WE ARE A GROUP OF CONCERNED CITIZENS, alarmed by the ongoing operations of Uproot Meats, LLC. We have followed Uproot Meats since 2018, when it first laid plans to raise and slaughter hogs and chickens on a steep, denuded hillside south of Ashland, just above the irrigation canal that serves as a backup water source for the City of Ashland. Hog farms, as a rule, are sited on flat ground away from water sources and residential structures for good reasons. The concept of a small hog and chicken farm is not at question. The chosen location, however, could not be more ill-suited for such an operation.

We continue to be disturbed by Uproot’s complete disregard for rules and regulations regarding construction and land use, as well as ongoing projects that damage land and water.

This petition aims to make our concerns clear to the community — and to hold Uproot accountable for following good farming practices that do not pose a threat to the environment, public health, and the well-being of Ashland residents. Rather than attempting to bend the land — and the truth— to their will regardless of consequences, Uproot must be upright. We invite you to add your name to express your concern.

(NOTE: Upon signing, you will be invited to make a donation — this is not us (it's ipetition.com). Please ignore.)

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WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, WANT UPROOT MEATS, LLC, TO:

… abide by the regulations that govern property and land use in Oregon — instead of constructing unpermitted buildings and engaging in unpermitted land uses.

… safeguard water quality — instead of over-excavating its fragile hillside so that heavy rains send sediment into the Ashland Canal (TID) and not providing for the adequate disposal of animal waste, even after multiple complaints and warnings.

… practice sound environmental stewardship — instead of failing to adequately mitigate the hillside it has destroyed or making their property fire-wise (This is the same property that was the site of the Siskiyou Fire of 2009.)

… uphold ethical and transparent business practices — instead of routinely misleading the public, including false claims that they are Certified Humane and Organic, or that their meat is USDA-inspected.

… behave civilly — instead of harassing their neighbors, whose properties they must traverse to access their steep hillside parcel via a shared easement (damaging gates, letting animals run loose, brandishing weapons, etc.).

TOWARDS THAT END, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT LOCAL OFFICIALS, INCLUDING JACKSON COUNTY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY:

… administer with due diligence the State of Oregon’s structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical and manufactured dwelling specialty codes.

… enforce these codes in compliance with the County’s land use, building, and environmental regulations — including responding to complaints about permit violations, along with environmental concerns about land and water degradation and the disposal of animal waste.

… issue citations, appropriate fines, and corresponding penalties when violations occur.