the world’s first mycology school!

MYCOLOGOS is the world’s first online and in-person mycology school and demonstration mushroom farm, based in Portland, Oregon. They are currently raising funds through a Kickstarter campaign (ending December 20) where you can save up to 80% off online courses in mycology. The founder of mycologos, Peter McCoy will be teaching a Greenhorns mycology workshop in our new headquarters in Maine next Summer. Email greenhornsoffice@gmail.com to express your interest in this July 2018 class.

Click HERE to check out the kickstarter, there is only 6 days left to donate!

sustainable farmer training in oregon

Rogue Farm Corps helps teach the next generation of farmers via hands-on immersive training on sustainable farms in Oregon. Live and learn side-by-side with a mentor farmer. Take part in classes, farm tours, and discussion circles. Learn more and apply today for the 2018 season: http://roguefarmcorps.org”

Applications for the 2018 season are now open. They offer programmes for both beginners and advanced apprentices. Click HERE to find out more and to apply.

rural route film tour 2017

The Rural Route ‘Best of/Shorts’ Tour Program
Upcoming Shows:

March 12 – Decorah, IA @ Oneota Film Festival

March 14 – Cedar Rapids, IA @ CSPS

April 6 – Richmond, VA @ James River Film Festival

May 13 – Portland, OR @ Clinton Street Theater

June 3 – Rochester, NY @ The Little Theater

 

This year’s show contains…Réka Bucsi,’s latest animation, Love, featuring red panthers, black horses, and a giant water guy (and has been nabbing masses of awards all around the world)…Black Canaries, Jesse Kreitzer’s stunning, beautifully-shot 1907 period piece about an Iowa mining family’s continuous descent for coal…Jan van IJken’s The Art of Flying, artistically documenting one of the most spectacular sights on Earth involving starlings in Holland…and Ogasawara, Georgian director, Tato Kotetishvili’s whimsical tale of a Dukhabor wedding on the Armerian border…  Check out the full program at https://ruralroutefilms.com/tour/!  

 

Write to tour@ruralroutefilms.com to set up a screening! And filmmakers, please note, Rural Route’s annual CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS closes on March 18!  The best way to submit is via withoutabox(where you’ll save $5 off the already low entry fee).  

go rogue: join the farm corps

Katy Giomboini shares her seasoned observations on the internship program offered by the Rogue Farm Corps in Oregon. Whether you are interested in farming for the first time or you are looking to hone skills that you’ve gained from past apprenticeships, the organization offers two training programs suited to fit your educational needs. They are accepting applications for this year on a rolling basis

View from the Sidelines: Cultivating the Next Generation of Farmers and Ranchers
By: Katy Giomboini, RFC Chapter Coordinator

As I look to the start of the 2017 growing season and review farm internship applications, I can feel my excitement building.  I imagine it’s a similar feeling that farmers get at the start of the season.  Excited for what the year will bring, trying out new techniques, doing a little bit better than last year.  Another season, another group of enthusiastic individuals looking to see if farming is a career path for them.  Their backgrounds are as diverse as the tomato section of a seed catalog.  Some are fresh out of high school, others looking to change careers.  Some have zero farming experience and others have degrees in agriculture.  There are big plans on how they are going to run a farm/restaurant/retreat center and others simply looking to get their hands dirty.  For most, this season is going to bring a lot of surprises, a lot of reality checks, a lot of stories, and for a few, it will lay the foundation for their farming career.

I am about to start my fourth season as a chapter coordinator with the Rogue Farm Corps, a beginning farmer training program in Oregon, and each year I am inspired by the folks that choose to uproot themselves to live and work on a farm for a growing season.  Farming is not easy.  As any of the interns will tell you, the first month they’re on farm, they are tired, like bed-time-at-8:00pm tired.  Many experiences don’t require the strength and agility to squat, bend, and pull day in and day out.  But as the months go by, they get stronger.  One of my favorite image is of an intern, probably 5’2”, who at the start of the program could barely carry a 50 pound bag of poultry feed, but by the end she was easily carrying two 50lb bags as she zoomed around doing chores. What once seemed hard becomes routine. 

calling all rogues and future farmers

Do you dream of being a farmer? Or maybe you’re looking to build your farming skills and take the next step? Enter Rogue Farm Corps! This Oregon-based program provides hands-on internships and apprenticeships for both would-be farmers and experienced farmers alike.

FarmsNext is an entry-level internship for those with little to no experience, while FarmsNOW is an apprenticeship for those who have completed an internship or have at least two years of farming experience. Both programs are live/work situations and pair budding farmers with a network of trusted farms throughout the state of Oregon. You can be immersed in veggie production, animal husbandry, dairy, and more!

