There is a long tradition since the beginning of agriculture where if one farmer could use some help the other farmers in their community happily come to their aid. I remember hearing stories as a child where my grandfather Lew or my sweet parents would share with us heart warming farming stories of whole crops being harvested, or entire barns being rebuilt after a fire by other farmers in the community. At Mt. View Orchards we still believe in this generous model of farming and we love to farm along side and help out our neighbors. It is truly an honor to farm along side our farming neighbors and rally for one another here in Parkdale, Oregon.
We feel very lucky that on our road there are a variety of farmers and ranchers that grow free range beef, chickens, lamb, eggs, a variety of veggies, pumpkins, apples, pears, peaches, plums, nectaries, blueberries, raspberries, honey, christmas trees and so much more. We personally support our local farmers and appreciate that they support us right back! We are grateful to have such beautiful and dense loom soil and an ample amount of irrigation run off from Mt. Hood. Water in other regions is very scarce making growing food nearly impossible and in our region we are indeed grateful for this faithful water source and want to preserve it for many generations to come.
Today on the farm my mother and I traded some rototilling for some of our new neighbors/farming friends(Saur Farms) that bought land just down trout creek ridge road for some of their amazing veggie goodness(see evidence below). My mother Ruthie, brought me along so I could have another lesson on how to run the rototiller and learn how to navigate a smaller space with water valves nearly at every turn. (Good news, i didn't hit any of their valves making for a large geyser of turning failure) My mother is a very skilled farmer(60+ years of experience) and is also a very kind and encouraging teacher to me a budding farmer who is still learning how to operate all the equipment. Together, we rototilled their our neighbor's land and it took us about an hour to finish up. I am thrilled to see the next generation giving their hearts to growing our food and I am so encouraged to see more and more young people chose farming in our region. When young people choose to become farmers this truly is the very best news and we should all feel the farming love all around us! Who grows your food? You should have a personal relationship with that person/family and have walked around on their land.
Lastly, I want to remind all of you that as farmers, we need your help to keep farming year after year. We cannot sustain in farming without our communities believing in us and choosing to buy local and directly from our farms. Thank you to every one who supports. Mt. View Orchards each and every year and has made our farm, your farm. My face and my hands are quite dirty this morning after tilling for my neighbors but my heart is FULL. I am so thankful that I am a farmer and I get to grow food for you all along side my farming neighbors cause "farmers gonna farm." xoxo your grateful farmer.
My sHERO and favorite farming mentor!
your grateful farmer learning a new farming skill and praying she doesn't screw it up!
The dirty life!! Im working on tilling in a straight formation. room for improvement for sure!
HOPE!
Inside Saur Farms hoop house is a bounty of veggie goodness, They are ready for markets!
Our PRIZE= The best radishes and turnips we have ever had. Saur farms you guys are so generous! So glad you guys farm on Trout Creek Ridge Rd!