Feedback

Give us suggestions, accolades, critique, or anything else that can help us serve you and the world better!  The best way to do this would be to email us at farm[at]tryonfarm.org for general feedback, or edu[at]tryonfarm.org for feedback about our education programs.  You can also call us at 503-245-3847, or post something on our facebook page! 
 
 

Roles and Tasks

The following is an incomplete list of roles and tasks, organized by working group. Please contact volunteer@tryonfarm.org (or the working group or task coordinator) to jump in!

 

PHYSICAL ECOLOGY

 
 

Roles:

 

Materials Coordinator

(3 hrs/wk; 3 month commitment; >50% onsite)

  • Keep track of existing materials: location, stock, etc.
  • Identify new sources of reused materials.
  • Ensure that Craigslist, Freecycle, and other online redistribution mechanisms are regularly reviewed and used
  • Receive requests for materials
  • Coordinate “schlepping” volunteers to acquire and transport materials efficiently

On Land Research Coordinator

(>5 hr/wk; 6 mo commitment; >25% onsite)

  • Solicit and coordinate development of proposals for research programs on the land
  • Establish and maintain partnerships with academic institutions and independent researchers
  • Ensure that research protocols are followed
  • Liaise with other working groups (education, social ecology) as needed.

Annuals Coodinator

 

Food Forest/Edible Landscape Coordinator

 

Building Coordinator

 

Animal Coordinator

  • Goats
  • Chickens
  • Bees

OSALT/easements liaison.

(>5 hrs/mo; >1 yr commitment; >10% on site)

  • Attend OSALT meetings
  • Establish relationships with appropriate administrators in State Parks, Metro Parks, and City BES
  • Ensure that commitments and responsibilities under terms of ground lease and easements are met

Planning Coordinator

 

Native Habitat Coordinator

(>3 hrs/wk; 6 mo commitment; >75% on site)

  • Coordinate with Park, Metro, and other habitat professionals
  • Improve and expand native habitat restoration plan
  • Train and oversee volunteers in implementing restoration plan.

Work Party Host

(3-8 hours per event; 4 events in 12 month period; 100% on site)

  • Welcome and orient participants during Thursday or Saturday work party
  • Address questions and concerns, ensure that everyone feels as comfortable and engaged as possible
  • If possible, conduct land tours (training available)

Restoration Research

(>5 hrs/mo; 1 year commitment; >25% on site)

  • Research and/or develop innovative ways to assess native habitat functionality, including partial functionality in hybrid plantings with nonnative human-functional plants
  • Establish protocols to assess changes in habitat function
  • Coordinate with other groups and research coordinator to ensure data is gathered, analyzed, and results integrated into planning

Freecycle/Craigslist monitor

(>1 hr/wk; 1 mo commitment; >0% onsite)

  • Review online exchange forums for potentially or actually useful materials, services, etc.
  • Coordinate with materials coordinator and/or volunteer coordinator
  • Can be entirely online and offsite.

Write research reports

 

Energy Coordinator

 

Water System Coordinator

(>5 hrs/wk; >6 mo commitment; >25% onsite)

  • Develop plan for water management on land, including:
    • stormwater bioremediation and use;
    • rainwater collection;
    • greywater;
    • dams and swales for infiltration and irrigation;
    • cisterns;
    • nanohydropower and/or pump-batteries;
    • wetland/headwaters restoration;
  • Link plan to Park, Watershed Council, neighborhood, City, etc. efforts to monitor and improve watershed health;
  • Coordinate with other groups in our social ecology to implement plan.

Tasks:

 

Stuff Schlepper

(0.5 to 3 hrs per occasion; added to list w/ availability)

  • Be willing to move stuff from somewhere to TLC Farm
  • Access to vehicle preferable, including bike trailer! (Not required.)

Observations

(0.25 to 1 hr; 10 occasion commitment; 100% on site)

  • Read data gathering protocol
  • Receive short training
  • Gather various kinds of data, both general and specific, qualitative and quantitative

Garden Tasks

  • planting
  • mulching
  • harvesting
  • weeding
  • sorting
  • watering

Animal Tasks

  • feeding
  • egging
  • milking
  • vet stuff
  • moving fence

Building Stuff

finish suana, toilet, barn, rocket bench, maintaining cob

Paths

(>0.5 hrs; no commitment)

  • Lay down woodchips on existing paths where muddy using wheelbarrows and pitchforks;
  • Lay down cardboard for new paths (under guidance of coordinator).

