Garden News from Oregon Food Bank

Garden Education Program Newsletter

January 2019

Greetings from the Gardens!

With MLK day approaching on January 21st, we're reflecting on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy. We're inspired by the movement he built but also humbled by how far we have to go. In his Letter from Birmingham Jail in 1963, Dr. King says, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." In our Garden Education Program, we are working to fight against injustices by providing access to growing space, abundant veggies, community, and culturally specific garden education. We hope you will find a way to join us this season.

Saludos,

Lisa Waugh , Learning Gardens Program Coordinator

Devin Dinihanian , Statewide Garden Education Coordinator

Jennie London , Farm Program Coordinator

Christine Hadekel , Statewide Education and Outreach Manager

Volunteer Opportunity: Greenhouse Team Leader

Growing over 13,000 starts in our greenhouse at the Eastside Learning Garden takes a lot of leadership and organization. Interested in learning more about volunteer management and plant propagation? Apply to be a Greenhouse Team Leader for the 2019 season! Applications accepted until Feb 1, 2019.

Read the job description and apply!

Blueberry & Grape Pruning Hands-on Workshops

Learn some techniques for pruning grapes and blueberries while working together to keep plants healthy in the Learning Gardens. Led by Oregon Food Bank staff. Email Lisa if you would like to attend.

Westside Learning Garden:

Wednesday, February 6th 10:00-12:00

Eastside Learning Garden:

Thursday, February 14th 10:00-12:00

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.

Class schedules will be posted as of Wednesday, January 16th at the link below.

Seed to Supper Ambassador Video Profiles

Our Seed to Supper Ambassador Program empowers community leaders with tools to teach their own immigrant and refugee communities how to grow a low-cost vegetable garden in our region. In case you missed it, here are the first three profiles from the multi-media series we launched in the last quarter of 2018.

Matthieu

Yonas

Lilya

Pathways to Farming Program

We are excited to announce the launch of our new Pathways to Farming program in partnership with Mudbone Grown. This three-year farm incubator program will support beginning farmers of color in the Pacific Northwest to launch their own agricultural businesses and to be a part of a regional farmers cooperative.

Through this program we aim to build a more diverse farming community by supporting Black farmers, Indigenous farmers and farmers of color who often experience significant systemic barriers to getting into agriculture and starting a farm business.

This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program .

Become a Master Gardener!

Are you passionate about gardening? Do you want to get the real dirt on tried-and-true gardening practices? Are you interested in sharing your science-based knowledge as a volunteer community educator? Then the OSU Extension Service has the program for you! Become an OSU Master Gardener™ volunteer and get growing from the ground up!

The training includes all aspects of sustainable gardening in a fun and friendly environment. Science-based curriculum is offered in a combination of in-person, online classes and hands-on workshops that run February through March . This unique training is followed by volunteer educational outreach (a non-volunteer option is also available).

Introducing Jennie London

We are excited to introduce Jennie London, our new Farm Program Coordinator. Jennie will be providing mentorship, training and technical support to the farmers in our new Pathways to Farming program. Here's a message from Jennie:

"I am very excited to be working with Oregon Food Bank and Mudbone Grown as the new Farm Program Coordinator. I have been farming and working in the field of Sustainable Agriculture for 15 years. Originally from New York, I have a B.A. from Colorado College in Latin American Studies and Art. Later, I moved to northern New Mexico where I had a small farm business, trained beginning farmers and helped to develop a statewide producer coop and seed network. I completed my M.A. in Sustainable Agriculture from Prescott College and moved to Portland with my family in 2014 where I continue to farm and teach part-time."

Volunteer of the Month

Congratulations to Marcela, our latest volunteer of the month! Thanks to Marcela, Eastside garden volunteers had the opportunity to enjoy some delicious food made with garden veggies last summer!

Read more about Marcela here.

Jobs and Professional Development

Job Opportunities:

Oregon Food Bank is hiring a Front Desk Associate and several positions for drivers.
Portland Nursery is hiring seasonal staff for 2019.
The City of Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability is filling a part-time position to manage the Better Together Garden at Portland City Hall.
ACCESS, our Regional Food Bank in Medford, has several job openings including Community Food Systems Coordinator and Cooking Skills Educator.

V olunteer / 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 apprenticeships.
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' farmer training programming is accepting applications for the 2019 season.
FoodCorps service member applications are open for 2019.

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.