Rogue Farm Corps is now accepting applications for the upcoming growing season, so click on HERE for more details and information!

event for landless farmers and lucky landowners, forest grove, or

Dairy Creek Community Food Web presents:

Fields for Food
a workshop on leasing farmland
Tuesday March 17, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
@
St. Bede’s Episcopal Church
1609 Elm St.
Forest Grove, OR
To RSVP, call: 503-992-0078 ext. 302
Free with snacks provided!

Presentations by:
Nellie McAdams, Director of Farm Preservation Program at Rogue Farm Corps. Nellie will explain how to find farmers and craft a lease.
http://www.roguefarmcorps.org/

Greg Malinowski, farmer at Malinowski Farms and Washington County Commissioner. Greg will share his experience in leasing portions of his land to farmers for over 20 years.
http://www.friendsoffamilyfarmers.org/

Charlene Murdock, Nana Cardoon Urban Farm and local Forest Grove resident who has leased land to Adelante Mujeres Sustainable Agriculture program participants.
http://www.adelantemujeres.org/, http://www.nanacardoon.com/,

jackson county oregon ban on GE alfalfa settlement reached

After months of negotiations, OFFC and the Center for Food Safety have reached a proposed settlement with the two GE alfalfa growers that had sued to overturn Jackson County’s ban on genetically engineered crops. The settlement still needs to be approved by the County and federal court, but we expect it will be.
Under the settlement, the Jackson County ban passed by voters will stand and the federal court’s opinion upholding the measure will not be appealed! This will leave the will of Jackson County voters in place and protect family farmers growing traditional crops from contamination by genetically engineered crops.

a land built by gravity

Photo by Nolan Calisch

Photo by Nolan Calisch

Photo by Nolan Calisch

Oregon-based young farmer and photographer Nolan Caldish takes beautiful photographs, often pertaining to agricultural subjects. Several of the projects up on his website, both independent and commissioned feature vegetables, fruits, and land use issues. The three images above come the from “A Land Built By Gravity,” which explores America with stark realism, the intersection of the land and its people. Give it a peek!

young farmers! rouge farm corps is hiring

Rogue Farm Corps is now accepting applications for the 2016 season.

FarmsNext is a full season entry-level residential internship program that combines hands-on training and skills-based education in sustainable agriculture. As a student intern, you will live and work full-time on a host farm, receiving up to 1,500 hours of on-farm training and learning in-depth skills from your mentor. Your residential farm training experience is combined with farm tours, classes, and discussion circles throughout the region, as well as opportunities for independent study. Student interns are exposed to a vast array of knowledge and expertise by engaging in the daily life of vibrant, agricultural communities.

The FarmsNOW apprenticeship program is for those with some farm experience who are seeking mastery in the art and business of sustainable agriculture. Hands-on training, classes, seminars, and guidance on farm business development will help you gain the skills to plan, design, and run integrated farming systems on your own. This full-immersion program is designed those who have completed the FarmsNext internship program, or have two years of on-farm experience. You will live and work full-time on a host farm, receive up to two seasons of on-farm training, and learn in-depth skills from their mentor farmer.

For more information and applications click HERE!

monsanto defeated! court ruling in oregon allows ban on GMO crops.

Message from the Our Family Farms Coalition:

May 29, 2015 – CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS! We have DEFEATED the first major stage of the Monsanto-backed legal challenge that attempted to overturn our Jackson County ban on genetically engineered crops!!!!  This is a huge win for family farmers threatened by GMO contamination and a win for everyone who cares about the future of our food supply!

Here’s a link to the well-written decision by Federal Magistrate Judge Mark Clarke that at just 11 pages is a very readable decision even for us non-lawyers!  The court upheld the Ordinance on the grounds that it was intended to protect against damage to commercial agricultural products, which is allowed under the Right to Farm Act, and because it was expressly allowed by the Oregon Legislature.

Thank you all so much for everything you have done to make our collective victory today possible.  We simply couldn’t have done it without your help and support.   There’s a lot happening right now with media releases and related work, but I’ll send another update soon on when the victory party will be which we hope you all can make.

Also, while this is an incredible victory for family farmers standing up to GMOs, we do know there is a real chance Monsanto and their ilk could appeal this decision, so the battle is not really over yet.  Also, the Plaintiffs’ claims that the GMO ban constitutes a constitutional “taking” will now have to be litigated in the second phase of the case, so we hope you will join us in celebrating, but with the understanding that there is more left to do on the incredible team effort we’ve all been a part of.

Finally, we are still working to raise funds to pay off our legal expenses to date, so yes… you can still donate to the cause through our website.