Literature research

(> 1 hr; variable commitment; >0% on site)

  • In coordination with research coordinator, research both on-line and library sources for data, protocols, analyses, practices, etc.
  • Report results of research, in a form depending on situation.

EDUCATION -

  • Contacts: Youth Education Coordinator - Matt Gordon - mattg (at) tryonfarm.org
  • Education Working Group meets biwekly.
 

Roles:

 

Scheduling Visits (currentlyfilled by Education Coordinator)

(3 hrs/wk; 3 mo commitment; >75% on site)

  • Maintain calendar of class visits
  • Coordinate with edu teachers and schools/agencies to schedule visits
  • Return any appropriate phone/email messages promptly
  • Be responsible to edu working group
  • (If wished, coordinate with infotech coordinator to make scheduling more automated and online)

Leading Field Trip Activities

(<2 hrs per session; 5 session commitment; 100% on site)

Tasks:

 

Curriculum Development

(10 – 50 hrs; >15% on site) Experience preferred.

  • Coordinate with edu working group to develop curriculum goals and audience
  • Research existing curricula, and make as much use of existing material as copyrights allow
  • Create curriculum resources, including teaching guides and aids.
  • Present curriculum to working group/teachers.

Making signs to Spec

(10 – 25 hrs; commit to complete project; probably 100% on site)

  • Acquire materials
  • Construct signs with support from building coordinator
  • Create online tour (10 – 50 hrs; >15% on site)
  • Develop specific parameters for online tour in coordination with edu working group and infotech coordinator

Create clickable map of land

  • Combine photos of land with information and links regarding physical and program features of organization
  • First phase: implement on line version of physical land tour
  • Later phases: add much more in-depth information, links, etc.
  • Document all work so that anyone else can pick up where you leave off
  • Web skills preferred but not required!

COMMUNICATIONS

 

Roles:

  • Publicity Pipeline Coordinator (>3 hrs/wk; 6 months commitment; >25% on site)
  • Receive publicity requests from working groups
  • Ensure that copy is produced and edited to standards
  • Coordinate with graphic designers, if necessary
  • Determine appropriate outlets for publicity (ie. community calendars, advertisements, radio, journalists, flyers, etc.)
  • Coordinate flyerers
  • Consoldate publicity into packages
  • Coordinate with working group

Monthly Updater

(5 hrs/mo; 6 mo commitment; >0% on site)

  • Solicit information for monthly updates from working groups, etc.
  • Compile both text and HTML versions of update based on models
  • Send updates using web interface

Media Point

 

Web Designer

(> 10 hrs/mo; 3 mo commitment; >10% on site)

  • Develop improved communication/collaboration infrastructure
  • Build systems for parallel online / offline information accessibility
  • Improve navigation and ease of use.
  • Develop and implement new look and feel

Web Updater

(1-3 hrs/wk; 3 mo commitment; >0% on site)

  • Adapt to changing web infrastructure to update content of web site
  • Currently, basic experience with HTML and Linux is strongly preferred.
  • Receive text and pictures from working groups, then create/update HTML pages based on templates

Database Administration

(10+ hrs/mo; 6 mo commitment; >25% on site)

  • Coordinate with working groups to develop data management goals
  • Communicate with CiviCRM development community and/or infotech coordinator (depending on background) to develop adequate tools
  • Develop and communicate data entry, management, and export protocols
  • Explore and improve data integrity
  • Provide appropriate, secure public access to and website integration with data
  • Maximize decentralization of data entry and management

Tech maintenance

(5 hrs/mo; 6 mo commitment; 100% on site)

  • Maintain wired and wireless data networks
  • Maintain and improve older Linux computer systems (Debian and SuSE)
  • Maintain phone systems (VOIP?)

System administration

(5-10 hrs/mo; 1 year minimum; >0% on site)

  • Remote Debian vserver
  • Medium traffic mission-critical Apache webserver
  • Medium-traffic Postfix mailserver (spam issues!)
  • Security improvements

Newsletter Editor

(10 hrs/mo; 1 issue/quarter commitment; >25% on site)

  • Solicit articles from community members
  • Compile and edit text
  • Coordinate with graphic designer
  • Coordinate with printer
  • Distribute newsletter

Tabling Coordinator

(5 hrs/mo; 6 mo commitment; >25% on site)

  • Identify and register for appropriate tabling opportunities
  • Train tablers
  • Schedule tablers

Publicity Materials Coordinator

(5-20 hrs/mo; 3 mo commitment; >50% on site)

