Does anyone belong to a Grange?

bloogrssgrl · #1 03/30/14, 01:55 PM

Reading through the 4-H discussion got me to thinking about actual agriculture-based organizations and Granges. There is an old building in my area where the local Grange used to meet but the chapter is long defunct. The closest one to me now is over an hour's drive away, yet there are PLENTY of agriculture-based communities between here and there.

Does anyone belong to one? Can you tell me about it? What is it like? What do you do? How much does the national organization affect your chapter? Etc.

cowbelle · #2 03/30/14, 08:16 PM

Ours here in southwest CO has recently been re-activated. It's the fastest growing Grange in the state - many small farmers, mostly organic, are the force behind it. We have Mycolgists (growing all kinds of fungi/mushrooms), grass fed beef ranchers, CSA's, and other types of agriculture represented. An old building that had been a Head Start facility, was the original Grange, many years ago. One woman who was raised here says she can remember all the 4H meetings there. We have community potluck dinners (about 70 people show up!) once a month, and other programs - beginning Spanish, yoga classes, Farm to school program, - just a great thing happening. It's a mix of us older people and the young farmers. I'm just getting involved, but find it a wonderful place to have some social life connected to what I'm interested in. The young fellow who got it going was a Vista volunteer, I believe, and he has gone on to work on a Farmers alliance in Denver. Another young woman is taking it on now. She has started a seed exchange, with several meetings/presentations on saving, preserving, cataloging heritage seeds, non-GMO. If your area has a group willing to put some time in on organization, you can get help from nearby Grange groups. I have my home insurance with them - look into their website for info on that. Oour group is very loosely organized - no formal meeting, though the board of directors meet separately to do the business endof it. Good luck.

Harry Chickpea · #3 03/30/14, 09:46 PM

Do some web searches on Grangers and the Populist movement and the CCF. The Brits had something similar in co-ops. Fascinating subjects that pit down-home core values against unbridled capitalism. As usual, bad actors and politics won out.

Brighton · #4 03/30/14, 10:05 PM

My Grandfather was a member of The Grange, he could get better and a bit cheaper health insurance through them than he could on his own back in the 50's. I don't think there is an active Grange around here anymore, at least not one that I have heard of.

bloogrssgrl · #5 03/31/14, 04:08 AM

Harry, that is my concern. I'd love a local agriculture-based group that is more about community, fellowship and education without the politics. And I REALLY don't want to get into supporting "this" legislation as opposed to "that". My husband and I are very much the sustainable-trying-as-much-as-possible-to-be-organic type of farm owners whereas a lot of the older farmers in my area farm in a more conventional way. I'd like a group where everyone feels welcome and valued.

ET1 SS · #6 03/31/14, 08:35 AM

I am a Granger.

My Grange hosts a weekly Farmer's Market. [there is a flow of grant money from local churches that is used to 'match' SNAP/EBT dollars, when used to buy fresh local produce at the FM. Our Grange handles/administrates the matching. Anyone with SNAP/EBT can spend $2 for every $1 on their EBT card. So it doubles a families food purchasing ability.]

Two meetings/month, each starts with a potluck supper.

Within the membership here, we have individuals who work with 'Make-a-wish', Breast Cancer research walk-a-thons, and various other community organizations. Active members have became Board Of Directors over the Cooperative Extension Office [of which I am also involved]. So we have our hands into 4H, Master Gardener, Master Canner, and Community Garden projects.

I am a gardener who sells surplus produce at market. I began hosting a monthly potluck on my homestead for a group of us 'market gardeners'. We discussed the Grange, and wondered if they would be a good match for us. So I joined the Grange to find out. I was immediately sicked into being one of their officers [due to a shortage of members necessary to keep the grange going]. Other Granges may be different, this Grange is mostly elderly apartment dwellers who have no other social life. Most of them have no 'garden', no farm, and no real connection to farming. A half-dozen house-plants that may include a tomato plant and a pepper plant, on their patio, would be fairly typical.

National Grange routinely makes 'resolutions' that are sent to Congress about political topics that are presented as if all Grangers were united on those issues. The resolutions that I have seen so far, have all been topics in favor of: Big Government, increased Federal spending and continuing to favor GMO food. Also they have been anti-Local Produce, anti-Organic food, anti-small farm.

This Grange has no Youth programs.

bloogrssgrl · #7 03/31/14, 06:20 PM

Thanks for the input! Again, I don't want to be involved in a political group, however, knowing how they stand on GMOs, local and organic...this is likely not the organization for us.

