Friends of Trees honors Project Grow

Twins Tina and Tanya Yakamoto with Jeff the Goat

By Andrew Land

Today Friends of Trees made a contribution to Project Grow by way of the 2011 Governor’s Service Awards. As part of the prize for our Neighborhood Trees program having recently won Outstanding Volunteer Program:  Region 1, we were given the opportunity to contribute $450 to the nonprofit of our choice. FOT staff voted overwhelmingly to support Project Grow in its effort to raise $10,000 to expand its operations.

Growing Specialist Tim Donovan

A part of Port City Development Center, Project Grow was founded in 2009 because “adults with developmental disabilities deserve the right to create and share meaningful art, establish a closer relationship with their food source, and lead a physically healthier life.”

To achieve that goal, they created a CSA (“community supported agriculture” or share-held food network) while establishing a facility for community members to both express and support themselves artistically. In addition, they began regularly hosting lectures, workshops, and Wednesday night open studios. CSA Growing Specialist Tim Donovan says they use bicycles to deliver a wide variety of annual vegetables supplemented by fruit from their orchard, with eggs available by subscription. This past season, they had 10 shareholders who received food deliveries once a week throughout the growing season.

CSA produce from garden at NE Tillamook & Williams

Members of the Project Grow community are paid minimum wage for their help with farming, and their artwork is sold at shows around town. In addition to a mix of state, grant, and private funding, Project Grow helps sustain itself by renting community garden beds.

They will team up with the Eliot Neighborhood Association and Legacy Emanuel to facilitate the new Albina Cooperative Garden, currently under construction along N Russell Street just west of Vancouver.  Once that property is productive, Project Grow will have 1.5 acres under cultivation.

Textile art at Project Grow

For those interested, Project Grow is always looking for volunteers to work with their artists as mentors, though they do appreciate help on the farm as well as help during special events and gallery preparations, too.  Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Emese Ilyes at [email protected].

We at FOT salute the excellent job done by our friends at Project Grow!

–Land is a Neighborhood Trees Specialist at Friends of Trees.