Shortcut Farm

Happy Birthday Shortcut Farm! Saturday, June 19th

Jes — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 22:43:23 +0000

Time for Tomatoes! Sunday, June 13th

Jes — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:43:26 +0000

This Sunday we’re hosting our monthly educational work party. Now that the rain has stopped, the ground will be drying just in time for our overgrowing tomatoes in the greenhouse. There are other summer time vegetables to plant and plenty of farm maintenance tasks too. Its sure to be a beautiful day at the farm and we’d love to see you there. Bring a lunch item to share and your garden gloves. Work starts at 9am sharp!

BBQ Fundraiser Saturday, May 22nd

Jes — Mon, 03 May 2010 20:05:05 +0000

Join us for a family friendly fundraiser at Shortcut Farm. We’ll have local grilled bbq and fresh beer for sale with great live music by our friends, the Tumblers.

The event is fully sponsored so all proceeds directly benefit the farm. We’ll be purchasing much needed materials to complete our our summer project list: water irrigation, wood shed and a garden path. We hope to see you on the farm! Saturday, May 22nd 3 to 7 pm

Sunny Starts, Sunday April 18th

Jes — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:28:28 +0000

We’ll be back on Shortcut this Sunday, 4/18 with an early start at 9:30. Gary has purchased a greenhouse for the farm and we’ll be assembling it on site. There are also starts to transplant and starts to start! Please bring garden gloves, trowels, hand tools and a potluck item for lunch.

In other news, we’re thrilled by the abundant interest in our CSA membership. All of our applicants will be working with us this weekend. We will be selecting our 5 members in a couple weeks and then starting Thursday workdays for members. Stay tuned!

Announcing our 2010 Working Member CSA, Apply Now!

Jes — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:17:43 +0000

Shortcut Farm welcomes your application for a limited number of Working Member Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) positions for the 2010 growing season. Five positions are available to community members who are able and interested to commit their time and labor to growing Shortcut Farm. In exchange for this commitment, members will receive a weekly share of vegetables fresh from the garden beds. These working member positions will become integral to the growth and maintenance of the farm, therefore your interest in and dedication to urban agriculture is key! Please read on for further details and submit your application by April 1st if you are interested. Applications are available on line now, see the CSA tab above to apply. CSA Membership Details:

A 3 hour per week time commitment is required, Thursdays are the preferred work day.
Members will also commit to one weekend work party per month.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend our upcoming work parties on April 11th and April 18th.
Applicants are encouraged to read our Mission Statement and ask questions to better understand the working model at Shortcut Farm.
Membership commitment begins in May and produce shares start June 10th, the CSA season continues through October 31st .
Qualified applicants will bring some skill/experience in gardening, farming, or urban agriculture and demonstrate strong interest in developing this working knowledge.
Preference will be given to applicants local to Shortcut Farm, located at NE Failing and NE Garfield.
Applications due by April 1, 2010, applicants will be notified by May 3, 2010.

Please email us at info@shortcutfarm.org with any questions. Thanks and good luck!

Preparing for Rainwater! Saturday, March 6th

Jes — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 03:25:14 +0000

For March’s workshop we’ll be preparing Shortcut for the rainwater catchment system coming soon. We’ll be leveling the earth, laying gravel and preparing a platform for the 3000 gallon cistern. Brad Crowley, our rainwater guru will be with us all day to direct the project and inspire us all towards rainwater catchment at our own homes. As always, there’s plenty happening at Shortcut and lots of ways to dig in. Swing by to say hello, stay and pitch in if you can. 10-4pm. Rain or shine, come prepared!

(Learn more about Brad Crowley and his rainwater catchment business at HarvestTheSky.com)

Sunday WORKshops 10/25 and 11/8

Jes — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:57:18 +0000

Please join us at the farm for 2 upcoming working workshops, Sunday October 25th and Sunday November 8th from 10am to 3pm. We will build a compost system, install a path and retaining wall, and work our garden beds. All work is opportunity for teachable moments, there’s so much to learn about composting, rock walls and winter garden keeping. Our farm beekeepers will also be on site for a brief presentation on beekeeping. See you there, rain or shine!

Farm Fundraiser Gratitude

Jes — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:43:58 +0000

We are thrilled by the success of our farm fundraiser at Ned Ludd last week. We met our fundraising goal of $2000 for our rainwater catchment system that will irrigate the farm! It was a delightful and delicious evening celebrating the work of Shortcut Farm. Thank you so much to our friends and neighbors at Ned Ludd for a marvelous meal. A special thank you to our dinner guests for your most generous contributions. Stay tuned for rainwater catchment construction updates this winter!

Ned Ludd Farm Benefit Dinner

Jes — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:09:45 +0000

A dinner to benefit Shortcut Community Farm will be hosted by Ned Ludd in the farm garden, underneath the Cherry Tree, weather permitting on Wednesday, October 14th at 6PM. Each of the six courses will be paired with drinks and stories about how this vacant lot was saved from development to become an urban farm. The event will raise the funds needed to build a 2000 gallon rain water catchment system to water the garden year round. $75 a seat and seating is limited to 35. Call Ned Ludd today to reserve your seat at 503.288.6900 or visit their website at www.nedluddpdx.com.

Winter Garden Party, Part Two

Jes — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:02:23 +0000

Saturday’s WORKshop was a great success. We built 20 beds and planted 8 with winter crops including arugula, onions, fennel and Chinese mustard. It was a cool day, great for working and the morning rain opened up into a beautiful, sunny afternoon. But we’re only half way done. Up next: We’ll finish planting seeds and starts throughout the garden, while building beds in the rest of the lot.

Join us Sunday, September 27th. 9am-4pm for part 2 of our Winter Garden WORKshop. You’ll learn how to make garden beds, amend the soil and prepare your garden for a winter harvest. Bring along garden tools and gloves