With permission from the Urban Forestry Commission, volunteers from Farm School have taken 10 cuttings from the oldest apple tree in the Pacific Northwest and grafted them to root stock, creating 10 descendants which will be planted at various locations in Portland and Vancouver, including Sabin Community Orchard. Read more about it in the Oregonian.
 
 
The first annual Sabin Bee-Friendly Backyard Tour is scheduled for Sunday, July 14 from 11:00 to 3:00. The purpose is to raise awareness about the importance of pollinators and share information about how to create healthy bee habitat in an urban garden. We are seeking a few more gardens to be on the tour - would you like to be included? Participating gardens must be bee-friendly, meaning that no pesticides are used, only natural methods of pest control. If you'd like to participate, contact Diane Benson at dcb1810@yahoo.com.
 
 
At the March Work and Learn Party at the Sabin Community Orchard, we will be learning about perennial plant maintenance from Mike Scott, a horticulturist with more than 30 years experience.  We also hope to install a set of signs to educate the community about the orchard and fruit tree growing.  

So get out your work gloves, RSVP to the Portland Fruit Project, and we’ll see you there!

When:  Sunday, March 17, 2:00-4:00
Where: Sabin Community Orchard, NE Mason between 18th and 19th 

Contact: intern@portlandfruit.org

 
 
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! 
 
 
Join Portland Fruit Tree Project and Sabin Community Association for a party to celebrate a wonderful year for the Sabin Community Orchard and plan our next season!

No tools, sunscreen or rainboots needed for this Orchard event - just bring your stories and thoughts about the Orchard so far and your ideas for the future.  We will look back at the successes from last year, highlight areas for improvement, think about new plantings for 2013, and determine the topics and dates for our 2013 Work & Learn sessions.

Where:  Portland Fruit Tree Project, 1912 NE Killingsworth
When:  Wednesday, December 12, 6:30-8:30 pm
RSVP:  spencer@portlandfruit.org

Potluck dishes are encouraged, but not expected - please come to the party even if all you bring is your enthusiasm for the Orchard!
 
 
We are NE Portland neighbors educating ourselves, experimenting and taking steps toward a more self-sufficient lifestyle.  We're interested in growing heirloom vegetables, raising bees and poultry, trying out different kinds of food preservation methods, conserving water, minimizing waste, composting and much more.  This is a group for people who want to explore possibilities.

Check out our Meetup site, which lists our upcoming activities.  And, feel free to organize your own urban homesteading activities and post them on our Meetup site.

 
 
At our neighborhood co-op garden, we have beans, squash, kale, lettuce, collards, tomatoes, basil and flowers that you can purchase.  We also have organic fertilizer for sale, adapted from a recipe by NW garden expert Steve Solomon.

The garden, which is part of the Oregon Sustainable Agriculture Land Trust (www.osalt.org), is half a block north of Fremont on 11th. 

Hours are 10am-1pm, Tuesdays and Saturdays


 


 
 
Urban Growth Bounty's new season of classes expands your knowledge about growing abundant fruit and vegetables, raising chickens and bees, improving your soil and yard, and making delicious cheese. The classes are taught by Portland experts and will make 2012 a more sustainable, healthier year for the earth, your family and your budget.  

 
 

From Linda Donnelly
Sabin Neighbor

Last year, I spent a lot of time in my garden pruning, tidying, watering, feeding and doing nocturnal bug surveillance.  For my efforts, I ended up with a few jars of spaghetti sauce and jam. This year, things are going to change.  As I'm drawing up a new garden plan, I start thinking about possibilities: heirloom vegetables, espaliered fruit trees, bees, chickens? Wow! I'd love to try some of these, but I don't want to go it alone.
I'd like to be part of a community of people with whom I can share new experiences and adventures such as making our own solar ovens or building a chicken coop. So, I've started a new Meetup group called NE Portland Homesteaders - a place for people to share urban homesteading knowledge and friendship, while helping each other achieve a higher level of food and energy independence.  Let's support each other as we learn more about diverse topics from food preservation to raising livestock in the city. On February 18th, this group is going to have it's inaugural meeting where we get to know each other and start to plan for our  future. If you've ever wanted to "grow your own" now is a great time to join. You can get more details and RSVP through Meetup - hope to see you there! 

http://www.meetup.com/NE-Portland-Homesteaders