Garden Education Program Newsletter March 2018

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Greetings from the Gardens!

It's finally time to get outside and dig in the dirt! Won't you join us? Dig In! shifts are starting soon; you can read more below and sign up to learn new skills, make new friends, and taste new veggies this season.  Want to know what's the latest with Mudbone Grown, our farm partners at the Unity Farm? Their facebook page is a great way to stay connected. We hope to see you in the garden or a Seed to Supper course soon!

Best wishes, Lisa Waugh , Learning Gardens Program Coordinator   Devin Dinihanian , Statewide Garden Education Coordinator Christine Hadekel , Statewide Education and Outreach Manager

Garden Volunteer Opportunities Learn about gardening, meet new people, and take home fresh harvest. All ages welcome. No gardening experience necessary!

Dig In! at the Eastside Learning Garden  This is a great way to learn more about growing your own food! New and experienced gardeners welcome! Thursday & Saturday shifts are 9am-12pm starting March 17th. (March 17th's shift will start at 9:30) Tuesday shifts will start in June: 4pm-7pm. Sign Up

Dig In! at the Westside Learning Garden  Rachel Carson Environmental Middle School students are outside working hard for the next few months; Dig In shifts will start in June but you can sign up on the calendar now if you advance to June. Wednesdays 9:00-12:00 Saturdays 9:00-11:00 Sign Up

Upcoming Workshops at Oregon Food Bank

Beneficial Insects Are you battling pests in your urban garden? Meet the beetles, bugs, flies, lacewings and other invertebrates such as spiders and centipedes that work around the clock to provide free pest control. You will discover plant types and management practices that provide habitat to attract and sustain beneficial insects that help your garden thrive. Taught by East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District.  Date:  Sat, April 21st Time:  9:00 am - 11:30 am Location:  Oregon Food Bank, 7900 NE 33rd Dr, Portland, 97211

Sign up for the Beneficial Insects Workshop

Naturescaping Basics Naturescaping is the practice of designing (or redesigning) your landscape so that it reduces water use and decreases stormwater runoff while saving you time, money and energy. This introductory workshop introduces the core concepts of naturescaping.  Class will visit a nearby naturescaped project to see design principles in action. You’ll receive a comprehensive workbook to help you get started.  Taught by East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District.  Date:  Sat, May 5th Time:  9:00 am - 1:00 pm Location:  Oregon Food Bank, 7900 NE 33rd Dr, Portland, 97211

Sign up for the Naturescaping Workshop

Sign up for a Seed to Supper Class

Seed to Supper is a free beginning vegetable gardening course that teaches participants how to garden on a budget. In this interactive class, participants gain new knowledge and skills to be able to start a garden and grow some of their own food. Seed to Supper classes are now scheduled in Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties! Sign up here for a class

Volunteer Opportunity at Growing Gardens

Become a Garden Mentor Do you love sharing your love and knowledge of growing food with others? ​Consider becoming a Garden Mentor! Garden Mentors work one-on-one with beginning gardeners enrolled in Growing Gardens' Home Gardens program , offering knowledge and support to foster the development of vegetable gardening skills and confidence. Garden Mentors support one or more mentees throughout the growing season through garden site visits, by telephone, email or text. Both English and Spanish-speakers desired! Make your own schedule - typically 1-5 hours per month, March – October. To learn more and apply visit:  www.growing-gardens.org/mentor  *Approved for Master Gardener volunteer credit hours*  Application deadline: March 24th, 2018 or when spots are filled. Garden Mentor training: Saturday March 31st, 2018 9am -1pm

Honoring Lisa Waugh: 10 Years of Service at OFB

Lisa Waugh, our fabulous Learning Gardens Program Coordinator, will be celebrating her 10 year anniversary at Oregon Food Bank this week. Please join us in thanking Lisa for her incredible work over the past decade in fighting hunger and inspiring change through garden education. Lisa has done a phenomenal job at running our Dig In! shifts at both our Eastside and Westside Learning Gardens. Her in-depth gardening knowledge, incredible organizational skills, easy going nature and quirky sense of humor has attracted large groups of committed volunteers at both our gardens. We have so much gratitude for you all you do Lisa!

Volunteer of the Month

Congratulations to Jessica Rhodes, our latest Volunteer of the Month! Jessica volunteers at the Westside Learning Garden and has assisted with other garden planning projects this winter.  Read more about Jessica here .

Jobs and Professional Development

Job Opportunities: Oregon Food Bank is hiring a Regional Network Developer, a Director of Equity, People, & Culture, and an Equity and Inclusion Coordinator. The FoodCorps Americorps program is recruiting new service members through March 15th. Gorge Grown Food Network is hiring a Veggie Rx Program Manager, Hood River Farmers Market Assistant Manager, and a Mercado del Valle & Latinx Outreach Manager. Zenger Farm is hiring for some full time and part time staff positions. Growing Gardens is hiring a Development Coordinator and a Lents Community Organizer.

Volunteer / Professional Development: Growing Gardens has volunteer activities listed by season, as well as some internship opportunities. Zenger Farm has a number of volunteer and internship positions open, including stipended farm internships. Kitchen Commons has some ongoing volunteer and internship opportunities. Village Gardens has some volunteer opportunities including Food Works Farm and Fruits of Diversity Orchard. Rogue Farm Corps' Internship Program is recruiting for its full season entry-level residential farmer training program   The Marion-Polk Food Share Youth Farm is recruiting 1-2 farming interns for the coming growing season, April through September. Sauvie Island Center is recruiting spring and summer Farm Educator Interns.

Gardening Classes and Resources in the Community

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.

OSU Extension Master Gardeners Great resource. Chapter meetings open to public with monthly speakers.  Portland Nursery Generous donor to our Garden Education program! Free classes at both locations. Livingscape Nursery Many free classes available. Farmington Gardens Planting tips and free classes. Portland Parks & Rec Great page with gardening resources.

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