Become a Village Gardens Donor Organizer

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Information and Training Session, Thursday, November 7th, 2:00-4:00pm

Location: Fountain Room in New Columbia, Meet at the Village Market, 4632 N Trenton St

From the beginning, Village Gardens has been a strong community-led program, grown out of the vision and commitment of countless community leaders and champions.  As we enter our second decade as a program, we are working to change the way we think about funding our work.  We have seen time and again the power of community organizing and community-based solutions in addressing the most pressing issues facing the neighborhoods where we work, and we want to leverage that community power to build a broad grassroots philanthropic base for Village Gardens.

To do this we need your help!  By becoming a Village Gardens Grassroots Donor Organizer you will help to shift the way that Village Gardens funds its work in the short and long term – growing strong community-based roots, not just in our programming but in our fundraising as well.

 What does a donor organizer do?

  • Attend an orientation training at Village Garden on Thursday, November 7th, 2:00-4:00pm.
  • Work with other organizers to set your own personal fundraising goal and combined group goals (we have no minimum or maximum goals set – this process is about engaging everyone with energy to do what they can!)
  • Learn about grassroots donor organizing, practice asking for money, build your own skills as a grassroots fundraiser, build stronger relationships with the Village Gardens community, and help to spread the word about the work that we are doing.
  • Each Donor Organizer will be asked to also make an individual meaningful contribution (to be determined by each person) and ask people in your personal networks to join you in doing the same.

 Am I really qualified?

  • If you believe in Village Gardens and in empowering communities to build a strong, just, community-led food system, you are qualified!
  • If you are interested in and passionate about community-based fundraising, you are qualified!
  • If you keep hopes high and believe in the basic goodness of people, you are qualified!
  • If you know a few people who would be interested in learning more about Village Gardens, you are qualified!

If you have questions or want more information please contact Amber Baker atabaker@janusyouth.org or 503-927-0820.  If you are ready to sign-up for the Information Session, please RSVP to Amber as well.

Join our great team, work in Food Justice!

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We are hiring for a new and exciting position here at the Village Market! 

Village Market is located in the vibrant neighborhood of New Columbia, and is committed to providing its community with quality, fresh, healthy, affordable groceries. Village Market is excited to begin the process of hiring for the Prepared Foods Manager Position. Please support Village Gardens to get the word out about this employment opportunity.

This is a dynamic environment for creativity, community building, developing affordable, healthy, and accessible foods in the New Columbia neighborhood. We really are looking for someone who has experience working in a fast paced kitchen that has the skills to take our prepared foods to the next level. If you are excited about Food Justice and want to make a huge impact in your community this is the position to apply for.

Position Description:

The Prepared Foods Manager is responsible for overall daily operations of the Village Market Deli/prepared foods department.  This includes staff supervision and scheduling; merchandising, production, product and inventory management; assuring expenditures are within established budget limits; and monitoring sales and margin targets, making any resultant recommendations for change. This position is responsible for monitoring profit and loss for the deli/prepared foods department and promptly reporting when profit/loss is outside of expected limits. The position is also responsible for assuring the deli/prepared food department operates in compliance with all State and local safety and health regulations and assuring the kitchen is clean and orderly. This position works closely with other Village Gardens staff to support a thriving volunteer and community engagement process at the store and works in partnership with other Agency staff, including administrative staff, and to assure operations are in compliance with the Agency’s policies and procedures.

Application Guidelines/Contact: To be considered for this position, please submit a resume and cover letter that includes your minimum salary requirements to Melissa Allen, HR Assistant, c/o Janus Youth Programs, Inc., 707 NE Couch Street, Portland, Oregon 97232 or e-mail to her at mallen@janusyouth.org. Or they can be reached at 503.233.6090, This position is open until filled.Village Market is a part of our Village Gardens Program, a program operating under Janus Youth Programs, Inc. We value diversity and are an equal opportunity employer.

The BEST eggs in Portland!

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The eggs have been selling out quickly at the Village Gardens Farmers Market!! Get there early tomorrow to purchase the best eggs in Portland! All the proceeds from the sales of eggs go directly back into the program for chicken food, supplies and new items to make the happy chickens even happier. See you all tomorrow, Thursday, 3-7pm 4632 N. Trenton Portland, Oregon. Only 3 weeks left for the Village Gardens Farmers Market.

