Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP)

The Role of the Community Here are some actions that everyday Ashland residents and organizations can take to make a difference in addressing climate change. Eat carbon-friendly. Animal products are extremely GHG-intensive to produce compared to plants. Eating less meat and dairy can make a big cut in food consumption emissions. Eating regionally-grown food that is suitable for the southern Oregon climate can also make a difference through reduced transportation- related emissions. Plan, prepare, and store food carefully to waste less food . Studies show that in America, approximately 40% of food never makes it to our dining tables—meaning the water, fertilizer, farm equipment, and transportation involved in producing this food and getting it to your refrigerator is wasted. Planning carefully when you shop and storing food properly can go a long way toward reducing food waste, and save you money, too. Buy less new stuff. The purchase of manufactured goods is one of the largest contributors to Ashland’s GHG emissions. Consider buying reused or borrowing items you only use infrequently to help reduce these emissions. Buy things that last . The fewer items you purchase, the better for the environment. Investing in quality items that last longer often also makes sense for your wallet, since you don’t have to keep replacing items when they break.Rogue Valley Farm to School The Rogue Valley Farm to School (RVF2S) program’s mission is to educate children about our food system through hands- on programs, and bring healthy, local foods to their school cafeterias. RVF2S has relationships with five local farms in the valley, including The Farm at SOU. The organization facilitates the purchase of locally grown produce by schools, assists food service staff with estimating annual produce needs, and helps farmers use this information to plan their seasonal planting. It also facilitates field trips to farms and the creation of sustainable on-site gardens at schools. 79 ASHLAND CLIMATE & ENERGY ACTION PLANCONSUMPTION & MATERIALS MANAGEMENT