Our Farm
Our farm is on 20-acres sitting just north of Mount Hood, near Parkdale, Oregon. Starting in 2017, we have a 1/2 acre in vegetable production (it is amazing how much produce you can generate on 1/2 acre!) and 15 acres of horse pasture/hay production. We have 20 laying chickens. We also have a small saw mill with access to scavenged and donated lumber, giving us the opportunity to mill our own wood and build infrastructure out of a local resource.
Horses
We currently have 2 young horses (Wynne and Wylie) in training. Too young to ride now, but we are acclimatizing them to interact well with humans. Julie has an older horse (Lexie) that she competes on and who will eventually join us full time at Total Eclipse.
Our Philosophy
We believe in the strength of community and the importance of giving back. We sell produce to local restaurants and a coop. A portion of our production is donated to our local food bank hoping to improve the health and food security of our community.
Our Goal
Our farming practices are designed to maintain the health of the environment, while creating produce that may be used in our local community. We aim for zero waste and limited off farm inputs.
Our Farming Methods
Organic style (not certified), no-till
No pesticides or chemicals
All organic inputs - mostly self-sustained from the farm
Our Strengths
The land is healthy and fertile. The surroundings are spectacular.
We work hard and are willing to teach what we know and learn from others experience.
Our WWOOF'ing Experience
We have had many WWOOF'ers over the last 5 years and they have been a wonderful addition to the farm. We love to teach, share and learn, as the case may be. Shaz (a long term WWOOFer) is back for a fourth full season and has been tremendous help. She helps run the vegetable garden and has a wealth of knowledge about horses and chickens.
Setting
We are in the upper Hood River Valley.
5 minutes to Parkdale, 15 minutes to Hood River, 60 minutes to Portland
5-30 minutes from innumerable hiking and biking trailheads
20 minutes from Mount Hood Meadows ski area and endless back country opportunities.
Easy access to the Columbia River Gorge and its related activities
We provide bikes and a car is sometimes available for day trips.
Who are we
Born in Montana, I have long had a dream of developing a small farm. Julie is still working in Portland, but nearing retirement. We are passionate about this farm and the local community. Having spent the last few years developing a productive farm, we enjoy sharing our knowledge and experience and/or learning from our guests.
I currently serve as the Treasurer of the Gorge Farmers Cooperative (GFC). The GFC is an online farmers market with about 30 local farms participating. It is an amazing way to integrate local farmers/producers with local buyers/consumers. This is a truly unique organization created by and in service of the local community.
Housing
We have a comfortable home on the property with 3 guest bedrooms and a full kitchen and pantry. There is plenty of room for RVs, trailers, and camping by the pond for those interested.
WWOOFing guest(s) typically live in the house with a private bedroom (king or double bed), and shared bathroom. RV/Campers have access to the house for cooking, bathroom, and showers. We have a limit of 1-4 in house WWOOF'ers at any given time. The house is big enough to have privacy when desired.
The kitchen is fully functional and shared. Food is provided – we share when cooking ourselves, keep the cupboards stocked, and ask our guests to share cooking and cleaning duties. We have had some fantastic guest chefs - always encouraged. Breakfast and lunch are at your own pace and we generally share dinner.
Internet - yes
Non-smoking – no exceptions
Alcohol permitted within limits
Guests permitted within limits
No hard drugs – THC within limits
Pets – we have free range chickens, so dogs have been a challenge
Children - probably, depending on the situation
Transportation - Bikes are always available and a car would be occasionally available
Work Requirements
25 hours a week
- ~5 hours per day 5 days per week
- Typically 7AM-12N (its easier when cooler)
- Some flexibility in days and timing of work, as long as the work gets done well
The primary activities are working the vegetable garden
- Garden development, seeding, planting, weeding, harvesting, etc
Field maintenance
- Mowing, edge care, fertilizing, seeding, etc
Farm maintenance and development as needed
- Building, construction, etc
Farmers do whatever is needed to keep things safe, productive, esthetically pleasing, etc. We ask for some flexibility as odd jobs come up
Length of Stay
Generally, the longer the better (ideally two weeks or more). In August-Sept, shorter visits are okay as we need help with harvest.
The season is April – October
Communication
Clear and open communication is the a key to a successful partnership. I am happy to talk to you if you are interested or have questions.
Certifications: Organic in practice (not certified)
Current projects: We have six 50' by 50' plots, 10 rows each. Lots of strawberries/blueberries and a wide mix of veggies. We are always developing our composting, irrigation, harvest and weeding methods.
We have a mill and had a donation of about 50 trees from a neighbor. This allows us to mill our own wood to build farm infrastructure. Wood chips make up our mulch and compost and scraps make some beautiful bon fires!
Read more
Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Flower farming
Traditional crafts
Green Building
Mechanics / tools / technology
Methods or systems
Biological pest control
No-till farming
Regenerative agriculture
Host type
Production farm
8.1
Hectares
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20
Acres
