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The Ford Report: Always Willing to Learn….

Published 10:08 am Thursday, July 31, 2025

As many of you know I grew up out in the country and there are no better protectors of the land than “Country Folk”.  Cleaning out the barn one day, composting in the orchard the next.  Feed sacks were used and reused. We never purchased “scoops” it was always an old coffee can and no pesticides, we planted garlic instead.  Of course, there have been improvements in how to do things more environmentally safe, but I guarantee you, I learned more about protecting the environment in my first 20 years on the farm than I have in the next 50.

So, I love anything to do with a “Farm Stand” and I know how hard these folks work to get the extra cash that these stands provide sometimes making the difference between black and red on their income statements.   When I heard the following, I just felt I needed to put it out there and you decide. 

Unelected bureaucrats at the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) are trying to enact rules that would crush local farm stands, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, cider stands, even field trips and farm-to-table dinners.  There would be fees and permits required that would make all or some of the above not doable.

Due to uproar and many complaints to the Governor, she has put a pause on this until further community input…so I suggest you investigate and give input.  Our farmer friends need to have their side heard!  Much like having to have a permit to float an inner tube down the river doesn’t seem consistent with Oregon’s values.   But maybe it is more than just about getting more fees from folks that already pay their unfair share, if so, I would love for you to explain that to me…. always willing to learn.