Urban Agriculture Advisory Committee

On the 2nd Wednesday of the month, from 6:45 to 7:30pm, the Urban Agriculture Advisory Committee meets at Second Stories (5530 SE 122nd Ave.) to come up with ways we can assist our neighbors in realizing food independence and sustainability through education and urban farming practices.

Meetings not scheduled for summer months (June, July, August).

If you would like a reminder e-mail for the next Urban Ag meeting please markpdx [at] spiritone [dot] com (contact us).

NOTICE: Zenger Farm has recently received funding from the USDA to start a training program for aspiring farmers, CSA owners, and market gardeners in outer southeast Portland. The hope is that this training, due to start in the fall of 2012, will teach at least 20 new professional urban growers about soil building, crop rotation practices, pest management, marketing, and small business development. The goal is that this will jump start numerous mini-farms and market gardens in our area.

Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood Association has been approached by the Friends of Zenger Farm to conduct outreach and help design this training. Anyone who has interest in being involved, knows others who might want to be engaged, or who has curiosity about Portland’s growing urban agricultural scene should contact richarddickinson [at] earthlink [dot] net (Richard Dickinson) (richarddickinson [at] earthlink [dot] net). All questions are welcome! We are especially looking for a handful of energetic people who want to learn more about urban agriculture and can help us design the most appropriate training for our neighborhood.

Finding Solutions

There are numerous ways the Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood Association is working toward finding solutions to issues within the Neighborhood. Here is just one example.

While the Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood is the most populated in the City of Portland, it is seriously lacking in businesses to support the large number of people who live in the Neighborhood. This is primarily due to the fact that the vast majority of the Neighborhood is currently zoned for residential uses and there are few opportunities for businesses to locate here.

Changing zoning is very expensive and a very long process. While we continue to work with the City to make changes to the zoning, we also need a more immediate response to the current limited zoning opportunities. One response chosen by the Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood Association was to submit a grant through the East Portland Action Plan to identify and promote urban agriculture opportunities within the Neighborhood. This grant was awarded in early 2010.

In addition to trying to come up with ways to assist our neighbors in realizing food independence and sustainability through education and urban farming practices, we are also trying to identify ways to help enhance the economic viability of neighbors and the community as a whole.

By identifying and promoting urban agriculture in the Neighborhood, we will help many individuals and families add to their financial security by selling produce and other urban farming products to their neighbors at a price lower than what we would pay at the store. This also helps to keep money in the Neighborhood. It’s a win:win situation for all involved.

One of the collateral results we are hoping for with this effort is a change in the public value perception of our residential lots. Right now, they are mostly being eyed by developers keen on tearing down single family homes and putting up an apartment complex or a whole lot more single family homes. Instead, we hope to show people throughout the City of Portland that our large lots are not only the perfect choice for families, but for urban farming as well. It is our hope that new families will move in and NOT develop their properties, but instead LIVE IN AND BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

The urban agriculture group meets on the 4th Thursday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at Zenger Farm, located at 11741 SE Foster Road. EVERYONE is welcome to participate.

Goals of the Urban Agriculture Advisory Committee also include:

-Conducting a Community Food Assessment to determine needs, concerns and interests of residents

-Focusing on local food and increasing local food options as well as food security

-Facilitating self-sufficiency by helping community members raise food or produce food products

-Helping connect people affected by poverty and unable to grow their own food due to space limitations, with those who have land which could be used for agriculture

-Promoting local economy by helping establish a grower’s market and/or farmer’s market where local growers can sell their produce or food products

-Education and demonstrations on how to shop, cook and eat healthy on budget, as well as classes related to urban agriculture, growing, cooking, canning, composting, etc.

-Encourage and promote more livestock in the neighborhood, most notably chickens

-Asset mapping of fruit and nut trees within the neighborhood

-Establishing a tool library

And more ~ Join us!

Our Sustainability Coordinator is Tom Barnes (omdy12 [at] yahoo [dot] com) - omdy12 [at] yahoo [dot] com (E-mail) him for more information.

Our Urban Ag Committee Chair is Mark White (markpdx [at] spiritone [dot] com) - markpdx [at] spiritone [dot] com (E-mail) him for more information.