Author Archives: Alex

Goat's Beard (Aruncus dioicus)

Goat’s Beard

Goat’s Beard has decorative finely-cut foliage and will create a bold, showy effect for a moist or partly-shaded spot all season. Dense, feathery plumes of tight white flowers rise well above the foliage spring to summer.

Goat’s Beard is an excellent background plant or grouped in a woodland setting. It dies back to the ground in winter, only to return gloriously in the spring. Goat’s Beard spreads slowly by rhizomes to form attractive patches, and can be planted in more sunny areas provided there is good moisture. It’s a “host” plant to the Dusky Azure Butterfly.

Registration is open for the “Growing Farms: Successful Whole Farm Management” course!

Registration is open for the Oregon State University Small Farms Program “Growing Farms: Successful Farm Management” course! This year the course modules are offered online. This is a wonderful series delving into a myriad of topics pertinent to beginning and aspiring farmers, and to those who are considering major changes to their business! Continue reading →

“What does the future hold for your farm?” A free farm succession program

East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District (EMSWCD), Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District (CCSWCD) and the Austin Family Business Program at Oregon State University are offering a family farm succession program, entitled “What Does the Future Hold for Your Farm?,” on Tuesday, February 3 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at the Milwaukie Center, 5440 SE Kellogg Creek Drive, Milwaukie, OR 97222. There is no cost for the program and light refreshments will be served.

Oregon farmer trends infographic

Our infographic on Oregon farmer trends, based on data from the USDA 2012 Census of Agriculture

The average age of farmers in Oregon is now over 59 years (see our infographic) and many family farms are facing a transition between generations, or to someone outside of the family. There are many important issues for farm families to consider when retiring from farming. “Can the current owners afford to retire?” “Do the children in the family want to keep farming?” “How do we transfer the farm’s assets?” These are just some of the important questions and issues that will be addressed. Continue reading →

Rowan explains the irrigation system at Headwaters Farm to NIFTI Tour participants

That was NIFTI!

What I took away from Field School 2014

by Rowan Steele, Farm Incubator Manager

On October 3rd the farm incubator world descended on Headwaters Farm as part of the National Incubator Farm Training Initiative’s (NIFTI) annual Field School. The three-day event included two days of meetings, lectures, discussions and networking, and ended with a day of farm tours and onsite presentations.

As with any conference, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with the sheer volume of topics, interactions, ideas and the general “nerd-fest.” The 2014 NIFTI Field School was no different—a complete inundation of everything that is beginning farmer development. It has taken a few weeks just to process the experience. In fact, I think it might take a full off-season before the content can be fully synthesized in relation to the Headwaters Incubator Program (HIP). Continue reading →

EMSWCD yard

EMSWCD is seeking an Urban Lands Conservationist

updated November 3rd, 2014
Updated: This position has been filled. Thank you for your interest!

East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District is looking for a Permanent, Full-time employee to serve as our Urban Lands Conservationist.

This position will provide on-site technical assistance in regard to urban land conservation best practices to residential, commercial, industrial, academic, and government landowners and land managers. The goal of the work is to reduce potential loss of natural resources due to soil erosion, water pollution and misuse, habitat degradation, and destructive land development and misuse, among others.