TLC Farm will be hosting a Native Food Sovereignty and Fry Bread event next Sunday, May 21, from 1:30 to 4:30pm.
This event will include knowledge sharing from a member of the Warm Springs tribe about traditional foods, harvesting practices & land stewardship practices of the Warm Springs people. The talk will be followed by the sharing of fry bread & discussion about how frybread is a staple of many native communities but came about as a survival food from government rations. Donations greatly appreciated. As always, parking is limited, so please carpool - directions here!
We were so excited to start welcoming people back to the land this year! Along with all the folks who wander onto the land from their hike in Tryon Creek State Park, or families whose children attended summer camp or the out-door pre-school, or Lewis & Clark students who've heard rumors of this land and come check it out . . . .along with all these folks (and others), TLC Farm is a place where people come for education and events.
Here is a sampling of some of the happenings on the land this year:
March: Community seed swap and cider tasting.
April: Two mushroom cultivation workshops.
May: Fuse Theater Ensemble held a creative retreat (planting the spores that would become The Shroom Show!); a girl scout troop used the land to prepare for their first hike and camp-out; a seven year-old birthday party!; a tour with the Friendship Force.
June: Two high school groups came for educational tours and service projects; 350PDX donor appreciation evening, two weeks of summer camp, path tending work parties.
July: Funeral for a most beloved dog; SunrisePDX forest defense team meeting; reunion for Cedar Moon land stewards, three weeks of summer camp; natural building work parties.
August: Shade Equity coalition meeting; Pacific NW Forest Climate Alliance steering committee retreat; two weeks of summer camp.
September: Willow Creek Forest School pre-school starts; Fuse Theater's Shroom Show played four nights a week, all month long; Apple Fest returns.
October: All Families Welcome pre-school visits; ten year-old birthday party.
November: Land tending work party, girl scout troop field trip.
What's next? Share your ideas, bring your class or host your next event here at TLC Farm!
Willow Creek Forest School is TLC Farm's outdoor, place-based preschool for children 3-5 years old.
Children enjoy a consistent daily rhythm in which they can allow their imaginations to blossom and be immersed in the magic of the forest, while learning to be good stewards to the land and each other. The flow of the day includes: crafts, homesteading skills, plant medicine-making, snack time provided by the school (including bread baked in the cob oven!), circle time, plenty of time in the forest and special festival days – all guided by songs and stories inspired by the changing seasons on the land.
School runs for 9 months, Tuesday-Thursday from 9:30am-1:30pm, with an option to add aftercare each day until 3:00. Visit WillowCreekForestSchool.org for more information and to enroll.
About Teacher Hindi: Hindi has been working with children in various settings for 20 years, and has been living on the land at TLC Farm for two years. For the past two years, she worked with Montessori preschool programs while dreaming about starting her own program. She loves sharing this magical land with children!
We're in the midst of a campaign to grow our Friends of the Farm - the committed, generous, creative people who sustain TLC Farm through monthly donations - with a goal of rasing $100 more per month. This could look like 10 people giving $10 per month, or 4 people giving $25, or all the other possible combinations!
TLC Farm is committed to keeping our land and programs econimically accessible, which means our programs are offered on a sliding scale and we work to make use of the land available to all groups, regardless of ability to pay. Our generous donors help make this approach possible. Become a Friend of the Farm today!
It makes a difference to become a Friend of the Farm!
Stability: Our program income and other fundraising is cyclical, ebbing and flowing throughout the year; regular contributions from Friends provide a reliable source of income each month to meet our financial obligations.
Joy: It feels great to give, and it feels great to receive – generosity makes everyone involved happier.
Leverage: Honestly, it looks good to foundations and major donors to have a solid base of regular financial supporters. Providing stability helps us obtain larger donations.
Demonstration of the Grassroots: As witnessed with the “Save the Farm” campaign, thousands of people each giving what they can really does add up to significant numbers. TLC Farm is an inspiring demonstration of the spirit of community, part of which is regular giving.
Help us meet our goal: become a Friend of the Farm and THANKS!
Feedback and participation welcome! Please send bug reports to web@tryonfarm.org