was shared, you can view the recording here: And […]

February 28, 2024

Join us for our upcoming forum: Preserving Farmland and Local Food Access in Clark County

in Climate Change, Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Events & Fundraising, Farmland & Forests, Local Food Systems

Forum Date and Time: March 14th, 2024 from 5 – 6:30 pm Pacific Time Location: Remote Only via Zoom; Register on Eventbrite Join Friends of Clark County for a panel discussion on the importance of preserving farmland and access to local food in Clark County. Farmland is being lost throughout the United States, but Clark […]

February 26, 2024

Farmer’s Corner: Representing Farmers in Planning for Climate Change

in Climate Change, Farmland & Forests, Local Food Systems

Our guest article comes from Trish Haggerty of Dilish Farm in Vancouver, WA. Trish is a farmer, small business owner, and a food security and environmental justice advocate in Clark County. She represents the Farm & Food Justice Network on the newly formed Clark County Environmental Justice Coalition (EJC) in order to support the county […]

May 23, 2023

Farmer’s Corner – 2023 Clark County Farm Survey

in Farmland & Forests, Local Food Systems

Preserving farmland here in Clark County is critical to our mission at Friends of Clark County. We also work to ensure access to local food by educating people about the urgency of developing a resilient local food economy that supports local farmers and ranchers. We are asking farmers to complete our 2023 Clark County Farm Survey that […]