  • Ensure that we have adequate, organized stocks/full sets of pamphlets, canvassing supplies, flipbooks, DVD’s, CD’s, etc.
  • Coordinate (re)design of new materials

Planning Coordinator

 

Working group point person

(3 hrs/wk; 6 mo commitment; >75% on site)

  • Convene meetings
  • Ensure that a spoke reports to spokescouncil
  • Keep track of various publicity-related activities and address any breakdowns in process

Tasks:

 

Flyers

(.5 – 3 hrs; put on list OR responsibility for area; >0% on site)

  • Download and print (or pickup) flyers, post in identified locations in selected area
  • Posting to Lists (0.5 – 1 hrs; suggest commit for 2 months; 0% on site)
  • Post already created email messages to a set of lists you’ve chosen

Graphic Designer

(1-10 hrs; on list; >15% on site)

  • Meet with publicity pipeline and/or other relevant folk to set design goals
  • Design posters, flyers, handbills, web pages, HTML messages, etc.
  • Both computer-based and hand-drawn
  • Knowledge of GIMP and/or Photoshop preferred.

Writing Stories for Newsletter

(1-20 hrs; per story basis; >0% on site)

  • Discuss story ideas with editor for particular issue
  • Write and submit story on agreed timeline to allow for revisions
  • Story lengths range from 250 word vignettes to 1500 word features

Writing Articles for media

 

Tabling

 

Photography/Video

 

Writing/participate in website usefulness

 

EVENTS

 

Roles:

 

Calender Coordination

 

Booking Agent (music)

 

Workshop Coordinator

(5 hrs/wk up to fulltime; >1 year commitment; >25% onsite)

  • arrange a quarterly community workshop schedule that loosely fall into a yearly cycle of themes
  • coordinate with workshop presenters to schedule workshops.
  • communicate with presenters about location, price, materials, and other workshop logistics.
  • work up a publicity statement for each workshop and compile quarterly workshop posters/trifolds.
  • ensure publicity for workshops.
  • facilitate registration for workshops.
  • schedule & train Farm Hosts for each workshop.
  • evaluate workshop program and provide feedback to the events working group & TLC Farm.
  • There will be a two month training period

Planning Coordinator

 

Auction Coordinator

 

Sound

 

Food Prep

 

Tasks:

 

Cleanup - barn/land/rooms

 

setup

 

door/shuttle/bar/rovers

 

Workshop hosts

 

SOCIAL ECOLOGY

 

Roles:

===Network Organizer=== (40 hrs/wk; 1 year commitment; >25% on site)

  • The liaison will seek out, learn about, and link to a wide variety of organizing spaces (movements, organizations, communities, etc.) broadly aligned with “ecological and social justice” by:
    • attending scheduled meetings and events;
    • doing interviews;
    • volunteering; and
    • sharing information.
  • Suggest and/or plan events, programs, and projects at TLC Farm that will encourage practical experiences of effective collaboration, mutual understanding, and interdependance.
  • Plan and coordinate an ongoing series of wisdom councils deepening the relationship between social justice and ecology movements
  • Coordinate the development of curricula for training liaisons (TLC Farm and other organizations)
  • Identify and develop relations with 5 intimate partner organizations and 15 intermittent ones
  • Interview 30 organizations/communities regarding ongoing strategic planning process
  • Quantify initial accessibility of programs to marginalized and oppressed communities, and double it.
  • Openly document hir work, primarily online:
    • maintain journals on spaces: impressions, thoughts, connections
    • discuss tactics, methodologies, skills, or wisdoms considered or used
    • expand and revise “training manuals” for liaisons
  • Identify and support people who will act as ongoing liaisons between other spaces and TLC Farm (as well as each other).

Inspiration Occasion Coordinator

(15+ hrs/mo; >3 mo commitment; >50% on site)

  • Organize monthly engagement event
  • Coordinate tour, work party, evening events, etc.
  • Ensure adequate participation by working groups
  • Be inspiring

Initial Interviews (Volunteer Coord.)

