Public hearing notice regarding conservation easement: October 16, 2024

EMSWCD helps protect farmland while supporting local farmers and growers to operate sustainable businesses.

We partner with farmers to ensure land remains available for current and future generations of farmers in East Multnomah County and make land for farming more affordable. Our collaborations with existing farmers help unlock opportunities for the next generation of farmers to steward these special farm properties.

Bright blue skies over a pasture and hoop house.

Another “Forever Farm” in East Multnomah County.

Local farmland is vital to our community, economy, food systems, and environment. Farmers and growers fuel our rural economy, nourish people with fresh, locally grown food, and enable us to enjoy the vibrant rural landscapes that make Oregon special.

EMSWCD will hold a virtual public hearing on October 16th, 2024 at 11:30 AM in connection with the acquisition of working farmland easements to create “Forever Farms” for those properties located at: 1) 29425 SE Division Drive, Troutdale, OR 97060 AKA as tax parcel number 1S4E07AC -00100 and; 2) 29829 E Woodard Road, Gresham, OR 97080 AKA as tax parcel number 1N4E31DD -00800. These easements will ensure the agricultural resource values of these properties are protected in perpetuity. These particular transactions will additionally incorporate easement terms that guarantee the farm property remains affordable to and in the ownership of farmers.

Interested persons may submit written testimony prior to the hearing to Matt Shipkey at matt@emswcd.org, or may attend the hearing by joining the meeting via computer or smart phone  at https://meet.goto.com/EastMultSWCD/emswcdpublichearing or by calling United States (Toll Free): 1 (571) 317-3112 with Access Code: 416-726-341.

Additional information on the working farmland easement may be obtained by contacting Matt Shipkey, Land Legacy Program Manager at (503) 935-5374 or matt@emswcd.org

Meeting attendees requiring Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations should call (503)222-7645 x 100 ASAP. To better serve you, five (5) business days prior to the event is preferred.

Headwaters Farm Business Incubator is now accepting applications for the 2025 growing season!

a photo of the sunrise at Headwaters Farm. On the left, a corrugated tool shed wall with a large EMSWCD logo and text "Headwaters Farm," on the right, the farm, the sunrise and a sky with a few scattered clouds lit by the sunrise

Application open from October 1st to November 30th.

Who should apply: Experienced farmers who are ready to launch or grow their farm business but lack the financial resources they need to get established.

About the incubator: The Headwaters Farm Business Incubator is a five-year program located on Headwaters Farm in Gresham, Oregon. The program provides experienced farmers with access to land, equipment, business support, and a community of other farmers in a low-risk, financially subsidized environment. The goal is to lower common barriers to limited resource farmers and empower them to streamline their production methods, establish markets, and prepare their business for successful graduation from the program.

Learn more about this program of the East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District here!

Link

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 and Committee meetings for the months of September 2024 through June 2025.

Visit this page to see a calendar of upcoming meetings.

Exciting farm purchase opportunity in Corbett, Oregon

Arial view of farm land, three large areas with tidy rows of light green crops. Forest and mountains in the background.

45-acre property for sale in Corbett has a long history of commercial vegetable production.

A great farm property for purchase at a discounted price; the property listing can be found here. The 45.88-acre property has great farm soils with a fully certificated surface water right to 37 acres and public water available to the site’s remainder. Offers are being accepted through November 6th.

The property has an older barn structure and some existing farm roads but limited other farm infrastructure and no residence. It will be sold subject to a working farmland easement, which will result in a reduced list price of $650,000. The sale price is discounted to reflect the value of that easement. All inquiries should be directed to the listing brokers, Chris Kelly and Jamey Nedelisky of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices NW Real Estate at (503) 666-4616.

Online Info Session

We held an online information session about our goals for this property, the eligibility requirements, and how offers will be evaluated.

Information session presentation 

Questions and Answers notes

Our Working Farmland Protection Program provides current and future generations of farmers with access to farmland in East Multnomah County and is helping make land for farming more affordable. One way we do this is by buying farm properties with no clear succession plan – like this property – and then reselling them to farmers at a discount. This property will be sold with a working farmland easement significantly reducing the list price. The easement will ensure the farm remains in farmer ownership, continues to be actively farmed, and remains affordable to future generations of farmers.

The sale proceeds will be used by EMSWCD to protect additional working farm properties and help ensure farmers continue to have access to high-quality affordable farmland in our district. Read more →

We listened to farmers and made some changes to our working farmland program 

a tractor in near-silhouette against a dramatically lit sky with dust glowing in the setting sunlight. The tractor is next to a structure on the right, and a farm field and distant trees are visible to the left

Ensuring a future for agriculture in East Multnomah County.

EMSWCD is working to ensure a future for agriculture in East Multnomah County. Our farming community has let us know farmland is getting harder and more expensive to access. We have been responding to that challenge by working with local landowners to protect farmland for current and future generations of farmers. Farmers can also receive financial support and technical assistance from us to plan for the future – whether that’s continuing to farm, passing a farm to the next generation, or selling it to another farmer.

2023 Survey of Potential Participants
Recently, our “Forever Farm” program got some updates with input gathered from one-on-one interviews with more than 30 local farmers and landowners in our district. We engaged Stamberger Consulting to help us understand how to improve our working farmland protection efforts. 

Based on what we heard, we made some changes:

  1. Removed the requirement for agricultural management plans for new working farmland protection easements
  2. Revised our approach to working farmland easements on commercial nursery operations. Whereas previously we would not acquire working farmland easements on properties with active “ball and burlap” operations, we will now do so
  3. Making working farmland easement purchase offer amounts more financially attractive

In addition to collecting valuable information and insights, the survey project helped us connect with farmers in the district. It has helped us build interest and increase peer-to-peer referrals. New project leads were generated through the survey outreach.

Your turn

Are you a farmer or landowner interested in learning more?

Visit our Landowner Options page or contact Matt Shipkey, our Land Legacy Program Manager at (503) 935-5374 or matt@emswcd.org.

What does $1M buy today? 26 new Partners in Conservation projects

Supporting community efforts is the key to meeting our mission. At EMSWCD, we are investing in local efforts that underscore the importance of healthy rivers, outdoor and environmental education, local food production using sustainable practices, and resource access for underserved, lower-income, and/or Black, Indigenous and people of color. Many of these projects also further critical climate action. By providing $1,050,000 million in Partners in Conservation (PIC) grants to non-profits and community-based organizations, EMSWCD is empowering our local communities to self-organize for a brighter future.

In May our Board of Directors approved funding for 26 PIC grant proposals recommended by a community review committee. These grants further agricultural development, bridge economic disparities, provide youth and adult education, and restore our natural resources and environment. Organizations are addressing community disparities and advancing equity by creating benefits for underserved communities through project design, partnerships and organizational practices. See the full list of PIC 2024 grantees here.

This year’s PIC Grant Review Committee reviewed 48 grant applications requesting more than $2.3 million in funding. Outreach for our program is growing, with 12 first-time applicants receiving grants this year with an average grant of $40,000. Learn more about the committee members who helped review and recommend grants here.

Together we’ve invested more than $12 million in 175+ 2024 Partners in Conservation Grants to organizations that help advance our mission. Find out if your organization might be eligible and find support for your community project. Learn more.

EMSWCD has a new Executive Director!

Photo headshot of Kelley Beamer

We are thrilled to announce the selection by the Board of Directors of our new Executive Director, Kelley Beamer!

Kelley Beamer served as the Executive Director at the Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts (COLT) for more than 10 years and will bring to East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District (EMSWCD) her experience in forging partnerships with diverse communities and advancing land conservation to protect farm and forest lands.

“We are excited to welcome Kelley as our new Executive Director,” says Jasmine Zimmer-Stucky, EMSWCD Board Chair. “Her passion for place-based conservation aligns beautifully with the Board’s recently adopted Strategic Plan. Kelley will bring experience, great communication skills, and time-tested partnerships to the organization. We feel very fortunate to have found a home-grown leader who has worked with urban and rural communities across the state and in our district.” Read more →

Watch our rain garden installation feature on “This Old House”!

EMSWCD partnered recently with This Old House for a feature demonstrating how to plan the site for a rain garden and install it! Watch below as our Urban Lands Program Supervisor Kathy Shearin meets with landscape contractor Jenn Nawada to help Aaron and Autumn install a rain garden in their front yard. The section on rain gardens is in the first nine minutes of the video.

Learn more about rain gardens here!

Visit the This Old House website here.

1 2