By Jeremy Olsen, and staff at The Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides
Working with organic farmers is a lot like working with biologists--at least in one critical way--they all understand mutual symbiosis. Have you ever considered the relevance and significance of working in collaboration with those that have a mutual appreciation or benefit from your partnership? If you work with nature, you likely have. It’s a valuable consideration and one that, for me, invokes good feelings and much gratitude.
The Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP) is almost 40 years old and we work to educate farmers about the reduction of pesticides as well as the science and training on important alternatives that will lead to healthier communities everywhere. We now do this across three program areas, working to address the problems pesticide use has brought upon our rivers, water, salmon, pollinators, soil, parks, schools, agricultural workers, children and more.
Mountain Rose Herbs is a long-time supporter and we are grateful for their partnership. I invite you to read more below about all that NCAP seeks to protect. I also invite you to join in this work, attend a workshop, become a member or learn more at www.pesticide.org. Your involvement adds to this mutually symbiotic relationship--and it this case--for the benefit of all.
Since the mid 20th century, chemical pesticides have played an increasingly major role in agriculture, industry, and urban land management. In fact, the United States Environmental Protection Agency calculates that annual pesticide use in the US amounts to over one billion pounds per year–roughly 3 lbs. for every person!
Pesticides can have negative impacts on other organisms aside from the intended pest, and this can cause problems in the broader environment. Pesticide exposure has also been linked to a number of serious human health concerns, including birth defects, cancer, and injury to reproductive organs.
NCAP works to protect those who are most vulnerable from harm caused by pesticides, while also striving to educate and help identify healthier, more ecologically sound solutions to pest management. We are focusing our current campaigns in these three program areas:
HEALTHY FOOD AND FARMS PROGRAM
At the heart of sustainable agriculture is the belief that we must nurture the land just as it, in turn, nurtures us. It’s not only about avoiding harmful chemicals, it’s about investing in practices that conserve as well as cultivate. NCAP is working to create lively organic communities that will ensure a healthier future for our food, our farms and our farmers.
HEALTHY WILDLIFE AND WATER PROGRAM
All living things need clean water and healthy habitat. That’s why we work to protect Northwest environments from harm caused by pesticides. NCAP’s efforts to protect waterways and wildlife from pesticides are currently focused on projects that will help restore endangered fish populations, protect pollinators like bees, and achieve stronger federal regulation and monitoring of pesticides.
HEALTHY PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES PROGRAM
Pesticides are often used in parks, schools and other areas where children live, learn and play. This puts kids at risk for exposure, which can lead to serious illness. We are working to protect growing minds and bodies by organizing and educating to make more places pesticide-free.
NCAP’s recent program accomplishments:
Jeremy Olsen is a 19-year veteran in the education and non-profit sectors dedicated to engaging individuals and groups towards personal and planetary health. As NCAP’s Assistant Director, Jeremy works daily to connect with members, donors and partners in support of NCAP’s work building safe, clean and healthy communities. Jeremy resides in Eugene, Oregon.
Topics: Sustainability
Alyssa leads Mountain Rose Herbs’ talented HR team as HR Director. She has more than 20 years of experience in both leadership and support roles in sustainability and people operations. Fostering positive company culture through authentic connections and employee engagement programs gives Alyssa a sense of pride in the workplace. Growing up in an income-sharing, egalitarian community in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, she’s a farm girl at heart. She received her bachelor's degree in Environmental Sociology and is always looking to expand her HR knowledge and skillset. In her off time, she enjoys gardening, reading, cooking spicy foods, and hiking with her husband, kiddos, and brindle pup named Kiwi.
By Jeremy Olsen, and staff at The Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides
Working with organic farmers is a lot like working with biologists--at least in one critical way--they all understand mutual symbiosis. Have you ever considered the relevance and significance of working in collaboration with those that have a mutual appreciation or benefit from your partnership? If you work with nature, you likely have. It’s a valuable consideration and one that, for me, invokes good feelings and much gratitude.
The Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP) is almost 40 years old and we work to educate farmers about the reduction of pesticides as well as the science and training on important alternatives that will lead to healthier communities everywhere. We now do this across three program areas, working to address the problems pesticide use has brought upon our rivers, water, salmon, pollinators, soil, parks, schools, agricultural workers, children and more.
Mountain Rose Herbs is a long-time supporter and we are grateful for their partnership. I invite you to read more below about all that NCAP seeks to protect. I also invite you to join in this work, attend a workshop, become a member or learn more at www.pesticide.org. Your involvement adds to this mutually symbiotic relationship--and it this case--for the benefit of all.
Since the mid 20th century, chemical pesticides have played an increasingly major role in agriculture, industry, and urban land management. In fact, the United States Environmental Protection Agency calculates that annual pesticide use in the US amounts to over one billion pounds per year–roughly 3 lbs. for every person!
Pesticides can have negative impacts on other organisms aside from the intended pest, and this can cause problems in the broader environment. Pesticide exposure has also been linked to a number of serious human health concerns, including birth defects, cancer, and injury to reproductive organs.
NCAP works to protect those who are most vulnerable from harm caused by pesticides, while also striving to educate and help identify healthier, more ecologically sound solutions to pest management. We are focusing our current campaigns in these three program areas:
HEALTHY FOOD AND FARMS PROGRAM
At the heart of sustainable agriculture is the belief that we must nurture the land just as it, in turn, nurtures us. It’s not only about avoiding harmful chemicals, it’s about investing in practices that conserve as well as cultivate. NCAP is working to create lively organic communities that will ensure a healthier future for our food, our farms and our farmers.
HEALTHY WILDLIFE AND WATER PROGRAM
All living things need clean water and healthy habitat. That’s why we work to protect Northwest environments from harm caused by pesticides. NCAP’s efforts to protect waterways and wildlife from pesticides are currently focused on projects that will help restore endangered fish populations, protect pollinators like bees, and achieve stronger federal regulation and monitoring of pesticides.
HEALTHY PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES PROGRAM
Pesticides are often used in parks, schools and other areas where children live, learn and play. This puts kids at risk for exposure, which can lead to serious illness. We are working to protect growing minds and bodies by organizing and educating to make more places pesticide-free.
NCAP’s recent program accomplishments:
Jeremy Olsen is a 19-year veteran in the education and non-profit sectors dedicated to engaging individuals and groups towards personal and planetary health. As NCAP’s Assistant Director, Jeremy works daily to connect with members, donors and partners in support of NCAP’s work building safe, clean and healthy communities. Jeremy resides in Eugene, Oregon.
Topics: Sustainability
Alyssa leads Mountain Rose Herbs’ talented HR team as HR Director. She has more than 20 years of experience in both leadership and support roles in sustainability and people operations. Fostering positive company culture through authentic connections and employee engagement programs gives Alyssa a sense of pride in the workplace. Growing up in an income-sharing, egalitarian community in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, she’s a farm girl at heart. She received her bachelor's degree in Environmental Sociology and is always looking to expand her HR knowledge and skillset. In her off time, she enjoys gardening, reading, cooking spicy foods, and hiking with her husband, kiddos, and brindle pup named Kiwi.