(>2 hr/wk; 6 mo commitment; >50% on site)

  • Training in social ecology infrastructure
  • Have sitdown meeting (0.5 – 1hr) discussing and recording background, skills, interests, etc. of interested volunteer
  • Suggest appropriate working groups, next steps, etc.
  • Enter information into database

Legal Details Coordinator

(5-10 hr/mo; >2 yr commtiment; >15% on site)

  • Become familiarized with all elements of legal situation of TLC Farm: lease, easements, taxes, contracts, employment, non-profit, liability, etc.
  • Coordinate with working groups to address ongoing issues and identify new ones
  • Coordinate pro bono and, as necessary, paid legal representation
  • Extensive training provided, but legal background required

Intern Coordinator

(5-20+ hr/wk; >6 mo commitment; >75% on site)

  • Revise and improve internship guidelines in coordination with working groups
  • Solicit interns in coordination with publicity pipeline
  • Develop specific internship agreements with interns outlining goals and expectations
  • Coordinate intern orientation and connection with point person
  • Meet with interns regularly to assess progress and address problems
  • Document internships and assess effectiveness

Planning Coordinator

 

Tasks:

 

Outreach, building relationships

(>1 hr/mo; added to list; >0% on site)

  • Make connections with other organizations and communities by attending meetings and funneling information, relationships to and fro

Body work

(1+ hr per session; added to list; not necessarily on site)

  • Massage
  • Acupuncture
  • Reiki
  • etc.

Counseling

(1+ hr per session; added to list, 5 session commitment; not necessarily on site)

  • Various modalities
  • Training preferred, at least some relevant experience required

Facilitation

(<3 hrs per meeting; added to list, 5 meeting commitment; usually on site)

  • Experience required
  • Training available

Mediation

(2+ hrs per session; added to list; not nec. on site)

Volunteer Follow-up

(1+ hrs per session; 10 session commitment; >25% on site)

  • Call or meet with volunteers to evaluate experiences, identify growth areas
  • Coordinate with social ecology working group
  • Record data

Legal Advisor

(on list, no necessary commitment)

  • Willing to provide at least some verbal advice on area of expertise

Data entry

(1+ hrs per session; no minimum commitment; >15% on site)

  • Wide variety of data entry protocols
  • Experience not always necessary

FINANCE

                                

Roles:

 

Grant Coordination

 

Canvass coordinator

 

Accounting/irs

 

Budget Planning Coordinator

 

FOF Coordinator

 

Major Donor relations

 

Mailings Coordinator

 

Bookkeeping/data entry (donations)

 

Presentations/pitches

 

Tech Maintenence

 

Tasks:

 

Financial Advisor

 

Writing grants

 

Canvassers

 

mailing party

 

Tax letters

 

house party organizing

 

Asking FOF for Money

 

Phone Banking

 

Fundraising Advisor

 

SPIRITUAL ECOLOGY

 

Roles:

 

Community Yum (sauna & sound)

 

Planning Coord

 

Sweat Coord

 

Sacred Place stewardship

 

social shamans

 

Tasks:

 

Moon/Sun Ceremonies

 

Altars & shrines

 

Observation Logs

In progress. Participants will use this part of the site for keeping track of what we see, hear, do, etc. Check back for more.

Natural History

forest.from.cliff

In progress. What are the plants here? Soil? Animals? Climate? This page will include information on a wide variety of related topics.

For now, check out our guide to medicinal plants at TLC Farm.

Come back soon!

Virtual Tour

tlcfarm.land.plan.v1

In progress. Once complete, the virtual tour will display a variety of clickable maps and aerial views, which will take you to pictures of the history, present, and future of various locations at TLC Farm. Check back soon! For now, view our draft Strategic Land Plan:

Directions

Tryon Life Community Farm is located at:
11640 SW Boones Ferry Road
Portland, OR 97219

Note: Google Maps gives misleading directions for the #35 bus and other routes; and Apple Maps and others may give poor directions for driving. Please check the directions on this page for best ways here.

Getting to the Farm is quicker than is often thought!  It's just 30-45 minutes by bike from central Portland, and by car it's just 10-20 minutes to anywhere the freeway goes.  (Without traffic.)

Please note that we have limited parking at the farm and encourage folks to carpool or use other forms of transportation. The lot at the top of the driveway is for visitors to Tryon Creek State Park, not people coming to TLC Farm (also, theft of goods left in cars is very common from the Park's lot!).

Our solutions:

  • Bike!  It's easier than you may think.
  • Bus!  The #38 and #39 run during rush hours right to our driveway, and the #35 gets you within a beautiful walk through the State Park -- hourly, 7 days a week, early till late.
  • And for our bigger events, we run a shuttle, usually to one or more of Riverdale HS, Barbur Transit Center, or Peoples Food Coop. Check event details.

