When we launched the Oregon Brewshed Alliance back in 2015, we were in a pre-Trump world. Sure, we still were staring the climate crisis in the face, but the progressive vibes of the Obama Presidency wrapped us all in a warm blanket of hope - hope that the folks at the top were doing their best to make the world better in all ways. That cozy era allowed those of us privileged enough to feel comfortable in our day-to-day a free pass to complacency.
The 2016 election shattered that bubble. Suddenly, any mad idea was possible and all bets were off - especially for environmental policy. But the silver lining?
Action - a new, exciting kind.
Oregon Wild has always been an organization of action - from grassroots campaigns to safeguard coastal communities and their watersheds, to decades-long petitions and negotiations with electeds to protect more public land. And while our dedicated supporters, members, and activists have helped us accomplish great feats over the years, a big and influential voice had remained silent until now: the businesses of Oregon's New Economy.
Where timber once was king, small organic farms, outdoor recreation, and the craft brewing industry are now at the heart of Oregon's economy - trumping timber jobs and revenue 2 to 1.
The dire state of political, environmental, social, and climactic affairs jump-started many of these businesses into true engagement with policy and our Brewshed Alliance partners are no exception. Their livelihood depends on clean water and a clean environment, after all.
On March 11, 2019, Oregon Wild and our Brewshed Alliance partners from Widmer Brothers, Wildcraft Cider Works, Falling Sky Brewing, and Migration Brewing joined Beyond Toxics, Mountain Rose Herbs, and members of the Oregon Organics Coalition in Salem for a special lobby day. Meetings with state representatives and senators were scheduled throughout the day to thank bill sponsors and show support for pending legislation regarding watershed health and pesticide use.
It became clear that our Brewshed partners, in sharing their passion and reliance on clean water and protected watersheds helped amplify this message to electeds in an extraordinary way and we couldn't be more thrilled and proud of what they accomplished. We look forward to future
advocacy work alongside our partners in the Brewshed Alliance to ensure our forests and watersheds are protected for future generations.
Cheers to a sustainable water future for Oregon from source to pint!