JoePa · #8 04/01/14, 06:25 PM

Sounds to me like a case for the Long Granger and Tonto -

Classof66 · #9 04/01/14, 07:17 PM

The Granges in my area had sewing contests until a few years ago. I believe there in still one in Leaf River, IL, and several around Belvidere, IL that are very active. One of them sponsors a fairly large Boone Co. Fair. The Flora Grange near there is still active. I remember in the early 50's the Grange in my area was still quite active and many of them purchased the old one room schools for their halls. They are gone now.

Classof66 · #10 04/01/14, 08:02 PM

I read the Illinois Grange Newsletter, there are several very active chapters in the state. AND I am now listening to Etta James on Grangeradio.org which from the homepage appears to be more active in the early morning. Sounds like they play music most of the day. They did a short news segment.

APRIL IS GRANGE MONTH!! Some of the chapters have a project of donation dictionaries to third grade classes.
Looks like they also support some small town activities like putting flags in cemeteries, food stands, fairs, etc. and other worthwhile activities. Looks like one of their pet projects is a program for the deaf, which is certainly worthwhile.

I think I could listen to this station . American Values, hometown values they say. Grangeradio.org.

ET1 SS · #11 04/01/14, 08:18 PM

We have contests for: sewing, birdhouse making, photos, and other home crafts.

We donate dictionaries to all third graders in a bunch of schools.

cowbelle · #12 04/01/14, 09:32 PM

THe Grange I joined has said very strongly that they won't get into any political things, and are very much against GMO's, very pro local/organic farmers. Sounds like each group gets its own personality and focus depending on the people involved.

Classof66 · #13 04/01/14, 10:02 PM

I was listening tonight, they were playing Paul McCartney and then a man talked about pruning shrubbery for about a minute. How could one not like that?

ET1 SS · #14 04/01/14, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowbelle

THe Grange I joined has said very strongly that they won't get into any political things, and are very much against GMO's, very pro local/organic farmers. Sounds like each group gets its own personality and focus depending on the people involved.

I can see that.

I do not think that my Grange really cares one way of the other.

I am the only organic food producer in this Grange, I talk about it a lot. A couple of the others, from hearing me talk about it, are starting to think about organics, sustainable Ag, and herbs. But it is easy to see that they have simply never considered these things before.

At meetings they read the national resolutions on topics, and they all applaud like they agree to them. But I do not think that as individuals they had ever given these topics any thought before.

They like helping the community, hosting a Farmer's Market, raising money for veterans homes, cancer and sick children.

I just wish these folks were into Ag, or rural living, or whatever. But they are mostly older folks on disability. There is one couple, who say that they raised pigs once 30 years ago.

bloogrssgrl · #15 04/02/14, 03:29 PM

It almost sounds like 4-H for adults! : )

It's a very intriguing thing to me, however, if the National Association is trying to promote policies that favor GMOs and not local or organic, I don't think I could fall in line with that.

We're members of PASA (PA Association for Sustainable Agriculture but our "region" is the entire eastern side of the state! Definitely not a small community. I'd love to look into organizing events locally under them but, again, many of our old timer farmers around here follow pretty conventional practices and I think they might feel somewhat alienated.

Maybe I just need to put together a local farming/homesteading club. Unfortunately, this would definitely NOT be the year for me to attempt it. Trying to get some major work done on the house along with an extended trip later this year do not make for a good social calendar.

Classof66 · #16 04/02/14, 06:42 PM

I have listened to the station all day. They play decent music, at least what I like, and do little things every so often. Explained how Sapsuckers make holes in trees and suck the sap out. Why we should eat cabbage. And the GM scandal. They advertise benefits such as motel discounts. I wonder how many motel people have ever heard of Grange? They explain that the groups value friendship and the members are there for each other and the community.

My son, who is not a real people person, but likes agricultural things, remembered playing cards with friends at a nearby Grange and had a great time. He said he would probably be interested if he had one close to home. I know the Granges are known for their potlucks and dinners, good food.

Today I even heard the song about Midnight at the Oasis, Send your camel to bed. Have not heard it in years. Right now, they are playing Just an Old Fashioned Love song.

I am glad Grange was brought up, I think it sounds worthwhile.

They just said to be careful growing sprouts in the summer as they can cause food poisoning if not properly handled.