By car -- see below or try the mapped directions from downtown or your ZIP code:

 

From I-5 headed South:
Take the Terwilliger exit #297. Make a right off the off-ramp onto SW Barbur Boulevard and then another quick right at the light onto SW Terwilliger. Pass over the I-5 overpass heading towards Lewis & Clark College and Tryon Creek State Park. Continue straight through 2 lights on Terwilliger, the 2nd being SW Taylor's Ferry Road. Pass Riverdale High School on your right. At the next light (the 3rd on Terwilliger), take a slight right onto SW Boone's Ferry Road. You'll head down a hill. Halfway up the other side of the hill look for the Sturdi-Built Greenhouses sign on the left and then Coronado St. on the right. The next turnoff you can make on the left after Coronado St is a parking lot and trailhead for Tryon Creek State Park. Turn into this lot. Our longish dirt driveway is on the far (south) end of the little lot.

From downtown or central Portland:
Head South on SW Barbur Boulevard. About 3 miles from downtown, take a left at a light onto SW Terwilliger (A-Boy Hardware is on the right, Kaady Car Wash on the left, before you get to Fred Meyer's). Follow the directions above from Terwilliger.

If you're coming from south of Powell in Southeast Portland, you may prefer the Sellwood Bridge. Once on the west side of the river, turn right onto Macadam going north to the light at Taylor's Ferry Rd. Turn left onto Taylors Ferry and head up the hill to Terwilliger. Take a left onto Taylors Ferry. Pass Riverdale High School on your right. At the next light, take a slight right onto SW Boone's Ferry Road. You'll head down a hill. Halfway up the other side of the hill look for the Sturdi-Built Greenhouses sign on the left and then Coronado St. on the right. The next turnoff you can make on the left after Coronado St is a parking lot and trailhead for Tryon Creek State Park. Turn into this lot. Our longish dirt driveway is on the far (south) end of the little lot. then take a left and follow directions above. (Note: do not illegally turn left onto Boone's Ferry from Taylor's Ferry. Or better, for more peaceful biking, have someone show you how to bike through the cemetary from the bridge!)

From Lake Oswego:
Take Country Club Rd west till it meets Boones Ferry Rd, and bear right onto it. After two or so miles you will go through an intersection with Stevenson Rd at a flashing yellow light. About 200 ft afterwards, after a curve, there will be a small dirt parking lot on the right. Beware, it comes quickly; don't speed! Our longish dirt driveway is on the south (near) end, so turn around in the lot.

From I-5 headed North: From I-5 N take the Kruse Way exit (#292B), turn left (that's east) onto Kruse Way, and continue till you dead end onto Boone's Ferry Rd. Turn left onto Boone's Ferry and continue straight through the Country Club Rd intersection. Follow directions from Lake Oswego above.

By Bike

There are two main ways to come from central Portland by bike: the fast way, and the scenic route. Click on the links below for customized bike maps.

  • Barbur: the easy way. Barbur is a gentle incline with a bike lane all the way from downtown to Terwilliger. With practice, you'll be cruising uphill thinking deep thoughts and breathing strongly, making sure to check out the gorgeous views of Wy'east (Mt. Hood) on the bridges. At the intersection with Terwilliger, get in the left turning lane. Cross the bridge over the freeway and continue straight through 2 lights on Terwilliger, the 2nd being SW Taylor's Ferry Road. Pass Riverdale High School on your right. At the next light (the 3rd on Terwilliger), take a slight right onto SW Boone's Ferry Road. You'll head down a hill. Halfway up the other side of the hill look for the Sturdi-Built Greenhouses sign on the left and then Coronado St. on the right. The next turnoff you can make on the left after Coronado St is a parking lot and trailhead for Tryon Creek State Park. Turn into this lot. Our longish dirt driveway is on the far (south) end of the little lot.
  • Springwater Corridor: the beautiful and challenging. A long flat and gorgeous track along the river and Oaks Bottom takes you from the Hawthorne Bridge (and points north) to the Sellwood Bridge. Walk or bike (carefully) across the bridge, and then follow the car traffic as if you were going south on Macadam. Instead, at the light you'll cross directly to the entrance to the Riverview Cemetery. There are now well marked bike directions all the way through to the top of the hill. Note that it's a fairly steep incline throughout, with sections that are downright hard. Some people dismount and smell the flowers; others ramp up their cardiovascular powerhouses. At the top, take a right on Palatine and then a left onto Boones Ferry, doglegging left on Terwilliger to bear right back onto Boones Ferry and into one of the more exhilirating downhills in town. Then a short steep uphill section to keep you warmed up, and you're here!

