ON THE FARM

New in the shop this week we’ve got blue kale and scarlet runner bean starts, along with fresh lovage.
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We had a great time gathering and trading last weekend. Everyone took home treasures and the rain stayed away until we were done. Left over clothing was delivered to RAM Landing.
We’ll do it again soon, and we’ll let you know when we do.

LOCAL

Will Farmers Be Able to ‘Farm the Sun’ On Agricultural Land in Yakima?
“In addition to keeping the land in agriculture, the solar panels could help lower energy costs for lower-income residents, through what’s called community solar. This project is about energy equity. This allows low-income Yakima residents and renters who cannot afford their own solar panels to receive a direct credit on their utility bills.” –Jacob Jones
(Source: Northwest Public Broadcasting, Feb 10)

WA STATE

KEEN, Suncadia, and the City of Ellensburg Launch “Color, Explore, Connect” Nature Coloring Contest
“This contest is about more than coloring—it’s about getting our community outside, exploring their surroundings, and building a lifelong connection to the natural world!”

The contest runs through May 15, 2026. Awards announced May 29, 2026.
👉 Download your coloring page here
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University of Washington Center for Human Rights Spring Symposium
Thursday, May 14, 2026
5:00 – 6:00 pm | Reception
6:00 – 7:30 pm | Main program
“Please save the date and join us for our annual Spring Symposium featuring UWCHR’s Immigrant Rights Observatory research on Pacific Northwest immigration enforcement trends and how communities are responding to today’s heightened enforcement and changing tactics.”
Panelists include:
Alyssa Walker Keller, Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition
Angelina Godoy, UW Center for Human Rights
David Montes, ACLU of Washington
***David Morales, Yakima Immigrant Response Network 
Stephen Manning, Innovation Law Lab
Free and open to the public, join us in person or live stream, registration required.
Register here.


NATIONAL & BEYOND

Human Rights and the Rights of Nature are Linchpins for Truly Sustainable Development
“According to the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR), 92% of the SDG targets are rooted in international human rights law. The promotion, respect and protection of human rights therefore form the backbone of the SDGs.”
(Source: The Conversation, April 15)
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Immigration Advocates Submit UN Report Ahead of United States’ Rescheduled Human Rights Review
“At a time of record-high global displacement, the United States has both a moral and strategic imperative to lead. Refugees contribute economically, socially, and civically, revitalizing communities and boosting local economies. The world is watching to see if the United States will once again lead with compassion, or continue to turn its back on those who need us most.”
(Source: Robert and Ethel Kennedy Center for Human Rights, April 16)



That’s it for this week, folks.
I’m off to experiment with my solar cooking setup.
Results and recipes to follow!

–MJ