Biodynamic workshop series at GeerCrest Farm

This spring, GeerCrest Farm is hosting a series of workshops on biodynamic agriculture. The classes are taught by Beth Weiting, Master Biodynamic Gardener, on selected Saturdays from 2-5pm. Suggested donation is $25 per workshop or $80 for the series.

Local groups team-up to offer gardening workshop series

Marion-Polk Food Share, Pringle Creek Community, Willamette University and Marion County Master Gardeners are joining forces to offer a series of 13 workshops aimed at beginning and intermediate gardeners. All workshops are hosted by experts and enthusiasts from the local community. A $5 donation is suggested per workshop.

You can RSVP to any and all workshops by calling 503-581-3855 ext. 329, or email imcdonald@marionpolkfoodshare.org. Address and directions will be provided upon RSVP. See the workshop schedule below for dates and descriptions.

Seed swap and garden demonstrations at Silverton Seedy Saturday

The Silverton Grange Hall will be the site of Silverton Seedy Saturday, a gardening event on Saturday, March 3rd. This free event will include a seed swap, plus demonstrations and discussion on composting, water conservation, and meal preparation with fresh garden produce. Attendees are encouraged to bring seeds to share.

Silverton Seedy Saturday
Saturday, March 3rd 2012, 9am - 4pm
Silverton Grange Hall
201 Division St. Silverton, OR
seedysaturday2012@yahoo.com

The video below shows last year's event in time-lapse.

Marion-Polk Food Share's 2nd annual seed exchange

The Marion-Polk Food Share Community Gardens Program is hosting a seed exchange event on Saturday, February 25th, starting at 10am. Attendees are encouraged to bring seeds to share and participate in a discussion about creating a Marion-Polk Seed Share and Seed Bank. For more information, contact Ian Dixon-McDonald at 503-581-3855 ext.329.

2nd Annual Seed Exchange
1660 Salem Industrial Dr. NE Salem, OR
Saturday, February 25th, 10am - 1pm
More Info: imcdonald@marionpolkfoodshare.org

Salem Public Market open on Wednesday before Christmas

Salem Public Market will open Wednesday, December 21st, 11:00am to 6:00pm for last minute food and gift items. You will find one-of-a-kind original photographs and paintings, quilts, scarves, emu products, specialty foods, meats, eggs, cheeses, candy, nuts, artisan breads, produce, dried and fresh mushrooms, cakes and pies, apple cider, fresh roasted coffees, honey and bees wax candles, fresh and frozen soups.

Salem Public Market is also a collection site for Marion-Polk Food Share. Patrons are encouraged to bring non-perishable food for those in need.

The market will be closed on Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24th.

Salem Public Market
1240 Rural Ave. SE Salem, OR 97302
Oregon's Oldest Farmers Market and Salem's Best Kept Secret!
For more information, call Bruce at 503-559-4294.

Urban Farmer Certification Program accepting applicants for 2012

The Pringle Creek Community Urban Farmer Certification Program is now accepting applicants for the Urban Farmer Certification Class for 2012. This is a great opportunity for anyone curious about learning to garden in the urban setting.

Second annual Fill Your Pantry Market

On Saturday, November 12th, the second annual Fill Your Pantry Market will be held at the former Methodist Church in Shedd, Oregon. At this event you can purchase bulk quantities of staple foods directly from local farmers, including grains, flour, beans, frozen meats, honey, cured produce, and more. This event is sponsored by Willamette Seed & Grain, Ten Rivers Food Web, and the Southern Willamette Valley Bean & Grain Project.

Quantities of 100 lbs. or more must be pre-ordered, although the pre-order cut off date was November 4th. Attendees can still purchase smaller quantities at the event. Visit the Ten Rivers Food Web website at www.tenriversfoodweb.org to see a list of participating farms.

The market is open from 2pm to 6pm and Oregon Trail tokens will be accepted after 3:30pm.

“When Picks Fly” will provide live music. Baked goods will be available for sale and non-alcoholic refreshments provided.

Payment will be made directly to the farmer on the day of the event with cash or check only. All orders must be picked up at the event. For orientation and other information, visit www.tenriversfoodweb.org.

Fill Your Pantry Market
Saturday, November 12th 2011, 2pm - 6pm
30090 Hwy 99E Shedd, OR 97377
www.tenriversfoodweb.org

Old Mill Feed & Garden to host Ladies’ Night Out, a fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness

On Saturday, October 22nd, Old Mill Feed & Garden will host its first Ladies’ Night Out, a fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness. This event will feature music from Keeter Stuart of Trio Bravo, plus food and wine tastings from McK Ranch, Heritage Farms NW, Full Circle Creamery, and Melting Pot Candy. Tickets are $25 in advance, and can be purchased at Old Mill Feed & Garden or by calling 503-831-1222. For more information, visit www.oldmillfeed.com.

Ladies' Night Out
October 22nd, 5:30pm - 8:30pm
$25 per person
Old Mill Feed & Garden
1313 Main St. Dallas, OR
503-831-1222

Northwest Permaculture Convergence

The 2011 Northwest Permaculture Convergence is a 4-day event coming to St. Helens and Portland this month. A wide range of activities are planned including site tours, hands-on skill building, seed exchanges, and presentations from permaculture experts throughout the region.

Tickets and detailed event information are available at www.nwpermaculture.com.

