Mark your Calendars: Monday May 9th --- SCA Plant Exchange and General Meeting

The SCA Plant Exchange and Bi-Annual General Meeting is Monday, May 9th!!!

This year we are hosting our first of many plant exchanges and presenting some fantastic designs for the remodel of Sabin Triangle (SW corner of 15th and Prescott). All of the events listed below take place at Sabin School on Monday, May 9th.

Childcare will be provided.

6-7pm--- We will host Sabin’s free neighborhood plant exchange where neighbors/friends who love gardening get together and swap seedlings, cuttings, bulbs, potted plants, bagged plants, or other terms for easily planted flora. Please make sure all items are properly labeled (to the best of your knowledge), and potted/bagged (to the best of your ability- see Neighborhood Beets article in May edition of our printed newsletter). Our local Ariadne Garden will have a few starts for sale

as well. Tables will be setup outside on the basketball courts at Sabin Elementary (SE entrance).

7-8pm---The SCA will be presenting some concepts for how to repurpose the Sabin Triangle. Architects will be on hand to present their designs and Sabin will be asking for your input so please join us! The presentation will take place in the Sabin School auditorium and Whole Foods will provide delicious refreshments.

8-9pm--- If you want to help make your neighborhood a better place for everyone, this is your chance. We will be hosting elections to the Sabin Community Association board. Board members for July 1, 2011-June 30, 2012. The SCA and this community need your help!

If you’re interested in serving on the SCA Board for 2011-2012, please contact Austin Peterson, President, 503-519-6447 or sabinpresident@gmail.com, or Barbara Conable, Secretary, 503-283-9636 or barbconable@hevanet.com.

Friends of Trees Planting -- Saturday, March 12 -- ORDER TREES / VOLUNTEER

It's time for the annual Friends of Trees Sabin Neighborhood Tree planting! The event is next Saturday on March 12, 2011 at Holladay Park Church 2120 NE Tillamook St at 8:45 am -1:00pm It's too late to order tree for this year's planting, but we would love volunteers. This is a really fun family event. The day starts at 9:00am with bagels, juice and coffee. You will join a planting team who goes through the neighborhood helping to plant your neighbors trees. And guess what? The holes for the trees are already pre-dug the week before. You will get a little dirty and learn the proper way to plant and stake a tree.

After wards there will be lunch provided to refuel you for the rest of your Saturday. This is a great way to get to know your neighbors and get dirty on Saturday morning.

How else can you help?

Volunteer roles include:
- Planting crews
- Help with food/refreshments. Help serve or contribute a crockpot of soup or chili
- Truck drivers (we need open bed trucks to carry trees to homes)
- Helping with registration

Please contact Lisa Johnston-Smith at sabin@plantitportland.org for more info.

Does Sabin need a street tree inventory?

Walking around your neighborhood, do you see areas available for tree planting, street trees in need of maintenance, and neighbors who are concerned but don't know where to begin? Urban Forestry is helping Portlanders take action to improve their community's street trees by conducting tree inventories and creating Neighborhood Stewardship Plans.

Active community groups interested in the cause begin by gathering volunteers to help conduct a street tree inventory. Volunteers are guided by Urban Forestry staff, who provide training, tools, and event organization. Together, information is collected on tree species, size, health, site conditions, and available planting spaces. Data is analyzed by Urban Forestry staff, and findings are presented to neighborhood stakeholders. Achievable strategies are set by the collective body to improve existing trees, identify opportunities for an expanding tree canopy, and connect the neighborhood with city and nonprofit resources. The result is a Neighborhood Stewardship Plan. The plan identifies the current status and health of neighborhood street trees and provides recommendations for neighborhood action. This final product serves as a catalyst for neighborhood implementation.

Why inventory your street trees?
There are many reasons why a group should consider inventorying trees in their neighborhood. Each tree inventory is customized to capture the requested data and to meet the goals of the group. While your group may already have a few goals in mind, Urban Forestry will help solidify goals early in the process to ensure that the appropriate data is collected, propose a practical timeline, and staff appropriately.

