Earth Day is a perfect day for bees at the Sabin Community Orchard! At this upcoming Sabin Bee-Friendly Garden event, folks can learn from the Xerces Society and local beekeepers about the pollinators in our
neighborhood and how our gardening choices help or hurt them. Then, those who want to pick up a shovel can help plant shrubs and perennials to attract bees to the Orchard—and some more fruit trees to take delicious advantage of all those bees. Optional tour of the tickle bees at the Sabin School field afterwards, weather permitting. This event is made possible by a Neighborhood Small Grant from NECN and ONI. All ages welcome! When: Sunday, April 21, 2:00-4:00 pm Where: Sabin Community Orchard, NE Mason between 18th & 19th RSVP if you will help plant: spencer@portlandfruit.org
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We recently received permission from City of Portland to have two sickly trees removed from the Sabin Triangle at NE 15th and Prescott. As part of that agreement, we need to plant two new trees in a parking strip somewhere in the neighborhood. A local nursery has agreed to donate two gorgeous paperbark maples that meet City criteria of 2” in diameter. According to the City Arborist, paperbark maples need at least a 3-foot wide planting strip to thrive. They also need to be planted by the end of April to ensure they have time to acclimate before the weather gets hot.
If you are interested in having one or both of these trees for your parking strip, please contact Gwenn Baldwin at gwennbaldwin1@comcast.net by April 20. A tree inspector will come out and inspect your site and mark the curb for planting locations. Assuming there are no issues with power lines or the planting site, a permit will be issued and we can help get the trees in the ground. 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.
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!
by David Sweet
There are a number of mature Monkey Puzzle trees (Araucaria araucana) in Sabin and other parts of inner-city Portland. These curious trees are native to Chile and Argentina where they thrive on the lower slopes of the Andes. An ancient species, they are sometimes called a living fossil. The story of how they happen to be here provides a link to an interesting chapter in Portland history. Portland was booming in the 1880’s and ‘90’s, but the national economy was rocked by a series of recessions and depressions, caused by an unregulated financial industry. After the Panic of 1893, it was suggested that, to aid recovery, Portland should host an international fair, marking the turn of the century. This idea blossomed into the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in 1905, marking 100 years after the Expedition of Discovery floated down the Columbia. The exposition was held at Guilds Lake in Northwest Portland, near where the Montgomery Park building stands today. The Exposition was a huge success, attracting more than 1.6 million visitors in it’s 5½ month run, and actually turned a profit for its investors. It was said that Portland had joined "the great march of progress." Some suggest that this event was responsible for Portland’s explosive growth over the next five years, from 161,000 to 270,000. Among the 21 nations exhibiting in Portland that year was Chile. As a gesture of goodwill, the Chilean delegation distributed seedlings of the Monkey Puzzle, the national tree of Chile. Portlanders planted these in their yards, and some have grown into the stately and unusual trees that grace our neighborhood today. The growth of these trees into towering giants reminds us of the event that triggered the growth of our city. 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 |
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