By Bus
The Tri-Met #38 (schedule) runs past our driveway to and from downtown, only during rush hours. During rush hours, the #39 (schedule) meets the #12 (schedule) from downtown near the Fred Meyer by Terwilliger and Barbur; ask the driver. It also drops off right near the driveway.

At other times, including weekends, and leaving downtown from 5:30 am to 11:30 pm daily, the #35 bus (schedule) runs along Terwilliger just through the Park from us. The quickest way is to get off at the Nature Center main Park entrance -- not the intersection of Boones Ferry and Terwilliger as recommended by some apps. It's then just a 15-20 minute walk down to High Bridge up back up to the Farm.

Alteratively, for a bit more time in the firest you can get off at the Law School; see map at right.


By foot, through the park
Maps with trails marked: see map at right, or in the PDF file attached below. It might help if you can print out the map and bring it with you.

The entrance to our land is on the West Horse Loop trail, just west of the cutoff to the Boone's Ferry parking lot.

  • From the Law School, take the bike path until you see the sign for the Lewis & Clark trail on the right.
  • Take it all the way to the High Bridge.
  • Cross High Bridge and bear slightly left towards the West Horse Loop.
  • Follow signs to turn right onto the West Horse loop (towards Engelwood Drive), ie. counter-clockwise.
  • Go past the turn-off for Boones Ferry Rd parking on the right (that is, don't turn right).
  • About 150' after this Boones Ferry fork, you will see a cedar tree with a right-angled bough on the left, and a medium-sized trail off to the right; you will notice a small sign welcoming you to TLC Farm a little ways down this path.
  • Take this trail and enter this magic realm!

And if you're desperately lost, call us at 503-245-3847.

Work-Trade

DSC_0014.JPG

Become a work-trader! Live on the land and work with other volunteers using both mind and body. Become a temporary participant in the life of the land and the communities that live, work, and play here. If you can commit to being here at least one month and devote much of your time to working and learning on the land, please consider applying. Often, work projects are self-directed as we are all volunteers here!
Being a work-trader at TLC farm means contributing 25 hours of work a week. The hours consists mainly of garden work, but also may include fundraising, advertising, event set-up, event clean-up, and many other odd jobs that go into running a non-profit. Work-traders live on the land usually in a tent or a tarp structure. Work-traders also can either provide their own food or contribute $6 a day for full use of community food, which includes a full community dinner every night!
To apply please download the form below. Inside the form is a bit more explanation about what you can expect from us and what we will expect from you. Once you have read and filled out the form please send it back to us at worktrade [at] tryonfarm.org. Feel free to include any extra questions and comments about yourself when sending in the application. From there we will schedule a phone conversation and figure out if it will work for you and the community.
Download the form below and send your application to worktrade [at] tryonfarm.org
 

Recode

Learn more about Recode!

Launched by TLC Farm in 2007, Recode is now an autonomous project with its own website:http://recodenow.org, office space, and director Melora Golden who can be reached at: info at recodenow dot org

Read on for a brief summary of Recode's goals, and see bottom of page to sign up for email announcement list, and download relevant files.

Recode is an organization that brings together citizens, planners, builders, activists, and other stakeholders in developing, coordinating, and building the movement for regulations that support grassroots sustainability.

Recode:

·       facilitates collaboration among the existing organizations and people doing various aspects of the work;

·       creates space for grassroots groups in the discussion; and

·       specifically advocates for acting within a strategy of systemic change.

Sign Up for Recode’s newsletter: http://www.recodenow.org/newsletter-signup

 

Event Rentals

Yurt event


TLC Farm is a place to connect. As a forum for community sustainability, opportunities are endless!

A meeting, retreat, celebration, private class, spiritual event or other gathering at TLC Farm is something special. Here, the life of nature is woven into human experience: this place merges indoor and outdoor, living and artificial, wild and domestic. This program supports our work in bringing various communities and organizations into deeper relation with this beautiful place of the earth, and through it, each other

You are welcome to hold your own event at TLC Farm; by bringing your own group here you contribute to the fabric of the farm—sustainability to us is linking the many networks and threads of our social, ecological, political, economic and cultural ecology. Each group brings its own story, sometimes transforming a piece of TLC Farm, sometimes leaving information, sometimes getting others involved.

We are particularly interested in hosting multiple groups at the same time that can informally interact with each other, or gatherings that are focused on bringing different constituencies into closer and more meaningful interconnection. Let us know your ideas and needs

Contact the Events Working Group at events@tryonfarm.org to book your reservation.

