The Sabin Community Orchard just keeps growing better every year.  Last year, we harvested 156 pounds from the mature apple tree, the berry bushes bore fruit and the young trees became more established, thanks to the generous volunteers who took turns watering them throughout the hot, dry summer months.

This season, we plan to install educational signs in the Orchard, plant more fruit trees and other plants that will support beneficial pollinators and, of course, keep up the weeding.  Mike Scott, a horticulturist with more than 30 years experience, will be leading our March Work & Learn Party about perennial plant maintenance.

Monthly work sessions run from 2 to 4 p.m. the third Sunday each month and are held at the orchard, located at NE 18th and Mason. Don't forget your work gloves!

Interested in growing food in public spaces, while working with your neighbors on a fun project?  Become a Sabin Community Orchard Steward! 

The Sabin Community Orchard is a collaborative project between the Portland Fruit Tree Project and the Sabin Community Association, designed to provide delicious fruits and berries - and an opportunity to learn about edible gardening.  It's located on a small city-owned lot on Mason Ave, between 18th and 19th.

Orchard Stewards commit to:
* attend an orientation meeting on Tuesday, February 12
* participate in monthly work & learn parties, from 2:00 - 4:00 on the third Sunday, February - November
* be the note-taker for one or two of the work & learn parties, and share your notes with others
* one mid-summer watering shift to keep the young trees and shrubs healthy

To apply, request an application by calling 503-284-6106 or by emailing spencer@portlandfruit.org with "Sabin Orchard Steward Interest" in the subject line. Applications are due Friday, February 1. No experience is necessary, though gardening or orchard experience is a plus! 

At the October Work and Learn Party, the orchard stewards and community members learned about responsible tree care and pest and disease management.  Arborist James Kinder of Green Options Tree Care generously volunteered his time and expertise to advise us on how to keep the orchard’s trees healthy.  He taught the orchard volunteers about the importance of proper planting and showed us that trees shouldn’t be deeply mulched right around the tree trunk.  We also learned how to make pruning cuts that a tree will be able to safely heal.

November’s Work and Learn Party will focus on putting the orchard to bed for the winter.  Please join us - it's a great opportunity to meet the neighbors and learn about fruit tree care.

When:  Sunday, November 18, 2:00-4:00
Where:  Sabin Community Orchard, NE Mason between 18th and 19th Avenues

Contact:  intern@portlandfruit.org

by David Sweet

Food lovers rejoice!  The weekly celebration known as the King Farmers Market begins its fourth season on Sunday, May 6th. Located on NE 7th Avenue between Alberta and Prescott Streets, the market will be open from 10 am to 2 pm every Sunday through October. The market will again offer a wide selection of the freshest local fruits and vegetables, as well as meat, cheese, eggs, fish, wine, baked goods, plant starts, hot food, and cut flowers. Musical performances and the adjacent King School Park and playground make this the ideal family destination.

Also continuing at King is the Fresh Exchange incentive for participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) formerly known as the Food Stamp Program. SNAP shoppers receive a dollar-for-dollar match (up to an additional $7 per week) to spend at the market. Since 2009, Fresh Exchange has provided more than $33,000 to SNAP shoppers at King, helping to ensure that everyone in our community can enjoy our neighborhood farmers market. Fresh Exchange is supported by individuals, organizations, and businesses in the community, including a generous annual donation from the Sabin Community Association.

The King Farmers Market is a weekly neighborhood festival celebrating the abundance of the Pacific Northwest. We hope to see you there.

by Annmarie Phelan, Resolutions Northwest volunteer mediator

Conflict happens in the best of neighborhoods and to the best of neighbors: dogs bark, music is played, fences are altered, tenants and landlords disagree. It is the response to such conflict that determines how satisfying life in your community will be. At times you can resolve the conflict on your own, and other times you need some guidance. For the situations when you want some assistance, there is Resolutions Northwest’s (RNW) Neighborhood Mediation Program, providing services at no cost to Portland residents. Mediation allows you and your neighbor to sit down and have a conversation, facilitated by a neutral, third-party mediator. More than 90% of mediations end in an agreement that works for everyone involved. And most mediations require just one 2-hour session. So, before your next conflict gets out of  hand, contact Resolutions Northwest at 503-595-4890 or on the web at www.resolutionsnorthwest.org, and we’ll assist you in finding a solution that works for both you and your neighbor.