As the shock of last week’s election results begins to wear off, it’s time to start asking the big question: What comes next?
Answering that question has so many variables its hard to contemplate. But based on what we are seeing so far, big changes are likely to happen swiftly once the new regime takes power.
If the incoming administration follows through with its plan for mass deportations, according to Bloomberg News and Forbes Magazine – definitely on the right side of the political spectrum – one of the first things we are likely to see are potential food shortages and increased food prices.
Why? Because at least 1.7 million undocumented workers are involved in the food system:
300,000 work on farms or in direct agricultural production
206,00 work in food processing
154,00 work in grocery stores
833,000 work in restaurants
Many of these workers labor in dangerous, physically demanding jobs, with low pay and no or few benefits. Are there 1.7 million Americans ready to roll up their sleeves and fill the gap? Pretty unlikely.
Now that the die has been cast, how can we respond?
My suggestion is to do whatever you can to secure your food supply at a local level. Purchase a CSA share from a local farm – Urban Futures Farm, or one of the many great farms we are fortunate enough to have in our area. If you have never grown a garden, this is the year to start. If you have a garden, this may be the year to expand it.
In light of these suggestions, we will be expanding our popular gardening classes next year, and increasing our spring plant sale offerings.
For the past decade, Urban Futures Farm has supported our friends and neighbors by providing food and education, and offering a space for connecting the community. This mission is likely to be even more important over the coming years, and we are already rolling up our sleeves to do our part.
Hello friends and supporters of Urban Futures Farm! It has been a while since we’ve posted an update, and we wanted to share a bit about what’s been happening, and our plans for 2025.
Not running a weekly CSA last summer allowed us to focus on the health of our soils. Over the summer we planted multiple cover crops, including crimson clover, buckwheat and lacy phacelia. When the cover crops were blooming, they provided critical habitat for bees and other pollinators. When we cut them down and turned them in they provided much-needed organic matter to the soil. Over the past month, we have planted our fall cover crops – crimson clover, Cayuse oats and winter rye – which will hold the soil together during the rainy season and provide another round of organic matter and nitrogen when cut and turned in next spring. We are also optimistic that this year’s break has helped disrupt pest and disease cycles that have grown worse over the past few years.
Most of our soils got a break after 10 years of intensive vegetable production, but we did lease one field and most of our high tunnel to Laura from Rainbow Rotations Farm, who continued to provide vegetables, herbs and flowers to the community through her on-site farmstand. Thanks to all of you who stopped by and supported Laura and invested in the next generation of farmers.
While we were focused on the health of our soil, we were also focused on personal health. After undergoing radiation treatment for prostate cancer last fall, I am happy to report that everything looks normal at this point and I’ve regained full energy. The key to any cancer is catching it early, so fellas don’t forget to get your annual PSA test!
Without the pressure of a weekly CSA, Stephanie and I were able to make more use of our camper van, and to spend lots of time outdoors, hiking and attending music festivals. Highlights include the Big Ponderoo festival in Sisters, OR in June, a ten day road trip to Wallowa Lake, eastern Oregon and the Central Cascades in August, and an epic three week trip in August hiking and chasing aspens, hot springs and music around the West.
Another summer highlight was hosting the fourth annual FarmFest, our solar-powered celebration of music and community. This year we had an incredible mix of bluegrass, Americana, folk, jazz and rock bands, and the overall vibe was just amazing. We already have bands contacting us about next year, as word continues to spread about this special event – which is also a fundraiser for farmland preservation. Mark your calendars for July 25-27, 2025 and look for a lineup announcement and ticket information in the new year.
Speaking of the new year, we are deep into drooling over seed catalogs and planning. We will be returning to offering a CSA program in 2025, but in an attempt to create more work/life balance it will look a little different than it has in the past. We will be offering fewer shares, two sizes to choose from instead of three, two pickup days instead of three, and a slightly shorter season. What you can expect is a greater focus on quality and consistency, and the addition of strawberries from the new field we planted last Spring. In addition, we may also offer an occasional pop-up farmstand throughout the season. We also plan to host interns and WWOOFers next year, to share our knowledge and support the next generation of farmers, eaters, and citizens.
In addition to the return of the CSA, we will be expanding our Spring plant start sale, and experimenting with taking orders in advance. Look for more information in the new year.
In March, we will once again be offering our popular workshop Growing Vegetables in the South Sound. Last year’s workshop was sold out, and the many positive reviews we received indicated that people really valued this hands-on educational opportunity.
Meanwhile, our hens continue to be happy and productive, and eggs are still available for $8/dozen. Call or text me at 360-338-8654 to arrange pickup.
We are also looking for someone to keep an eye on the birds while we are on holiday vacation from Dec. 18-30. A perfect job for a responsible teenager (or adult!), with payment in eggs and cash. Contact us if you are interested!
In sum, this past year has been regenerative on so many levels. It has sharpened our focus on what matters, and reignited our passion to provide delicious, nutritious food to our community. In these uncertain times one thing is increasingly clear: building a healthy, sustainable community through food, education and music is needed more than ever.
Gorgeous, hyper-local Bok Choy, lettuces, kale, chard and moreready for pickup right now! Houseplants, flowers and artwork too! Check out Rainbow Rotations Farm Stand at 928 Wilson St. NE Saturdays 9am -1pm and Wednesdays 3-7pm.
Out and about today? Stop by Urban Futures Farm, 928 Wilson St. NE, 9am-1pm for the pop-up Rainbow Rotations Farm Stand 🙂 Meet our young farmer friend Laura and pick up veggies, flowers, houseplants and art!
Drop by the farm Saturday and Sunday, 9am-2pm, for our last weekend of this year’s plant sale. Cash or check only. After this weekend, any remaining plants will be available by texting or calling 360-338-8654 to arrange a time for pickup.
This weekend we continue our annual tradition – FREE tomato or pepper plant with any purchase for all moms! Full plant list below.
Another exciting event – the opening of Rainbow Rotations Farmstand. Laura will be offering spring greens, herbs, house plants jewelry and art – along with farm fresh eggs from our happy pastured hens. Drop by, say hi and support a young farmer.
We’re open for plant sales Saturday and Sunday, 9am-2pm, and the farmstand will be open Saturday 9am-2pm
If you’ve been waiting to get your garden started, the time has come! Longer days, warmish temperatures and just the right amount of moisture over the past few weeks have made for excellent growing conditions.
Drop by the farm this Saturday and Sunday (May 4 & 5) from 9am-2pm to pick up the best quality and best value vegetable and herb starts in the area. Grown locally and organically on a family farm – what’s not to love?
Drop by the farm Saturday or Sunday, 9am-2pm to get what you need to fill your garden beds and scramble up a tasty breakfast. Cash or check only please.
New this week: Cucumbers (5 varieties), Winter Squash (5 varieties) Summer Squash (5 varieties) and Sugar Pie Pumpkins. Also, lots of colorful and nutritious pastured eggs.
And we still have plenty of tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. See the full list of 76 available plant starts below.
Our annual vegetable and herb plant sale continues this Saturday and Sunday, 9am-2pm. We still have a great selection of plants, including a wide variety of tomatoes and peppers in 4 inch pots. We will need to transplant the tomatoes into larger pots soon, and when we do the price will increase, so buy now for the best value. Check out the full inventory below.
Coming soon – the Cucurbits! Zucchini, summer squash, winter squash, pumpkins and cucumbers
urbanfuturesfarm.com 