No need to wait for a grocery store to take the plunge: join our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and receive a weekly share of fresh, local, sustainably grown vegetables. South Waterfront residents can join the Sauvie Island Organics CSA for the 2010 season as SIO offers a new pick-up site in the neighborhood. For details please visit the Sauvie Island Organics CSA website at www.sauvieislandorganics.com and click on the CSA tab.

There are only a few spots remaining for the 2010 CSA season, if you are interested in joining please contact the SIO CSA today for more information or to sign-up.

Francesca Benedetti
CSA Coordinator
Sauvie Island Organics
Office: 503.621.6921
Mobile: 503.312.0183
www.sauvieislandorganics.com
Email: francesca@sauvieislandorganics.com

Simmer away those wintertime blues with exotic Hot Pots at Bambuza.  Cook dinner at your own table every Tuesday night in January. Bambuza will offer a special menu that includes a featured appetizer and hot pot selection for $14.90 per person (minimum two people).

The Oregonian reported today that Zidell has submitted plans for cleaning up their parcels of land in the South Waterfront – most likely to make way for development.

Read the Oregonian Story Here and Here.

Our neighborhood farmer, Mark Harvey, of Old House Dahlias (oldhousedahlias.com) was recenlty highlighted in the Oregonian for his pioneering urban farmer attitude.  Way to go Mark!

Read the article here:  A field of sustainable dreams blooms under South Waterfront towers

Let’s celebrate Oregon’s bounty by discovering how sustainable food is grown, harvested, produced, shipped, prepared and served across this great state. South Waterfront Community Relations has assembled some of our region’s foremost food experts, from farmers, restaurant owners, chefs, and grocers to help dispel myths and give us the facts on sustainable dining.

The Sustainable Food Panel will include:

John Orlando, owner of Meriwether’s Restaurant
Steve Cohen, Food Policy Program Coordinator for the City of Portland
Mellie Pullman, Board Member of the Food Alliance
Earl Hook, Chef of Meriwether’s Restaurant
Josh Volk, Farmer for Meriwether’s Skyline Farm
David Yudkin, President of Hot Lips Pizza
Ann Forsthoefel, Executive Director of Portland Farmers Market
Sheila Nicholas, Owner of Anam Cara Cellars

Eat while you’re learning: Meriwether’s Restaurant will provide some delicious appetizers using ingredients from their Skyline Farm.

SWF Sustainability Speaker Series
Wednesday, October 28,  6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Umpqua Bank | South Waterfront
3606 SW Bond St. Portland, OR  97239 map it

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
RSVP appreciated, but feel free to stop by
RSVP: communityrelations@southwaterfront.com or 503.222.7788

Oregon is a stunningly beautiful state. Unfortunately, there is a lot of work to do to keep it that way. One challenge is water quality. Right now, every major river in Oregon fails federal clean water standards. The first step towards cleaner, healthier rivers is proper enforcement of environmental laws. Attorney General John Kroger is committed to improving environmental enforcement in Oregon. But to succeed he’ll need help.

Come be part of the solution!  Join Attorney General Kroger and other local officials for a discussion about the current challenges facing the Willamette Watershed and what steps we need to take to clean up our state.

Thursday, October 1
6:30pm – 8:00pm
John Ross Plaza Studio
3623 SW River Parkway
Portland,OR 97239

If you plan to attend please RSVP to Julie Rutherford at julie.rutherford@doj.state.or.us.

To learn more about the Oregon Department of Justice’s efforts to protect our environment please see the Department’s homepage at www.doj.state.or.us.

Together we can keep Oregon beautiful.
Hope to see you there!

Mark of Old House of Dahlias will be selling dahlias every Friday, beginning Sept. 25, from 12 to 6 pm.  The South Waterfront dahlia stand will offer pre-cut dahlias, 10 stems for $7. 

There will also be a Dahlia Festival open house Saturday and Sunday from 10-5 at his Old House of Dahlias at 8005 S.E. Mill St. (between Stark and Division off 80th).

www.oldhousedahlias.com

Growing Dahlia’s in Urban Portland
by Ann McMahon, resident of Meriwether Condos

Who would have thought I could look out the window of my downtown condo and see a tractor plowing through a muddy field? Amazingly, I have the most incredible view of the Ross Island Bridge, the Willamette River, Zidel’s barge builders, the OHSU buildings and the Tram. Now I will get to see dahlia’s in bloom, thanks to Mark Harvey of Old House Dahlias.

