From the Farms to Your Home

The stormy season has arrived with its short days and long nights, and it’s an opportune time to gather the final harvest of the farming season, help small farmers in the process and fill your home with the aromas of your cooking for the winter months ahead. Fill Your Pantry, a farm direct community bulk-buying event sponsored by the nonprofit Willamette Farm and Food Coalition — where all proceeds go directly to the farmer — is here to fill your needs Nov. 10. The 14th annual market’s pre-order window is closed, but Saoirse Scott, WFFC’s outreach and events coordinator, notes that there are still plenty of pantry staples such as oats, flour and grains, storage crops, locally sourced meats and speciality foods such as apple sauce, pickles and frozen blueberries from more than 35 farmers. During last year’s market, Scott says, WFFC distributed 23,000-plus pounds of local food, including more that $13,000 of free food for people in need. For the elderly or disabled who pre-ordered, the market has an accessible pick-up period between 11 am and noon, which started last year. “It was more popular last year than I thought,” Scott says.

Fill Your Pantry is 11 am to 4 pm Sunday, Nov. 10, at the Lane Events Center, 796 West 13th Avenue. FREE admission. SNAP/EBT benefits are accepted. More information about Fill Your Pantry is at WillametteFarmAndFood.org.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!