A tree inventory can help your group meet the following goals:

• Determine the location, species, size, and health of trees
• Identify locations to plant new trees
• Increase awareness of the important role trees play in making urban environments more livable
• Engage residents to help care for and protect existing trees
• Develop a Neighborhood Stewardship Plan
• Forge a partnership with Urban Forestry

Following a tree inventory, each requesting group receives the following:

• Custom site maps and excel sheets illustrating the findings
• Detailed analysis addressing the goals and recommended next steps
• Urban Forestry pledges to continue working with your group to meet their tree goals through the creation of a Neighborhood Stewardship Plan

Expectations
Tree inventories are designed to be fun and educational community events. Requesting groups are expected to recruit volunteers to help on the day(s) of the inventory. Most neighborhood tree inventories take place on Saturdays from 8:30 AM-noon. No experience is necessary. Volunteers are paired with a staff member, experienced tree inventory volunteer or Neighborhood Tree Steward.

How can I conduct an inventory in my neighborhood?
Interested in an inventory and Neighborhood Stewardship Plan? Urban Forestry is currently seeking communities interested in conducting their own project. In 2011, four communities will be selected to conduct an inventory. To apply, submit a short application by January 7, 2011. Find the application at Portland Tree Inventory Project.

Funding
This project is supported by a grant from the East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District and PP&R Urban Forestry.

Questions?
Contact Angie DiSalvo at angie.disalvo@portlandoregon.gov

Your Sabin Front Yard

In his remarkably rich first book, Second Nature: A Gardener’s Education, Michael Pollan offers the image that the plurality of grass lawns planted by the tens of millions across America in the last century congealed into the singular and became one vast lawn stretching coast to coast, with the concrete hardscape of our highways the heavily travelled paths in the awful sameness of it all. Well, that was then, and this is now: look around the Sabin community of beautiful Portland, Oregon, and you will see a wonderful variety emerging out of that sameness, with some front yards full of flowering plants and others sporting vegetables, tall grasses, herbs, impressive stones, sculpture, street trees, and native shrubs. In Sabin, you see people using mulch to control weeds and save water. You see gardens attracting bees and butterflies. Some front gardens are fenced for pets and children while others have the open character of Oregon beaches. Some are blank slates. Some bespeak neglect, in other words: opportunity, adventure.

This essay is written for those Sabin homeowners who don’t yet know what they want to do with their front yards. Whereas in the dismal past folks just planted grass and mowed it, now your options seem limitless and bewildering. How do you figure out what to do?

Sabin Garden Resource List

SABIN GARDEN RESOURCE LIST!

Do you love to garden? Do you want to do more gardening, but don't know where to turn? Now you have no excuse! Here's a fantastic list compiled by Rachel Studer to help you out.

This will be permanently linked for easy reference.

Labor --

We are working on a list of garden maintenance workers and designers - please contact us with names of folks who have mowed, trimmed, weeded or done heavy labor for you and whom you can recommend (diligent youth included).

Sabin & vicinity --

SABIN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE - Barbara Conable - 3713 NE 15th Ave. 97212, 503-283-9636, barbconable@hevanet.com

ARIADNE GARDEN - NE 11the Ave. between Fremont and Beech.

Open typically Tuesdays and Saturdays, morning or afternoon: look for signboard on north corner of 11th & Fremont, across from the east end of Irving Park.

Organic produce, flowers, shrubs, and compost tea for sale. You can volunteer in exchange for food. Ariadne donates food to elders in surrounding area.

Kim McDodge, Head Gardener, 503-284-7116

Land held by Oregon Sustainable Agricultural Land Trust (OSALT).

http://www.osalt.org/ariadne_garden.html

KING FARMERS MARKET - Sundays, 10 am to 2 pm. May 3 - Sept. 27,. 2009. Located in parking lot at NE 7th & Wygant, between Alberta & Prescott, adjacent to office of NE Coalition of Neighborhoods, King School and King School Park.40 Vendors every week, local produce, flowers, cheeses & meats; cooking demos, live music. Oregon Train, WIC, FMNP welcome.

NORTHEAST TOOL LIBRARY & SEED LIBRARY - Parking lot at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 5431 NE 20th Ave. Saturdays 9 am-2 pm. They have almost every tool a homeowner would need! Volunteers needed to staff the library.

