Author Archives: Alex

Launch your project with a Partners in Conservation grant!

Is your organization looking for funding for a conservation project? You can apply for a Partners in Conservation (PIC) grant!

What we fund:

Projects must address one or more of the following topics:

  • Habitat Restoration / Monitoring
  • Water Quality / Conservation
  • Sustainable Gardening / Agriculture
  • Naturescaping
  • Stormwater Management

There are two types of grants available:

  • PIC Grants: shorter term projects with a one year time frame, for a minimum grant award of $5,000 and a maximum of $60,000.
  • PIC Plus Grants: projects with a time frame of two to three years, between $5,000 and $100,000 per year.

Grant applications are due by December 15th this year; don’t delay! Application materials are now available. If you have questions about applying for a grant, please contact Suzanne Easton, EMSWCD Grants Manager, at suzanne@emswcd.org.

Learn more about PIC Grants!  See some past grant Project Highlights

You can also learn about our 2015 PIC grants awarded here.

Kathy Shearin in the EMSWCD 'Conservation Corner' yard

Kathy Shearin interview on XRAY.fm’s “Grow PDX” show

Kathy Shearin, our Urban Lands Program Supervisor, was interviewed last week on XRAY.FM! Her interview took place on a segment called Grow PDX, a show that focuses on horticulture, urban gardening, community food systems and agriculture. Learn about Naturescaping, rain gardens and the benefits of native plants, and pick up some simple tips for your yard or landscape!

Listen to the full show here.

Be sure also to check out our free workshops to learn more about these topics!

Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)

Educator/landscape professionals needed to present Sustainable Landscapes Workshops

We are seeking educator/landscape professionals to conduct additional workshops! Please note that this is a contract and not a staff position. Our workshops are held evenings and on weekends, and are on topics such as Naturescaping, Site Planning, Site Planning Feedback, Rain Gardens, Native Plants and Simple Drip Irrigation.

Please see our Workshop Presenter page for more information about this position and how to apply.

crops at Headwaters farm

Tour Headwaters Farm on September 16th

Join our tour of Headwaters Farm on September 16th! If you are a farmer considering applying to lease land and farm infrastructure, our Farm Incubator Program may be just for you. Learn all about the farm incubator and EMSWCD’s efforts to utilize and promote conservation agriculture. All are welcome!

The tour will take place on Wednesday, September 16th from 6:00 to 7:30pm. This will be a rain or shine event; please dress accordingly! Contact Rowan ((503) 935.5355 / rowan@emswcd.org) for more information or to RSVP. Directions to the farm will be provided upon RSVP.

See photos of the farm in the Headwaters Farm photo gallery.

Emily Cooper of Full Cellar Farm

From our farmers: Finding community at Headwaters

This is the fourth in our “From our farmers” series, and was contributed by Emily Cooper of Full Cellar Farm, one of the farmers enrolled in our Farm Incubator Program.

There’s a buzz around Headwaters Farm this year, and it isn’t just the bees. With 13 farms leasing land at the incubator (up from 8 last year), the activity here is more evident than ever before. And along with the sounds of the rototillers, irrigation headers, and tractors, there’s another sound that’s harder to hear, but more persistent than any other. It’s the sound of community, and it starts with “Good morning!”

I love farming at Headwaters, and the biggest reason is the community. With so many people here, it’s guaranteed you’re going to bump into someone as you go about your work. Maybe you share the wash station and get to see what variety of radish someone else is growing – or what pests are eating their carrots. Maybe you see a new tool someone is using, and stop to ask how they like it. Maybe you pause in the barn to bemoan your overabundance of tomatillos, and someone else magically has a customer who wants them. Or maybe you just say hi as you pass at the port-a-potty. (I’m lucky enough to host this hub of activity next to my field.) Continue reading →

Our 2015-16 Work Plan

download the EMSWCD 2015-16 Work Plan

Our work plan for the 2014-15 fiscal year is now available! You can download it here.

The mission of the East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District is to help people care for land and water. Our vision is that our lands and waters are healthy and sustain farms, forests, wildlife and communities. Each year we create a work plan to organize and prioritize our work, and set specific program goals to further our mission and vision.

You can also learn more about EMSWCD and the work we do in the District in the About EMSWCD section.

EMSWCD front office sign on a bright summer afternoon

We are hiring! Temporary Outreach Specialist

Update: the application period for this position has ended. We are currently reviewing and interviewing final candidates. Thank you for your interest!

EMSWCD is seeking an Outreach Specialist! This temporary position serves as an integral team member for EMSWCD’s urban programs, coordinating and managing workshops and annual events, keeping and maintaining detailed records, engaging in outreach activities, tabling at community events and much more. Find out more about the position in the Outreach Specialist page!

We are also seeking workshop presenters, and currently in the review stage for two other full-time positions. Learn more about EMSWCD job opportunities in the Employment page.