Communities
Community
Organizing and Support Initiative (COSI)
2002 Accomplishments:
Presented workshops on Grant Writing, Board Development,
Membership Development, Meeting Facilitation, and Getting
IRS 501c3 Status to the Glouster Community Development
Corporation, the Roots of Appalachia Growers' Association
(RAGA), the Beaver Heritage Society, the Pennsville Committee
and the Federal Valley Resource Center.
Published Metamorphosis: the Process of Turning Your Old school Buildings
into Community Centers
Developed and maintained the Ohio Appalachian Community Connections website,
which provides resource information, a bulletin hoard and calendar of events
for grassroots organizations.
Organized the Community Connection Gathering in April 2002, which brought
community groups together to learn about preserving historical artifacts.
Published and distributed two issues of the Encourager newsletter
Assisted two community groups obtain funding from the USDA/US Forest Service
Rural Community Assistance Program.
COSI staff also completed a survey
of participants in the Partners in Leadership Development Program (PLD), which provided workshops and mini-grants to 19 community
action teams between 1997 and 2001.
Here are some of the survey results:
Action Teams received a total of $10,000 in seed money, which together
with other donated money, goods, and in-kind services leveraged $242,000.00
for the region
Action Teams completed 54 community projects.
Action Team members, mentors or resource people numbered 175 participants,
48 of whom have gone on to other civic activity.
A network of more than 50 community groups, organizations, and agencies
was established.
Over 3000 workshop hours were provided.
Job Training
In 2002, Rural Action staff taught job skills and provided work experience
to 28 people on Public Assistance in clerical and receptionist staffing, maintenance
and janitorial services, and bulk mailings for our main offices, Sunday Creek
and Forestry offices.
Farms
Rural Action's Sustainable Agriculture program preserves small family farms
and promotes sustainable agriculture by introducing farmers to new and alternative
crops, improving their business skills, and connecting them with markets. A
Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Board and its subcommittees guide the work
of the Sustainable Agriculture program.
Sustainable Agriculture 2002 accomplishments:
Publication of the 2002 Good Food Direct catalog, featuring
22 producers
Researched methods for marketing local food products to schools, colleges and
other institutions.
Creation of individual web sites for some producers.
Convened Ohio University's food service director and several farmers to help
increase OU purchasing from local farmers.
Presented the following workshops for farmers at either our fourth annual Landowner's
Conference or as stand alone events:
Intro to Management Intensive Livestock Production
Basic Beekeeping
Large scale organic herb production
Commercial scale herb cultivation
High value specialty crops
Orcharding Basics
Growing Chinese Medicinals
Perennial fruit crops and berries
Cultivating ramps for fun and profit
Wild simulated ginseng growing
Value-added herb products
Planning a sustainable business
Selling, Merchandising and Advertising
Agricultural Business Taxes
Developing a Marketing Plan
Selling to Restaurants
Pricing Your Product
Customer Service
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