Mark was living in Southeast Portland with his sister. She got married and  moved out, so he needed a source of income to be able to keep the home they bought together. He decided to grow dahlias. For two years he planted the flowers at his home until he decided to expand. He began planting the flowers in Corbett on a leased farm. He kept the dahlias as a display at home and sold the potted ones while raising tubers. From February of 2009 until the end of April, dahlia disasters keep happening: cuttings got too hot in his greenhouse, next he moved them outside and they got root rot. So he tried putting 75 flats in his garage, but there was not enough light for growth. Finally he began to look for a piece of urban land to plant his dahlia cuttings. He had a friend living in the South Waterfront who told him about the land right on the river. So he approached the developers to get their permission to lease the land until the housing market improves. Once he got permission to use the land, he began to grow the cuttings in his garage.

So one morning in May I look out my window and see a green tractor and two men, one wearing a cowboy hat. Being from Montana, I was curious and went down the elevator to introduce myself to this cowboy. It was Mark and his recruit… Dad, of course. His father, Dwight, told me that Mark just has it in his blood to be a farmer. His grandpa farmed in Nebraska. Mark is an environmentalist and worked for the Department of Fish and Wildlife for five years. Now he works during the week for his brother-in-law at Pacific Foods in Canby. But on the weekends, he becomes an urban farmer. His goal is to sell cut flowers in the fall.

The most recent Dahlia disaster came in June with temperatures in the 90’s. For the first time since I can remember, we were able to attend the Starlight parade with no umbrella or raincoat. Mark thought he had until July to solve the problem of not having an outlet to water his flowers. Dahlias are a kind of desert flower, however, Mark planted mostly cuttings and only a few tubers. It’s July now and half the field is finally green, the half with the tubers. The cuttings are still struggling a bit from the heat, but July 4th weekend Mark showed up with a water truck that he borrowed from his brother-in-law. For two days he patiently watered, talking to the condo residents and napping intermittently on the lawn. In September, the South Waterfront residents will all benefit from a field of dahlias in the midst of high-rise buildings, thanks to the persistence of an urban farmer! Check out Mark’s website: www.oldhousedahlias.com

Portland RiverFest returns to South Waterfront this year on Saturday, August 22. This free, family-friendly festival celebrates life on the river with live music, food and drink, attractions and fun activities. Last year’s RiverFest was a huge success, and this year is shaping up to be even better. Festivities take place throughout the day beginning at 11 a.m. on the expansive South Waterfront greenway. Mayor Sam Adams and other city officials will be present to kick off the celebration. Look for a complete schedule of events coming soon. Festival highlights include:

*   PDX Jazz at RiverFest Mary Kadderly, Darrell Grant & On TheTerritory, Stephanie Schneiderman, and Tom Grant with Shelly Rudolph
*   Food & drink vendors
*   Open marketplace with over 50 booths, including Handmade NW
*   River education center
*   PURE river blessing ceremony
*   Urban Willamette photo essay
*   Art exhibition by Portland sculptor Mike Suri presented by Heidi McBride Gallery.
*   Columbia River InterTribal Fish Commission lodges
*   Kid Fun Zone
*   Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde big canoes & drummers
*   Dog activities, including games & prizes

Join your fellow river lovers in restoring, appreciating, and recreating on the Willamette. The festival at South Waterfront is part of a four-day celebration along the Willamette that runs from Thursday, August 20 through Sunday, August 23. Other RiverFest events include the Freshwater Trust Portland Triathlon, bridge tours, Portland Spirit/KINK Cruise, kayak tours, walking tours, SOLV riverbank cleanups, Portland Audubon events, and more. For a complete four-day schedule of RiverFest activities, visit www.portlandriverfest.org.

Saturday, August 22, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Old House Dahlias, a Portland-based farm located in SE Portland, has planted over 5,000 dahlias in lot 27 just north of Meriwether East. Blooming should start with Foxy Lady in late August and be in full force by the middle of September. All dahlias are grown green with organic products. Most of the varieties make good cut flowers, which you will have the opportunity to purchase. For more info about our little South Waterfront Dahlia farm and Old House Dahlias’ yearly Dahlia Fest in September, call Mark Harvey at 503-771-1199 , or go to oldhousedahlias.com.