Strongly urge you to check for changes of place or times: www.neptl.org; Eric at 503-754-0534, ericfairlayman@yahoo.com; Tom at 503-539-1756, tomscot51@yahoo.com

Partially supported by a grant from NE Coalition of Neighborhoods..

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The following are tailored-made for Sabin since we have many unused fruit and nut trees, and space for garden plots. Also a great opportunity to get food by creating community.

PORTLAND FRUIT TREE PROJECT - We register fruit and nut trees throughout the city, so that individuals can maintain, then harvest trees. We also bring people together to harvest and distribute thousands of pounds of fresh fruit each year, and teach tree care and food preservation in hands-on workshops. portlandfruit.org

Founder Katie lives in Sabin with fruit and vegetable gardens, chickens and goats! Partially supported by grant from NE Coalition of Neighborhoods.

URBAN EDIBLES has a website where you can find free food in the city. This includes learning about edible weeds, especially their medicinal properties; folks can list sources of fruit and nut trees and abandoned garden beds. Volunteers needed! urbanedibles.org

TWO BUSINESSES THAT use your property (if it has enough sun!) to create a mini farm which provides you with organic food. They do the work, you enjoy the harvest! www.yourbackyardfarmer www.citygardenfarms.com

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Classes --

NATURESCAPING AND RAIN GARDEN WORKSHOPS are offered by East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District, which recently moved close by at 5211 N. Williams. Workshops fill up fast! Naturescaped Yards Tour seeking hosts and volunteers. www.emswcd.org/workshops-events

URBAN GROWTH BOUNTY 2009 - A series of classes in late Winter 2009. Contact the office about future events.

http://www.portlandonline.com/osd/ugb ” food@ci.portland.or.us ” 503.823.3986

Steve Cohen , Food Policy and Programs

Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability

503.823.4225

sustainableportland.org

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Volunteer opportunities --

SABIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL VEG GARDEN - Volunteer opportunities - madelyn@sabingardens.org

GROWING GARDENS - Organizes volunteers to build raised bed vegetable gardens for low-income folks and sponsors activities for kids. www.growing-gardens.org 503-284-8420

URBAN GLEANERS - www.urbangleaners.org. See also Portland Fruit Tree Project, Urban Edibles, Your Backyard Farmer and City Garden Project, listed above.

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Information; Events --

METRO - Recycling, compost, sustainable living, and much much more - www.metro-region.org

METRO HOTLINE: 503-234-3000

Urban Growth Bounty 2009: Organic Vegetable Gardening

METRO GARDEN TOURS & OTHER EVENTS - www.metro-region.org, choose Calendar on home page

MASTER GARDENER HOTLINE, Multnomah County: 10 am-2 pm weekdays -- 503-445-4608

U-PICK FARMS & FARM STANDS - www.tricountyfarm.org

COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE - portlandcsa.org

FARMERS MARKETS - www,portlandfarmersmarket.org, wwworegonfarmersmarkets.org

FOOD PRESERVATION - oregonstate.edu/lane/food-preservation/ask_expert

Local Food Safety Hotline - 541-682-4246

MULTNOMAH COUNTY 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. jonathan.mayer.oregonstate.edu, 503-916-6075.

Got space for a pig or some dairy goats in your backyard?

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

WARNING -- Let’s be realistic about the hazards of city living. Lead and other heavy metals are found in the soil as well as paint chips. Before establishing an edible garden, be sure to test your soil. Check Yellow Pages for Soil Testing Services.

“Chickens eating lead not so ‘sustainable’: Urban chicken advocates should care about what the birds consume,” Portland Tribune, 3/26/09

“Soil can turn over a new leaf,” Portland Tribune, 4/2/09

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

BONUS --

”THE ONLY ALL-VEGETABLE ORCHESTRA IN THE WORLD” - vegetableorchestra.org

Compiled in part by Rachel Studer, 503-288-3129, lanomada @hevanet.com -

Please contact me with additions, corrections, suggestions.

SABIN GARDEN RESOURCE LIST

The SABIN GARDEN RESOURCE LIST will appear at this site shortly. Stay tuned! In the meantime contact Rachel Studer for info, 503-288-3129, lanomada @hevanet.com