Low/no-till farmer seeking .5-1 acres for small flower, starts, tomato and herb operation


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Land Seeker Description

Hello!

My name is Cameron. Nice to e-meet you. I am a female farmer and ecological landscape designer in search of .5-1.5 acres of land for production of cut flowers, tomatoes, herbs. Ideally the land would have these qualities:

  • south facing light
  • minimal slope
  • good soil aggregation and soil that has not been laden with chemical fertilizers or pesticides
  • out building for wash/pack house
  • existing green house/ prop house. . . or the openness to build one
  • access to some equipment– BCS walk-behind tiller
  • lots of defensible space against forest fires
  • ability to have a few farm animals–goats, pigs, chickens (not for consumption)
  •  home site or existing housing
  • dog friendly ( I have two pups: one very senior hound mix and one 3 year old cattle dog mix)
  • kind neighbors/community!  I’m not trying to be an isolated, hermity farmer. Would love to live on land with people who are interested in learning about farming, already farming, or just sociable in general.
  • opportunity to offer education of some sort to the public/community
  • collaborative and communicative environment

I have 6 years’ experience working on organic vegetable and flower farms in the Pacific Northwest, ranging from 25 acres (Oxbow Farm–with a 650 member CSA plus farmers’ markets and restauraunt accounts) to two sub-acre farms (MercyCorps NW’s refuge Garden, the BUFA farm) and one 6-acre farm (Vibrant Valley Farm), one of which was an educational farm in SE Portland, and classroom for Oregon State University Extensions’ Beginning Urban Farmer Apprenticeship.

Here I learned about bio-intensive, no-till practices for farming a market garden. The cornerstone of our education was the Market Gardener, a book by Canadian bio-intensive farmer Jean-Martin Fortier. I am also inspired by the good work being done by Dr. Elaine Ingham and Matt Powers with regard to regenerative soil and farming. For flower production,  Erin Benzekein out of Washington. Here are links to understand a bit more about the ideologies in agriculture I follow and would aspire to:

Jean Martin Fortier,

https://themarketgardener.com/about-us/

Connor Crickmore, Neversink Farm

https://www.neversinkfarm.com/

Dr. Elaine Ingham

https://www.soilfoodweb.com/

Erin Benzekein, Floret Farm

https://www.floretflowers.com/

A little more about me:  Before farming, I was working in the catering and nutrition world, so lots of peopling and hands-on work. I feel passionate about my current landscape design career, and love it, and would love to keep that going in some capacity, and perhaps incorporate it into farming. Non smoker, no drugs (although occasionally I’ll do an edible for body aches and sleeping). Love live music, comedy, mockumentaries (Waiting for Guffman, anyone?), healthy eating, cooking with large groups of people for large groups of people. Constant learner.

Long intro!  Will be up in Oregon for a couple of weeks in late March/early April visiting old farming friends in Portland and could be available to visit you if you feel we might be a good fit (I keep saying “we”– and that is referring to myself and my two dogs, not a partner. . .kinda silly, I know).

Reach out if you would like to contact me.

Thanks very much for your time.

Cameron

 

 

 

 


What features of the property are essential?

on-site water, houosing, irrigation, south-facing light, good tilth to the soil, electricity, hoop houses ideal, one out building as a pack house/ wash shed.


Describe your farming experience

6 years' on diversified, organic veggie and flower farms, both mechanized and low/no-till.
Graduate of Oregon Stat University Extension's Beginning Urban Farmer Apprenticeship
Assistant farm manager of Mercy Corps NW's Refuge Garden program, working with Nepalese and Bhutanese subsistence farmers
Experience packing for CSA, farmers' markets and all farm tasks: weeding, harvesting, planting, planning, propogation,some floral arrangement


Are you currently farming?

No

What are your short term goals for the land

Get a cut flower business going, with potential for specialty tomatoes and culinary herbs and medicinal herbs for added value products.


What are your long term goals

Continue farming, build up a niche-flower and herb business while still working toward becoming a landscape architect. Added interest of farming education, on-farm event coordination, workshops


Describe your housing needs

Dog friendly accomodations, clean, non-smoking, drug-free, lots of natural light, bathroom amenities, kitchen.


What will you do as a farmer to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for everyone on your farm and in your community?

Provide proper BMPs, always, and have strong, open and respectful communication and practice healthy boundaries.

Additional Land Seeker Details

Regions interested in farming:
Central, Coastal, Gorge, 5, South Willamette Valley, North Willamette Valley, Portland Area, Southern

Acreage desired:
1 - 5 acres

Seeking land access by:
September 3, 2022

Interested in raising the following crops / livestock:
Bees, Flowers, Herbs, Vegetables

Interested in these business arrangements:
Lease-to-own, Lease with option to purchase, Lease for cash, Partnership

Interested in these growing practices:
Organic, Not Certified, Biodynamic, Dry Farming

Date when this profile was last modified or created:
January 28, 2023



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