Click here for testimonials from folks who have hosted events.

Money

We are committed to welcoming groups to this land.  This is especially true of those aligned with our mission to support ecological & social justice movements, and structurally marginalized communities.


Space
Village Green:
On the north end of the land is our lovely Village Green. This sloped, grassy area is surrounded by the sauna, fire circle, composting toilets, Yurt, T-Whale, Outdoor Kitchen and stage. It's a great spot for picnics and game
Yurt: A 30' diameter year-round insulated event space, with electricity and radiant heat, a mandala-floor, and earthy energy
Cob Cave: A beautiful, handmade earthen cave room, this lovely space fits 15-25 people in a cozy space without lots of light, great for healing practices or meditation gatherings. It naturally stays wonderfully cool in the summer and warm in the winter
Outdoor Kitchen: Facilities include a wood-fired, super-efficient "rocket stove"; a four-burner propane stove; running hot water and sink; various counters; and electricity. There is also a heated earthen bench and picnic tables. We have a stack of washable plates and cups available. Wood must be provided by event host, or otherwise arranged.
T-Whale: This whimsical teahouse was originally built for the Earth Day Celebration at Sunnyside Elementary School, and was soon thereafter adopted by TLC Farm. Made into the shape of a whale, the body provides an organic space for 10 people to sit and the tail is a fun spiral tower, great for kids! Between the body and tail is a small tea serving area.
Stage: Our 144 sq. ft. carpeted and covered stage is the perfect place for bands, theater, or just a nice flat spot to sit!
Perch: The back porch of the yurt is a multi-level wooden deck shaped in a spiral with a heart at the center. It overlooks the garden and is a lovely private-feeling spot.

Maple Grove: Eight big leaf maple trees in a circle form this sacred space, and a wonderful spot for intentional conversations, meetings or ceremony. Bring special items for the two alter areas.

Lower garden areas/edge of forest: The eastern edge of the land is the wild boundary between farm and forest, and contains many niches for gathering.

Forest: TLC Farm is surrounded by Tryon Creek State Park, with 700-acres of secondary forest and miles of trails. TLC Farm's trails connected directly into the Park.

The residences and other structures on the land are not available for use (they are part of Cedar Moon, the intentional community at TLC Farm). Composting toilets are available in the Village Green
 

Services
 

Services are offered by our talented community members based on availability, and therefore may not be available at all times. We pay our service providers a living wage stipend of $15/hour, and ask that you cover this cost.

Catered Food: We have a variety of on-call cooks who can create fabulous menus for your group. We specialize in vegetarian, vegan, raw, or local/in season meals. And/or, we can arrange to have your event catered by local restaurants in our community.


Childcare: We have a group of on-call childcare hosts and lots of fun places for children of all ages to play! We even have a pack of small children (under ten years old) living at the Farm who are often welcoming hosts for other kids.

Meeting facilitation: Our facilitators specialize in consensus-based processes and can facilitate groups of all sizes.

Publicity: If appropriate, you are welcome to post your event on our Facebook page or emai. (free)

Farm Tour: Guided tours are a great way to learn about TLC Farm's sustainability demonstrations, inspiring history, and ongoing community success stories. Tours can be from a half hour to two hours in length; recommended time is one hour. (free).

Workparty facilitation: If your group wants to get down and dirty, we can facilitate workparties in the garden, native habitat restoration or a building project.

Educational Programs: TLC Farm offers a variety of educational opportunities -- please see our website for details.


 

Farm Host and CoCreated Agreement

 

Your link to TLC Farm is the Farm Host, and is coordinated through the Forum Working Group. You and the Farm Host will work out all necessary details for your gathering. If your event is ongoing, than your host might only need to be there just the first few times, or until you “learn the ropes”. Alternatively, we can train you to be your own Farm Host.

The CoCreated Agreement is a written document that outlines the details of the event, our agreed upon exchange, and TLC Farm’s guidelines. We will ask you to sign this (we will too)

Parking and Transportation

Parking provides us with our biggest opportunity for creative fossil fuel independence. We encourage people to get to TLC Farm via bikes, public transit, hikes through the park or carpooling. As an incentive, we will reduce the per hour rate of using the farm by $5/hour if you use zero or one parking spot! Directions for bus, biking, hiking and driving are on our website.

Bike: Definitely the most fun way to get to TLC Farm, biking takes about 45-55 minutes from downtown and only 30-40 minutes back!

