Public hearing notice regarding conservation easement for working farmland: March 28th, 2019

EMSWCD will hold a public hearing on March 28th, 2019 at 5:00 PM at Multnomah Grange #71, 30639 SE Bluff Road, Gresham, OR 97080 in connection with the acquisition of a conservation easement for working farmland. This easement is being acquired in connection with the sale of EMSWCD’s Oxbow Farm and will ensure the property remains in agricultural use in perpetuity.

EMSWCD acquired the property in 2011, when it was listed for sale. At the time, EMSWCD was concerned that a sale could result in the local farming community losing access to one of the most productive farms within our district. That concern motivated EMSWCD to purchase the property and then make it available for lease to two Multnomah County farmers.

EMSWCD evaluated a number of options for future use of the property, and determined that a resale of the property would meet the greatest number of objectives in the most cost-effective manner.

As noted above, the property will be sold subject to a perpetual working farmland easement. This legal instrument will ensure the farm remains in active agriculture, remains available to future generations of farmers, and is managed in such a way that the productive agricultural soils are utilized to their full, sustainable capacity. The sale proceeds will be used by EMSWCD to protect additional working farm properties, to ensure farmers have access to farmland.

Additional information on the conservation easement for working farmland acquisition may be obtained by contacting Matt Shipkey, Land Legacy Program Manager, East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District, Portland, OR 97209. Phone: (503) 935 5374. Email: matt@emswcd.org

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Upcoming EMSWCD Board and Committee Meetings

The East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District (EMSWCD), serving all of Multnomah County east of the Willamette River, has scheduled Board meetings and Budget and Land Legacy Committee meetings at the District Office (5211 N. Williams Ave, Portland, OR 97217) for the months of March through June 2019.

Visit this page to see a calendar of upcoming meetings.

Important – Wildlife workshop rescheduled to Wednesday, April 17th!

Important notice: This workshop has been rescheduled to April 17th due to weather concerns. If you already registered you do not need to do re-register. If you need to cancel your registration, please contact Chelsea at chelsea@emswcd.org.

Join us at the Columbia Grange on April 17th for our first ever workshop on attracting wildlife to your property. Learn how to transform your land into a refuge for local wildlife!

Habitat loss is the greatest threat to the survival of wildlife in the US, but you can make a difference on your own property. In this workshop you’ll:

  • Gain knowledge of the best plants and strategies for increasing habitat on your land.
  • Learn about the needs of a variety of beneficial wildlife and insects.
  • Learn how to develop, design and implement a plan for your property.
  • And much more…

Click here
to register!

From our farmers: Mora Mora’s first year

Mora Mora farm stand

This is a farmer-contributed post in our “From our farmers” series, written by Catherine Nguyen of Mora Mora Farm, who is enrolled in our Farm Incubator Program.

Mora Mora Farm is a single-farmer, half-acre, diverse vegetable operation that just wrapped up its first season through the Headwaters Farm Incubator Program. Mora Mora grows produce to sell at one weekend farmers’ market and for a handful of friends in the city. When people find out that it’s just me running the farm, doing everything from seeding and harvest to bed preparation and marketing, the normal response is, “Wait. You’re doing this all on your own?!”

The decision to begin as a single-farmer operation simply stemmed from my own personality. I like being able to see the whole picture: production and sales, starting up my farm and setting up systems to maintain it, figuring out where operational weak points are, and how I can optimize the system as a whole. I knew if I ever wanted to have ownership of a farm and manage people well, I’d better know what the heck I was doing and why.

Of course, being a single-farmer operation comes with its challenges: Read more →

Native Plant Sale recap

Pacific serviceberry (Amelanchier_alnifolia)

Our 2019 Native Plant Sale was a success! With the help of our incredible volunteers, over 14,000 native trees and shrubs were distributed on February 16th, enhancing local habitat and helping keep our land and water healthier.

If you’d like to receive a reminder about next year’s Native Plant Sale, you can join our email list. You can also visit our Native Plant Sale FAQ page to learn more about the event. If you are looking for other places to obtain native plants in the meantime, please see our Local Sources of Native Plants page.

New draft Equity Statement and comment opportunity

In 2015 EMSWCD staff began working on awareness building, training and program development around diversity, equity and inclusion. Our communities and workplaces are strengthened by diversity, and more inclusive conservation efforts are necessary to ensure lasting and equitable outcomes. We acknowledge the historical and ongoing disparities in income, education and health in our communities. We also understand that these disparities can impact who has access to healthy land and water. For these reasons, our staff and board are committed to making meaningful changes in the work we do so that all communities can benefit from our programs.

We have recently developed a draft Equity Statement and are seeking input. We hope you will visit our new Equity page, read the draft Equity statement, and let us know if you have any comments, concerns or questions.

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