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Police Reports ... Calendar: Friday, Sept. 12 ... ASHLAND Bellview Grange rings up bumper crop of new members Expands mission beyond farming to include theater and the arts By John Darling Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Sep. 6, 2014 @ 5:36 pm By John Darling Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Sep. 6, 2014 @ 5:36 pm Meeting tonight --> The public is welcome to the Bellview Grange meeting at 6:30 p.m.Monday, Sept. 15,  at 1050 Tolman Creek Road. They will elect new officers at the meeting and anyone may join. For more in... » Read more X Meeting tonight The public is welcome to the Bellview Grange meeting at 6:30 p.m.Monday, Sept. 15,  at 1050 Tolman Creek Road. They will elect new officers at the meeting and anyone may join. For more information, call Jerry Nutter at 541-890-4149. » Social News Spurred by increased of chemicals, corporate agriculture and genetically-engineered seeds, the Grange movement is experiencing something of a renaissance in Ashland, with membership more than doubling since May voter passage of a GMO-planting ban in Jackson County. Founded in 1867 as a political and economic network of farmers, the Grange, or Order of the Patrons of Husbandry, has dwindled in recent generations. The Bellview Grange in Ashland was down to 10 members, says Treasurer Jerry Nutter, but added eight recently, with 10 more pledged to sign up at the meeting tonight, Sept. 8, at its hall next to Bellview School on Tolman Creek Road. The Grange movement formed a community center in its first century, enabling farmers to work and plan cooperatively, oppose exorbitant fares of railroad monopolies, buy equipment and supplies in bulk and hold rural dinners and social events. “It’s not just about farmers,” says Nutter. “Its roots are in the agricultural community, historically, but now, my dream is for a ‘green grange,’ which is support of sustainability, local, organic food and a pushback against corporate farming — but also it’s not exclusive to farming.” The Bellview Grange invites anyone to join, farmer or not, and has expanded its mission to take in theater and the arts, notes President Richard Heller, a Talent herb and flower farmer. Recently, the Grange has created a stage and theater space, much needed in Ashland, as well as its own Theater Convivio, all open to the community, says Heller, who is artistic director of the Bellview Grange. “The Grange has rediscovered its essential function as a voice for agriculture in the Rogue Valley,” said Hellman, as he flipped pancakes at the monthly Grange breakfast. “It’s also a hub and network for the broader goal of saving the Earth.” In the past year, notes Heller, 37 million bees have been killed by pesiticide use — and its one of the Grange’s goals to halt harm to bees, which are essential to pollination of countless crops. The anti-GMO movement has been a valuable trigger for the rebirth of the Grange, he adds. “We now have a historic opportunity to work together to help turn the corner on the destruction of Mother Earth,” he says. Actress Lia Dugal of Ashland says she became a Granger to help Heller “with his vision of arts and theater within the Grange and to help with rebirth of the community aspect of the Grange, to work against GMO.” Organic farmer Chris Hardy, a prime mover in the anti-GMO ballot measure, rejoined the Grange after a long lapse, because it can be the hub for continuing efforts against genetic engineering and provide the venue for local farmers “to grow their relationship with each other, to network and to feed our community.” The ban here on GMO has “created a huge void of GMO crops, and that can be filled with non-GMO seed,” says Hardy. “This has made the Rogue Valley one of the top five world seed-producing regions. That void is being filled with organic seed, which is a huge economic incentive for farmers here.” By John Darling Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Sep. 6, 2014 @ 5:36 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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