Category Archives: Rural Lands

Headwaters Farm Open House on September 17th

Learn about our farm business incubator!

We’re throwing open the barn doors to people interested in learning more about Headwaters Farm and business incubator.

Whether you are a farmer early on in your career looking for support to launch your business, or you’re thinking about farming in the future and are curious about the kinds of program available, this event is for you!

When: September 17^th, 2024
Where: Headwaters Farm
28600 SE Orient Dr.
Gresham, OR 97080

Join us for a fun, informative afternoon where you can:

Tour the 60-acre farm
Enjoy refreshments on us
Learn about the farm business incubator
Meet Headwaters farmers and staff

RSVP here for English
RSVP aqui para Espanol

Questions? Contact Rowan Steele:
rowan@emswcd.org, (503) 939-0314

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:

Removed the requirement for agricultural management plans for new working farmland protection easements
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
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.

Public hearing notice regarding conservation easement on July 3rd, 2024

EMSWCD’s working farmland protection program works to provide current and future generations of farmers with access to farmland 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.

Local farmland is vital to our community, economy, food systems and environment. Farmland fuels our rural economy, nourishes people with fresh, locally grown food, and enables us to enjoy the vibrant rural landscapes that make Oregon special.

EMSWCD will hold a virtual public hearing on July 3^rd, 2024, at 1:00 PM in connection with the acquisition of a working farmland easement to encumber a property located at 33560 SE Carpenter Lane, Gresham, OR 97080 and identified as tax parcel number 1S4E21D -00500. This easement will ensure the agricultural resource values of the property are protected in perpetuity. This particular transaction 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 before the hearing to Matt Shipkey at matt@emswcd.org, or may attend the hearing by joining the meeting via computer or smart phone here 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.

Garlic Mustard Dumpster

EMSWCD is once again providing a dumpster for disposing of pulled and bagged garlic mustard. The dumpster is located on the Historic Highway, in front of the ball field across the street from the Corbett Water District.

The dumpster is marked clearly as GARLIC MUSTARD DUMPSTER. A tracking sheet is located below the dumpster – please fill out all of the information requested on the sheet so we can track how much time was spent pulling garlic mustard and where it came from. A dumpster will be provided each spring to help the community dispose of garlic mustard.

We are also allowing residents to dispose of tansy ragwort in this dumpster. Please only use this dumpster to dispose of garlic mustard and tansy!

Have any questions? Send an email to Chris Learn more about pulling invasive garlic mustard

Remember: Re-visit pulled sites frequently to make sure no new garlic mustard plants grow and go to seed.

NRCS Local Work Group Meeting on February 29th

NRCS’s Local Work Group Meeting has been scheduled and your participation is requested!

Agricultural producers – farmers, ranchers, foresters, nursery growers and other land managers- in Clackamas and Multnomah Counties are encouraged to attend. The meeting is being offered in a hybrid format (virtual and in person) and registration is required for either option, details below.

What is a Local Work Group Meeting?

Each year, local NRCS field offices around the state hold a Local Work Group Meeting. These meetings provide an opportunity for NRCS staff to hear from the people they serve in their communities. Local landowners and conservation partners know first-hand about the natural resource needs in their area. This locally-led process helps inform conservation priorities and strategies across Oregon. Learn more here.

Feedback provided by growers will enable NRCS to update the county Long Range Plan and develops new Conservation Implementation Strategies to address identified resource concerns. Read more →

Headwaters Farm Open House

Please join us at the Headwaters Farm Business Incubator open house!

Date: Tues, Oct 10th
Time: 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Location:
Headwaters Farm
28600 SE Orient Dr.
Gresham, Or 97080

We’re throwing open the barn doors to give our farm friends & agricultural community an inside look at the Headwaters property.

Tour the farm
See firsthand the resources Headwaters offers farmers
Meet past and present farmers and Headwaters staff
Enjoy refreshments on us

Join OSU Extension for an engaging and informative two-part course on Regenerative Pasture Management! You’ll hear from Dr. Shayan Ghajar, Organic Pasture and Forages Specialist from OSU Extension, and Jackson Morgan, Farm Specialist with Polk Soil & Water Conservation District.

When: December 14^th and 21^st from 6:00 – 7:15 PM
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free

Visit this link to register

Part 1:

Setting goals for your pastures
Selecting/identifying pasture species
Understanding soil health and how it affects pasture plants
An introduction to the pasture calendar
Mud and manure management

Part 2:

Balancing forage production with livestock forage demands
Determining when to graze
How to gauge if your pasture management is meeting your goals
Assistance available for farmers and land stewards

OSU Extension’s Wildfire Wednesday webinar series

“OSU Extension Fire Program’s Wildfire Wednesdays webinar sessions are back this fall! These weekly webinars offer important information on fire safety and preparedness, and related actions people can take to make their homes and landscapes safer. The workshops will run through December 8^th, 2021. Visit the Online Webinar Guide on the Fire Program website for more information:

View the Online Webinar Guide here.

Remaining workshops: