Our pursuit of this dream is rooted in a land of injustice and systemic racism. We farm on land that was stolen from the Molalla Tribe. As we reach to transform the food system it is incredibly important that we acknowledge the oppression, racism, and exploitation intrinsic to that system, historic and current. The asymmetrical structures of wealth that exist to empower land ownership, resource acquisition, education, market access, access to credit and capital, the freedom to take large financial risks – these are forces built on a social fabric of white supremacy.

We were born with white skin, which has greatly enabled the pursuit of this farm life. We are sitting with this injustice, trying to understand our complacency and complicity, and seeking ways to advocate for our black, brown, and indigenous brothers and sisters. While we work to heal the land, we must also work to heal our community and ourselves, to offer our children the tools and the language to be active participants in an equitable society- one where racism, bigotry, and hate are marginalized to extinction. Centuries of injustice will take many lifetimes to reverse, and each day is a day we have to open our eyes and turn the tide.

Soil.

On our land, Soil is a Proper Noun, the heart of the farm, and the arbiter of our actions. We invest in our soil through luscious cover crops, diverse and extended crop rotations, minimizing soil disturbance, and by applying as much compost as we can afford. Investment in the soil is an investment in the future of our farm.

Pests & Disease.

Every farmer faces challenges. We choose to address these challenges proactively through preventative measures and controls. Crop rotations break pest cycles, cover crops and flowers provide habitat for beneficial insects, floating row covers establish physical barriers to pests, and vigorous, resilient crop varieties tolerate negative pressures.

Seeds.

Early each spring, regional seed farmers are celebrated as we flip with great admiration and anticipation through colorful catalogues. Buying regionally adapted, organic varieties connects our farm to a sustainable food system, supports other organic farms, and encourages resiliency within the Pacific Northwest climate. We prioritize and wholeheartedly support seed farmers who maintain and improve open-pollinated varieties while focusing on flavor, beauty, and adaptive traits.

Weeds.

Without the use of herbicide, our weed management strategy relies on fast action and long-term thinking. Weed management is most effective and least disruptive to our soil when tackled at the earliest stage of growth. A 1950’s Allis Chalmers cultivating tractor, a selection of hand hoes, and a four-burner flame-weeder are the basis of our weed management, and when used at the right time (timing is everthing), and in the right sequence, weeds are not an insurmountable barrier to production. Weed control is THE single most labor-intensive (and expensive) cultural practice on the farm. ‘This year’s weed is a hundred year’s seed” goes the adage; we are constantly reminding ourselves that time spent now will save us time in the years ahead.