E.Z. Orchards HarvestFest kicks-off this weekend

The E.Z. Orchards HarvestFest opens this Saturday, October 1st. HarvestFest will be closed on October 2nd and 3rd, but open again for the remainder of the month.

Salem Chapter of The Weston A. Price Foundation

by Nate Rafn

A group of Salem-area residents is forming a local chapter of The Weston A. Price Foundation. They are hosting a meeting on September 27th to discuss the importance of nutrient-rich foods and cultured dairy products, among other subjects.

Images from the Oregon State Fair

Down To Earth Film Festival at the Oregon State Fair

Please join Living Culture TV at the first annual Down To Earth Film Festival on September 3rd.

Living Culture TV's recent story about Oregon agriculture will be shown at the film festival, along with 6 other short films from around the region. First-place and second-place winners will be announced, plus a $500 audience choice award.

The Down To Earth Film Festival is sponsored by Wilco and organized by the Agri-Business Council of Oregon.

The Saturday of Labor Day weekend is usually the busiest day of the fair, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time to find parking and enter the fairgrounds. We hope to see you there!

Down To Earth Film Festival
Oregon State Fair - Spirit of Oregon Stage (12a on map)
2330 17th Street NE Salem, OR
Saturday, September 3rd 8:30pm

Fair Admission:
Adults (13-64): $11.00
Seniors (65 & over): $6.00
Children (6-12): $6.00
5 & Under: Free

Chef Marc Nassar and Salem House Concerts to host KMUZ benefit

by Nate Rafn

Salem House Concerts will host a dinner and garden-concert on August 28th to benefit KMUZ 88.5 FM, the Mid-Willamette Valley's new community radio station. Music will be performed by Bill Hughs, Karen Dumont and Nathan Olson, with Brian Cutean headlining the show. Food for the event will be prepared by chef Marc Nassar.

"I can’t think of a better artist to come perform for KMUZ than Brian Cutean," says Nassar. "Brian is one of those fairly local, fairly loco, unique, independent, purely sincere and wildly original performers who can entertain you in so many ways."

For more information about KMUZ, visit www.kmuz.org.

Salem House Concerts - KMUZ Benefit Bash
Sunday, August 28th - Garden Opens 4:00pm, Music 5:15pm
468 21st NE Salem, OR 97301
$25.00 in advance for dinner and show
Tickets and Info: Marc Nassar 503-378-7704 blueman@teleport.com

Minto Island Growers food-cart moves to Independence for 4th of July

by Nate Rafn

The 4th of July celebration in Independence, Oregon, will have a new attraction this year.

The highly-anticipated Mecanico restaurant is opening this weekend, along with a new food-cart area near Riverview Park. Mecanico will serve local micro-brews, wine, and sodas, while the food-cart section will be home to a handful of vendors, including Minto Island Growers' "Farm Food" and Wild Pineapple's teriyaki and Hawaiian-style barbecue.

Festivities this weekend will kick-off at Riverview Park on July 1st with carnival and vendor booths, live music, games, and fireworks.

For more information about this event, visit www.independencedays.org.

Marion-Polk Food Share hosts plant sale to benefit Sunnyside Organics

by Nate Rafn

Marion-Polk Food Share is hosting a plant sale on Saturday July 9th, 11am-3pm, at their warehouse parking lot. Proceeds will benefit Sunnyside Organics, a local non-profit organization that uses agricultural activities to offer vocational training and horticultural therapy to adults with disabilities.

Salem Public Market's Annual Berry Shortcake Celebration

Debra Edwards and Stephen Perkins serve-up shortcake.

by Nate Rafn

Stop by Salem Public Market on Saturday, July 2nd between 8:30am and 2:00pm for fresh local berry shortcake in return for your donation of two or more non-perishable food items for
Marion-Polk Food Share.

Cascade Baking Co. will provide the shortcakes, while the fresh berries will be from A & B Farms and Minto Island Growers.

Other activities this Saturday include live music by Ukephoria and Crosscut; a book sale by Friends Of The Salem Public Library; quilt raffle; and fortune telling. Marion County Master Gardeners will also be on-hand to answer your gardening questions.

Food preservation and canning class at Old Mill Feed and Garden

by Nate Rafn

Old Mill Feed and Garden will host a food preservation class on Saturday, July 9th, at 2pm. The class will cover basic food preservation techniques, including canning, drying, and freezing. Attendance is free, although registration is required.

Final public hearing for urban chickens at Keizer City Hall

by Nate Rafn

The final public hearing regarding the keeping of chickens in Keizer will be on Monday evening, June 20th at the Keizer City Hall. This hearing represents the culmination of over two years of work to legalize backyard chickens in Keizer. Those who would like to support this cause are encouraged to attend the meeting.

Keizer City Hall - Public Hearing
Monday, June 20th, 7pm
930 Chemawa Road NE Keizer, OR
503-390-3700

Related Links

Urban chicken movement takes shape in Salem

www.livingcultureonline.blogspot.com

Rating the nation's top organic egg producers

www.livingcultureonline.blogspot.com

Free-range chickens in Oregon

www.livingcultureonline.blogspot.com

Local chefs and farmers gather for Frank Lloyd Wright event

The Gordon House Conservancy will host their annual fundraiser on Sunday, August 7th in Silverton, Oregon. Area chefs, vintners, brewers, and farmers will be on-hand to offer samples of the latest local fare. Attendees will also have an opportunity to tour the inside of the historic Gordon House.