Access to farmland is a growing challenge for farmers! Learn why it is a problem, and what we are doing to address this need in the new Farm Access section on our website. The section also includes two examples of recent farm access projects and a variety of resources you may find useful.
Category Archives: Archive
Office hours
We’re coming to you, virtually!
Join Jeremy for a live (and free) one on one discussion about your farm. Bring your questions and explore strategies and solutions around:
- Management of livestock
- Pasture care and grazing management
- Mud management
- Manure management and composting
- Cropping and cover cropping
- Integrated Pest Management- using beneficial plants to attract beneficial bugs
- Soil health and how to take a soil sample
- Irrigation systems and water management to reduce your costs
- Noxious weed control
- Natural areas and planting for wildlife and birds
- General farm planning
Sessions will be scheduled for 50 minutes but may require additional time. You can work with Jeremy to schedule follow up visits as needed.
Make an online appointment with us!
Sign up using the form below.
Have questions?
Contact Jeremy Baker at:
(503) 488-9939
jeremy@emswcd.org
Join our upcoming online workshops on farm transition planning!
It’s never too early (or too late!) to begin securing your farm’s future. A farm transition plan is essential to protecting your interests and minimizing attorney fees, taxes, and family stress. This free virtual workshop series will help you understand your options and navigate the planning process.
In partnership with the Clackamas Small Business Development Center at Clackamas Community College, Clackamas SWCD and Tualatin SWCD, EMSWCD will host four virtual workshops covering the following topics, each from 1 to 4 PM:
- January 27th: The estate planning process and options
- February 10th: Strategies for having difficult conversations
- February 24th: Organizing your finances and business structure
- March 10th: Preparing your operation and heirs for transition
Pre-register for the workshops here! You can also find out more about the importance of farm transition planning here.
EMSWCD takes a “strategic pause” for the 2021 PIC Cycle (updated)
To EMSWCD grantees, partners, and supporters: We know how deeply all of you have been affected this past year by the upheaval and uncertainty that surrounds us. Here at EMSWCD, we have continued to do our work the best we can and to look for ways to support our communities. Ironically, it is in these extraordinary times that we are presented with a rare opportunity to consider how we may want to do things differently, to move in a direction that responds to the weight of this historic moment.
In this vein, EMSWCD has decided to take a “strategic pause” for the 2021 Partners in Conservation (PIC) Grant cycle – suspending the competitive grant opportunity for one year. While we will forgo the normal application process for PIC 2021, EMSWCD is committed to supporting our grantees and partners through this challenging time, and we intend to do this by extending some current grants and offering non-competitive new grants for our regular grantees for the fiscal year 2021/22. We have developed our initial criteria for this continued funding (please see below). The SPACE grant program will continue to operate as usual.
During this time, our staff will have the opportunity to address many aspects of our grant funding program with an eye toward greater equity and more strategic funding. We plan to conduct an evaluation of EMSWCD’s grants program in light of changes in the context of our regional funding, to implement new DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) and other strategic initiatives, and to more fully engage with partners, grantees and other stakeholders about the future of our grants program. Read more
EMSWCD is suspending the 2021 Native Plant Sale
Here at EMSWCD, our highest priority is the health and safety of community members, volunteers, and staff. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, EMSWCD has made the extremely difficult decision to suspend its Annual Native Plant Sale for 2021.
Under normal circumstances, this event consists of plant sorting (in an enclosed tent), additional event preparations, and pick-up day activities that bring together over 100 volunteers, over 20 staff, and over 1000 plant sale customers within a one-week period. Given the pandemic-related restrictions, we realize that holding an event of this scale is not feasible or safe.
We are taking time this year to examine ways to make future plant sale events even better. We appreciate your patience while we work to identify how we can best serve our wonderful community of native plant enthusiasts. Read more
Information and updates on the Oregon wildfires
Oregon is experiencing unprecedented wildfires this week. We have put together a collection of important information, updates, resources and maps related to the Oregon wildfires here. You can also find resources and links on caring for livestock and pets during a fire.
EMSWCD permanently protects 16-acre property near Gresham
Sixteen acres of property along Johnson Creek in east Multnomah County are now forever protected thanks to a conservation easement agreement between the East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District (EMSWCD) and property owner Lou Foltz.
“Our partnerships with private landowners are critical to protecting our natural and farmland resources” said Carrie Sanneman, board chair for the East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District. “It is heartening to know that EMSCWD’s decades long partnership with the landowner has now been secured for perpetuity thanks to his generosity and foresight,” Sanneman noted.
The property is adjacent to two working farms owned and operated by the conservation district – Headwaters Farm and Mainstem Farm. Preventing development on this property helps protect the rural character of the area, allows for farming to continue into the future and conserves important habitat for native fish, wildlife and plants.
“I’m pleased that we are restoring a variety of flora on the property while also maintaining the ability to designate a portion of it for farming,” said landowner Louis Foltz. “I’ve been partnering with the conservation district for many years to ensure that this acreage is a healthy environment for fish and wildlife, while contributing to a clean water environment in Johnson Creek. This relationship will allow future landowners to sustain the habitat while simultaneously providing an option for some farming.” Read more
Farm succession planning and resources
Are you planning for the future of your farm? We have added a brand new Farm Succession page to the Working Farmland Protection section with information on our farm succession planning workshops, as well as a great list of farm planning resources and other available workshops!