I haven’t been to see live theater in ages, but my friend Karen invited me to see the new Sojourn Theater show On the Table last night and I loved it! Innovative, thought provoking and entertaining – I’d highly recommend it. Only showing for another week I think so check it out here asap.

Everyone is invited to picnic this Sunday July 25th at Luscher Farm with author Temra Costa. She’ll speak about her great new book Farmer Jane: Women Changing the Way We Eat.

What: Portland Chefs Collaborative meeting & picnic with author Temra Costa
Where: Luscher Farm, 125 Rosemont Rd, West Linn, OR
When: Sunday July 25th, noon-2pm
How: Please carpool or bike, parking is limited

Picnic!! Bring your picnic lunch and everything you need to set up on the grass under the big beech tree and listen to Temra. Don’t forget a blanket and/or chairs and drinks.  If you want to bring extra to share, we’ll set up a table for extra bounty.

Questions? email portlandchefscollaborative@gmail.com

Hope you can join us!

I was invited again this year to be on a panel for the Oregon Sustainability Experience tours. These groups draw folks from all over the world to come for a week and learn about the innovative sustainability programs happening here. After an amazing lunch at Intel – thank you Bon Appetit – we talked about the challenges of balancing development and farmland protection. I was on the panel with David Bragdon-METRO President, Chair Tom Brian- Washington County Board of Commissioners, Bill MacKenzie-Communications Manager at Intel, and Jim Johnson – Land Use and Water Quality Coordinator, Oregon Department of Agriculture. Made for a lively discussion!

Grab your gloves! Everyone is invited…

Saturday July 3rd
1-5pm for Workin’
5pm-7pm for Potluck & BBQ
Luscher Farm, 125 Rosemont Rd., West Linn

Join us to learn more about urban farming, where your food comes from, and how to grow it.  After this crazy wet spring we really need your help to catch up with projects on the farm! There are lots of things to plant, trellis to build, and always more weeding. In addition, we will continue to work on the Luscher Farm Hedgerow using shrubs from the Wahoo Native Plant project.

You are welcome to bring family and friends- there will be things to do for folks of all ages and abilities. Kids are welcome to come help work or just hang out. We’ll provide snacks and drinks. You’ll get to sample all sorts of tasty treats from the garden. Please bring your favorite gardening tools and dress for the weather.

To celebrate all our hard work we’ll have a potluck afterward. Bring something to share and/or put on the BBQ.

Any Questions Call Laura at 503-777-4213
Hope to see you there!

Put the rest of the work parties on your calendar. They are always the first Sat of the month 1-5pm: August 7th, Sept 4th, and Oct 2nd.

The focus of this month’s Friends of Family Farmers event on Urban Farming. Should be a lively discussion as usual, and good beer! I’ll be there. Hope you can join us. Thanks, Laura

Urban Farming in Portland as the focus of June’s InFARMation (and Beer!)
Wednesday June 9th at Roots Organic Brewery’s Event Space
5:30-8:30, Free, Sponsored by Friends of Family Farmers

Every urban farm in this state is as unique and different as the farmer(s) working it, but many of the common barriers they share are similar.  Urban farmers face most of the same issues as rural farmers in Oregon, and they face additionally an entirely different set of problems specific to farming in and among an urban population.
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If you’ve ever thought about having chickens at home, this is the class for you! Sign up for the Backyard Chicken class at Luscher Farm on Sat May 8th, 9:30-11am. I loved having chickens at home – they’re great little weeders, provide free fertilizer, high entertainment value and fresh eggs too!! In this class you’ll learn everything you need to know about chickens and more…

Spent the morning at the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) conference at the convention center where I was on the panel discussing urban agriculture. NY Times food writer Kim Severson was our very thoughtful and engaging moderator and I heard some truely amazing stories  from the other panelists about what is happening all over the world, and right here close to home…

Kamal Mouzawak from Lebanon started the first farmers market in Beruit and had truely inspirational stories about how sharing food can bring all kinds of different people together.

Closer to home Ann Forsthoefel, executive director of the Portland Farmers Market talked about the bounty of the market and all the programs they are engaged to help educate market shoppers, support farmers and to help make fresh local food accessible to everyone.

Deborah Kane from Ecotrust talked about the work they are doing with the newly launched FoodHub to connect producers and customers – the match.com of the food world!

I shared a bit about our farm and all the great urban ag projects that are part of the landscape in Portland. I also  tried to connect the dots to show how if we all keep working at it, the tremendous excitement that surrounds farmers & food right now could be translated into meaningful policy. Let’s channel all the energy around urban ag in to programs that support Farm to School projects, better land use planning, organic EQUIP, and all the other things that will make our kids healthier, our cities more livable and our farms more successful & sustainable!!