Thanks again for your support!

Congratulations again for your work,

Elise Higley, Director Our Family Farms Coalition

farming with draft horses workshop, oregon

The farming with draft horses workshop is designed for participants, who have some experience in working with draft horses and would like to learn methods and skills so that they can use their horse(s) for farm related tasks. Walt and Kris, of Ruby and Amber’s Organic Oasis, a certified organic and biodynamic farm, personally conduct the workshop.  The workshop is limited to 6 hands on participants to ensure plenty of hands on learning.  There are a limited number of observer slots available at each workshop. Observers are allowed to observe, and ask questions at the workshop, but are not allowed direct participation with the animals or equipment.

Topics include:
• Safety tips for working around horses and equipment
• Harnessing and harness adjustment to insure proper angle of draft for different equipment
• Driving lines (reins) setup and adjustment to position horses in proper relationship to the work at hand
• Plowing with a team or single, including plow adjustment
• Discing, harrowing, and using sweeps with a team or single horse and adjustment of equipment
• Single horse cultivation and team riding cultivator use and adjustment
• Introduction to the mower and hay rake
• Other farm implements
• Information, resources, publication discussions
• Equipment for farming and logging discussions

The workshop price is 250.00 per person.
For more information contact: walt@workhorseworkshops.com.

generational land transference convenings

intern with rogue farm corps!

image via roguefarmcorps.org

 Entry-level and advanced farm internships still available throughout Oregon

Rogue Farm Corps trains the next generation of farmers and ranchers through hands-on educational programs. Our host farms are located in four cluster around Oregon: the Rogue Valley, the Portland Metro Area, the South Willamette Valley, and Central Oregon.

The entry-level FarmsNext program is an entire season of hands-on training and skill-based education in sustainable agriculture for aspiring farmers and ranchers. This immersive on-farm experience combines field training with a mentor farmer, classroom learning with agricultural professionals and expert farmers, tours of local farms, and opportunities for farm-based independent study. Positions available on a diverse network of commercial family farms in four communities across Oregon. No experience necessary to apply. Applications accepted on a rolling basis until March 1, 2015. Get them in early!

FarmsNOW is a two-year advanced training program designed for those with a solid foundation of farm experience, and the goal of managing a farm operation. This program will propel beginning/intermediate farmers to the next level of planning, designing and running integrated farming systems. FarmsNOW is for those seeking mastery in the art and business of farming. Candidates must have two years, or equivalent, of vegetable production experience. Application deadline is February 1, 2015. Don’t delay!

For complete program descriptions, testimonials, information on our host farms, and applications, please visit our website: roguefarmcorps.org

FarmON! Square Dance Mixer & Fundraiser! 2/1 in PDX

Friends of Family Farmers‘ FarmON! program is holding a Square Dance Mixer and Fundraiser! Bring your dancing shoes and friends for a great time spinning ’round the floor. Do-si-do and donate to support beginning farmer programming in Oregon!

Sunday, February 1st from 7:00-9:00 pm 

at the Village Ballroom (700 NE Dekum St)

Admission fee is $7 at the door.

Raffle tickets sold separately.

FarmON! & see you there!

FarmON! Oregon

The Oregon Chapter of the National Young Farmers’ Coalition

A Project of Friends of Family Farmers

www.youngfarmers.org

www.friendsoffamilyfarmers.org

www.facebook.com/FarmonOregon

great tunes! listen to “hand on the plow”

Portland, OR’s Fast Rattler made its debut on the 2009 Grammy-nominated album “Singing Through the Hard Times: A Tribute to Utah Phillips,” which included artists like Emmylou Harris, Ani DiFranco, Pete Seeger and Tom Paxton paying their respects at the passing of one of Folk music’s activist heroes.

Fronted by Utah’s son Brendan, Fast Rattler dug deep into Utah’s extensive catalogue, crafting their own versions of his songs and setting his poems to music. Fast Rattler’s full-length debut “Linger On: Celebrating the Songs of Utah Phillips,” was released in 2011 to wide acclaim, as they toured throughout the US and Canada, earning slots at major folk festivals including the Kate Wolf Memorial Folk Festival.

The band’s follow-up EP, “Hands on the Plow,” focuses on original material and new arrangements of traditional folk songs. While Utah’s music will always be a part of Fast Rattler’s repertoire, the band has won audiences over with their own original material and renditions of cherished classics. Most significantly, Fast Rattler has been invited to contribute an original track to the upcoming “Occupy This Album,” a compilation of songs inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement, featuring artists from Willie Nelson and Steve Earle to Third Eye Blind and Thievery Corporation.

Listen and Purchase HERE