Hike: During the day, you can park at Tryon Creek State Park Visitor’s Center on Terwilliger Blvd. and hike 15-minutes across to TLC Farm. Beautiful!

Bus: The #38 bus has a stop at our doorstep, but only runs M-F during rush hours. The #12 bus runs up Barbur Blvd, within two miles of TLC Farm. And the #39 runs from the #12 to Lewis and Clark College, a 25-minute hike through the woods from the farm.

Cars: We have four parking spots for visitors, and if your gathering will require more parking areas then we suggest carpooling or shuttling. Want to know our secrets for these successful car dances? Read on:

Carpools: Arrange to have your group meet at someone’s house or the Barbur Transit Center (two miles away) or New Seasons (3/4 mile away) and then share cars. It’s fun to carpool!

No parking in our neighborhood or in the State Park parking lot. We are very respectful of our impact in the surrounding area and ask that you be as well. As an event host, we will expect you to ensure that your event participants respect this request.

Guidelines
 

Animals: Friendly dogs are allowed but must be kept on leash at all times (we often have children, chickens or goats browsing the land).

Cleanup: All cleanup from should be done immediately following the event. The Outdoor Kitchen sink may be used to wash dishes. Recycling and compost containers will be provided by TLC Farm; please plan to carry out your trash.

Noise: Part of TLC Farm’s work is to be a good neighbor, and as such, we do not allow extended drumming or amplified music without prior consent of our closest neighbors. Quiet hours begin at 10pm

Smoking: There are two places to smoke cigarettes at TLC Farm: at the top of the driveway and at the bottom of the driveway, in the parking lots.

Alcohol: If kept to a central area, alcohol can be consumed in a respectful manner (and of course, for over 21 only). Alcohol cannot be sold without an OLCC permit.

 

Land Projects

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At TLC Farm, Portland's sustainability movements are creating one example of how urban density human habitat can coexist with thriving food systems and native ecologies. Our demonstration projects, all of which are workshopped and volunteer-run, illustrate how specific technologies and practices work, and how they can interconnect.
You're welcome to come and walk through the land, learning from the signs along the self-guided tour. But the best way to get involved and learn about what it's like to build a new world, is to help create it alongside the rest of us!
The areas we're focused on are:

Gardening
Primarily focused on food production using standard organic and permaculture techniques: sheet mulching for weed control, interplanting, insectivories, etc. Primarily annuals and small perennials. Coordinated through the Garden working group, which has regular meetings.
Food Forests
Planning and implementing multi-story food forests both within existing native forest and orchard areas, and from scratch. In the medium-term we intend to establish a Food Forest Research Center in collaboration with local permaculturists, educational institutions, and urban policy planners. The purpose will be to develop experimental trials of various micro-habitat configurations and assess human food productivity, native habitat suitability, and human habitat usability. The goal will be to identify combinations that can be used on both public and private land to create corridors of stacked habitat and function.
Building
Working with volunteer professional architects, designers, and builders, TLC Farm pushes the envelope for regenerative design in Portland: built environments that are fully integrated into energy, water, food ("waste"), and habitat cycles with the rest of the local ecology. This includes a wide variety of demonstration natural building techniques (strawbale infill, cob, light straw/clay, earthen plaster, earthen paint, poured earth, earthbag, etc.). Saturday work parties frequently include a building element.
    Water flow
We intend to wean ourselves from city water, and to catch and use as much of our stormwater as possible (while keeping all our inside places dry). Our planning calls for bioremediation for runoff, multiple rainwater cisterns, multiple irrigation/aquaculture ponds, greywater systems, keyline swales, and possibly a nanohydro generation system.
 
    Domestic partners
TLC Farm currently manages a flock of chickens and herd of goats, and many mason bees. The goats especially offer a wealth of volunteer opportunities: learn to milk goats, tend to their needs, and help them eat our blackberries. The goat working group meets irregularly; contact brenna@tryonfarm.org to get connected.
 
    Native habitat
Starting with the edges of the forest, and moving inwards, we are improving the native habitat function of the land. At the same time as we are managing invasive species like ivy, blackberry, thistle, garlic mustard, knotweed, and the like, we are planning long-term perennial plant systems that will create environments conducive to native plants and animals. Contact brush@tryonfarm.org for more details.

The easiest way to get connected is to come out to a workparty.
Or contact us: farm@tryonfarm.org
Together, we're building a better world!

Feedback and participation welcome! Please send bug reports to web@tryonfarm.org

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