South Willamette Valley
The Willamette and McKenzie rivers flow through the valley between the Coastal mountain range and the Cascades. Since settlers arrived to extract the timber and farm the land previously cultivated and stewarded by Kalamath and other nations, the area has been developed for externalized profit (grass seed and timber) that doesn’t serve local needs. Since the 1970’s the Eugene area has attracted earth-loving counterculture individuals who created alternative institutions such as the Oregon Country Fair, Lost Valley Education Center, Center for Rural Livelihoods and a history of cooperatives such as Growers Market and Hoedads.
There are established networks of small organic farmers that form the basis for a local food system anchored by Hummingbird Wholesale. There is also an Ecobuilders guild which is involved in the regenerative work. There is an active community of water, tree and earth protectors that have the potential to be stronger when networked with Regenerate Cascadia. While we are challenged by lower than average wages and high rates of unhoused, there is tremendous potential for re-orienting the local economy to replace extractive industries with regenerative cooperatives that have a stake in the long term sustainability of this beautiful place.