Learning Gardens Program Newsletter
May 2017
Greetings from the Gardens!

Despite the heavy rains we've seen this season, its been a busy spring! We've been busy planting out our spring beds, teaching gardening classes, distributing seeds and plants starts from our greenhouse, and building some exciting new partnerships.

We are thrilled to announce new partnerships at the Eastside Learning Garden with MudBone Grown and the Oregon Inter-Tribal Breastfeeding Coalition. The Oregon Inter-Tribal Breastfeeding Coalition is developing a First Foods garden on our land to celebrate traditional and nutritious first foods through a collective gardening effort at our Learning Garden. And we are partnering with MudBone Grown to manage our community farm, which was recently renamed as The Unity Farm. The Unity Farm is a community-rooted farming initiative where we are building cross-cultural space for knowledge-sharing, skill-building, growing and healing to take place. To learn more, please join MudBone Grown on the farm on Wednesday mornings from 9am-12pm. 

In celebration of these new partnerships, we invite you to join us at OFB's farm and garden on Saturday June 3rd from 2-5pm for food, music, guest speakers, and more. This is a family-friendly event. We hope to see you soon and often.

Best wishes,
Lisa Waugh, Learning Gardens Program Coordinator 
Devin Dinihanian, Statewide Garden Education Coordinator
Sara Bickford , Garden Education Coordinator (AmeriCorps)
Margarita Amador, Garden Outreach Coordinator (AmeriCorps)
Christine Hadekel, Statewide Education and Outreach Manager

Garden Volunteer Opportunities
Eastside Learning Garden Dig In!
Learn about gardening and meet new people, no experience necessary!

As of June 6th, our Tuesday shifts will take place 4:00-7:00.  Come after work, even if you can't get there by 4:00!

Thursday & Saturday shifts are 9:00-12:00.  All ages welcome!
 
Community Farm
Join MudBone Grown on Wednesdays from 9am-12pm. Come out and help out on the farm as we build community, grow food and gear up for the season. All skills and hands needed and wanted . We are your community farmers!
Westside Learning Garden Dig In!
New & experienced gardeners are welcome to join us for shifts this summer!  Wednesdays are scheduled 9-12 and Saturdays are 9-11.  Find available shifts and sign up!  Take home fresh fruits & veggies, too.
 
Seeking Volunteers and Educators
for Special Projects
Do you love cooking with garden fresh seasonal produce and want to share that passion with others?  We are planning to incorporate monthly tastings and food demos into our Dig In garden shifts. Contact Lisa to find out more and get involved with this volunteer-led creative cooking opportunity!  
Do you have expertise in a specific garden topic that you'd like to share in a hands-on garden setting?  We plan to offer monthly events at our Eastside and Westside Learning Gardens to enhance the educational capacity of our physical garden spaces.  Contact Lisa for more info and share your ideas!

We're Hosting a Fellow from The Mission Continues

A Mission Continues Fellow is a post-9/11 veteran who has accepted the challenge to continue serving at home through the Mission Continues Fellowship Program. The Fellowship involves 20 hours of service per week for 26 weeks at a local nonprofit organization. Fellows are encouraged to choose a nonprofit organization to serve based on their own personal passions. Before beginning the fellowship, Fellows attend a three-day Fellowship Orientation, joining other post-9/11 veterans from their Fellowship Class for a weekend of training, service and camaraderie. Upon returning home from orientation, Fellows officially begin their fellowships at their host organizations.

We're honored to host a fellowship in our Learning Gardens Program!  Fellows receive a stipend for their service at host organizations.  Read more and apply below.
Seed to Supper classes
Our free 6-week beginning gardening classes are offered year-round at a community sites across the Portland Metro area. We've got lots of classes available right now so sign up and help us to spread the word!
Jobs and Professional Development
Job Opportunities:
Volunteer / Professional Development:
Gardening Classes and Resources
Below is a variety of community resources and classes.  If you would like to take OFB's Seed to Supper 6-week class series, find classes or join the wait list on our Gardening Classes page.
Great resource. Chapter meetings open to public with monthly speakers. 
Generous donor to our Garden Education program! Free classes at both locations.
Many free classes available.
Planting tips and free classes.
Great page with gardening resources.


Education, supplies, land access, and local food for urban gardening opportunities. 
Creates neighborhood gardens for you and your neighbors in need.
Learn and Grow Workshop Series offers a variety of educational resources.
Offers tree care workshops to learn more about keeping fruit trees healthy.

Our Learning Gardens and Community Farm are funded in part by a Partners in Conservation (PIC) grant from East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District.