Hens 101, Chocolate Truffles & Organic / NRCS Funding

Join Naomi and Bumblefina for Hens 101: The Basics of a Backyard Flock, this Thursday 3/1, 6:30 - 8:30pm in NE Portland. Register online through BPS' Urban Growth Bounty class series.

Today! Pick up at our new site 2615 SE Schiller St. from 2 - 5pm, Wed 2/29, call or email in advance if you'd like to make sure what you need is there today or come by for the seed wall. We open officially on Sunday, March 4th from 10 - 5pm. And make sure to head over to People's Co-op for farm fresh edibles from 2 - 7pm today, too.  (Our newer forklift, Ernie! after Neil's grampa)

Naomi taught Organic Fertilizer & Amendments for an NRCS training in Salem Monday and they are excited to learn more about how the National Resource Conservation Service's programs can connect better with organic growers.  More on the Oregon Tilth and NRCS Organic Cross-Training Series here. and Farm Funding! Contact your county NRCS agent and look here to find out more on EQIP Funding for: Conservation Crop rotation, Cover Crops, Nutrient Management, Pest Management, Prescribed Grazing and Forage Harvest Management.  Plus! while the there are currently more applications in nationally more High Tunnels, than money to fund them, they have not been awarded yet and there is still time to apply and they encourage it. In additions, the Organic Initiative provides assistance to install conservation practices on agricultural operations that are either certified organic or are working towards organic certification.  Funding is available specifically to address natural resource concerns such as soil erosion, water conservation, or plant condition.

Applications for High Tunnels and the Organic Initiative are accepted on a continuous basis with the next two cutoff dates on: March 30, and June 1, 2012.

850+ people this weekend at the OSU Small Farms Conference in Corvallis, wow! Interesting talk on full diet, year-round, free choice CSA's with Kristin Kimball of Essex Farm, winter farming with Denison Farms & Mustard Seed Farm, permaculture with Siskiyou Seeds and Beaver State Permaculture and a lot more, great to see friends and brought farm orders down. Seed/fertilizer handoff with Adaptive Seeds, checked packets in on the way back north = 750+ packets in stock on the seed wall... Picked up 3 tons of feed, the wood boards for our pallet racking and our hand-painted wooden signs, from the old to the new warehouse on the way back, Neil in full force on the warehouse...  stocking books, tools and many goodies in the shop. 

And the fabulous Melissa of Missionary Chocolates will be sampling the delicious chocolate truffles she makes during our opening on Sunday... (and find them on fb, photo of Melissa at Chocolates for Choice 2012).  See you soon!  : )

Opening Sunday, March 4th from 10 - 5pm!

SE Pick-up site for pre-orders will be at the new space this Friday 12 - 5pm and we'll have the  Wall of Seeds ready...

* * *   And official opening, Sunday, March 4th!   * * * 

+ moved and unloaded our pallet racking Saturday. we have the capacity to hold 150,000 lbs of product... planning day and roughing out the shop today. monday = pallet racking installation and painting party. sold our old forklift, Hinkey, looking for a newer one. got a few of the neat bookshelves from Powell's for our books from the The ReBuilding Center of Our United Villages

Email or call to order what you need & pick up, Order Elves will be in action Tuesday - Friday this coming week (President's Day we'll be painting).  We are continuing our weekly neighborhood Pick-up Sites and deliveries.  : )  And we'll be at the OSU Small Farms Conference, but the Northwest Oregon Dairy Association's 24th Annual Conference is this Saturday 8 - 4pm in Oregon City, includes fiber goats and very kid friendly!!

Naomi's new storefront & warehouse !!!

We just got the keys to our new storefront & warehouse at 2615 SE Schiller St., Portland, OR.  Just 1 mile from People's Co-op, on a bike lane, much cuteness will occur... We start moving in later this week and will post our opening date and hours soon. Ooodles of excitement !!! (2 blocks south of Holgate on 26th St.)  Thank you for all the immediate love on our facebook page, meow!  We are so happy to have a physical space again to see you all in.  There will be many hugs.  We love you guys.

baby goats born at Bluemoon Farm this Sunday ♥
(in Oak Grove, Oregon)

InFARMation is on Valentine's, Tuesday 2/14 at Holocene in SE Portland. Come have delicious food, drinks with us and listen to a stimulating discussion on organic non-ge/gmo seed crops and genetically engineered / modified seeds. Adaptive Seeds will be one of three speakers on GMO Crops in Oregon and they're bringing our first big batch of seeds, which we'll have at market on Wednesday.......  oh my goodness.  the fever.  the seed fever.  i am running hot.

YES! We will be at the People's Co-op Farmer's Market this Wed, February 15th from 2 - 7pm with our truck, booth + SEEDS!! and delivering to Neighborhood Pick-up Sites + our new spot in Troutdale for those of you to the east.

This Wednesday at People's it is Love Your Farmer Day! 

People's be showing the love to all of those that make, bake and grow our amazing market produce this Wednesday. Come out to the market for some great gardening demos in the community room from Growing Gardens, a seed swap and cooking demos!

OPT: Ontario Purple Trillium = big and hot, hot hot!
One of 15 varieties of seed garlic we planted on the coast this November on our friends' beautiful land, 46 North Farm in Olney, OR near Astoria, within their mighty Elk Fence. thank you Teresa & Packy for being the coolest garlic sitters, we are honored to be growing on your awesome soil!!

love and fun in february

‎1) Love marriage equality ♥ please sign this pledge : )  
2) 2/8 Wed: lovely day to see you at People's Co-op Farmer's Market 2-7pm
3) 2/11 Sat: Backyard Beekeeping Class at Friends of Zenger Farm, Register here
4) 2/14 Tues: InFARMation at Holocene on GMO Crops in Oregon with Friends of Family Farmers
5) 2/15 Wed: Love Your Farmer Day People's Food Co-op
6) 2/22 Wed: Garden Planning Class with Oregon Tilth and Urban Growth Bounty, Register here
7) 2/25 Sat: Pollinators Workshop with Portland Fruit Tree Project, Register here

Order Desk Hours: 10 - 5 Monday through Friday by phone and email.  Elves may email you at other times about your order, but that's the best time to contact us with questions.  Online Shopping Cart is in the works!
 
Corvallis & Salem Pick-Up Sites in February:

2/26/12 Corvallis Pick-up Day Saturday, February 25th at OSU Small Farms Conference - please call or email your orders in advance for feed, garden and farm supplies. 

2/28/12 Salem Pick-up Day Tuesday, February 28th at Pringle Creek Community - please call or email your orders in advance for feed, garden and farm supplies.