Local Produce on sale!

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Thanks so much to everyone who came out and supported local farmers at the Village Gardens Farmers Market yesterday! If you weren’t able to make it please join us next Thursday August 8th from 3-7pm or if you can’t wait that long come into the Village Market at 4632 N. Trenton where we are selling Food Works produce and Market Gardener Vegetables! It’s a double positive, supporting the only nonprofit grocery store in the Pacific Northwest and at the same time supporting local farmers!
See you all soon!

Food Works at the Village Gardens Farmers Market

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Look who is going to be at the next Village Gardens Farmers Market this Thursday night from 3-7pm…. yep, that’s right, Food Works!!! Join us for an evening filled with tamales, greens, cucumbers, face painting and live music!
We’ll be there with Food Works, Market Gardeners, Shave Ice and much more. 4632 N. Trenton Ave, ride your bike, walk on over, take the #4, and don’t forget your shopping bags. See you Thursday!

Village Gardens Farmers Market

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Here are some of the Market Gardeners preparing their plots for the season. Many of these farmers come from agrarian societies, Congo, Burundi, Angola, and Mexico. They all are selling their fresh produce at the Village Market and will be selling starting next week July 25th at the seasonal farmers market located at 4632 N. Trenton, right in front of the Village Market. The Village Gardens Farmers Market will run for 6 weeks, Thursdays from 3-7pm. Come out and support your neighborhood Farmer!

Village Gardens Farmers Market

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Starting next week, Thursday July 25th and running for 6 weeks, through August 29th Village Gardens will be holding a seasonal farmers market outside the Village Market Grocery Store. Located at 4632 N. Trenton. The hours are 3-7pm. We will be highlighting the amazing work of the Food Works youth, 3 Market Gardeners will be selling their new delights: squash leaves, squash blossom, beans leaves, green tomatoes and much, much more. you might be asking, what is a Market Gardener, well this is new this year to Village Gardens. We were fortunate enough to have a local land owner donate a 1/4 acre of space for 5 families to grow culturally appropriate vegetables to sell at the Village Gardens Farmers Market. So talk about local, this is local community members farming on Sauvie Island and then selling their products to their neighbors in New Columbia!

The Village Gardens Livestock project will also be selling their pasture-raised, organically feed eggs at the market.

Please come and join us on Thursday nights! There are also going to be craft tables and live music!

Thursdays July 25th – August 29th 3-7pm

Outside the Village Market, 4632 N. Trenton St

  • Food Works produce
  • Market Gardeners produce (local community members)
  • Live music
  • Craft table

North Portland Community Orchard Groundbreaking!

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North Portland Community Orchard* Groundbreaking
Saturday April 6th
10am-1pm

Join Portland Fruit Tree Project, Village Gardens, and North Portland community members for the first planting of the new North Portland Community Orchard!  Saturday April 6th 10am-1pm near the intersection of N Alaska and N Trenton (light snacks and refreshments will be provided)

The event will begin with introductions from the orchard partners, Home Forward, and special guest, Mayor Charlie Hales!

After presentations, we will commence planting of various fruit trees and plants, shrubs and bushes, and other beneficial perennials. We will also be installing a mulched bed near some existing fruit trees and mulching around all the new plantings.

Following the work party will be time to enjoy some light snacks and refreshments and celebrate the launch of this exciting new community orchard.

If you are interested in helping with the planting please register so we know how many tools to provide (if you don’t register, you are still more than welcome to come, but understand that we might not have enough tools for unregistered attendees). If you have tools (shovels, forks, soil rakes, etc.) please bring them, and let Spencer know what you are bringing (spencer@portlandfruit.org,503-284-6106)!

*The orchard is located just north of Village Gardens’ Seeds of Harmony Garden (at the intersection of N Alaska and N Trenton near the Charles Jordan Center – 9009 N Foss Ave). Please park near the Seeds of Harmony Garden and walk on the sidewalk (on the east side of the garden) north to the Orchard (note: there is no parking adjacent to the orchard).

Oregonian Article Featuring VG Spring Fundraiser

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Asha Gebibo, 64, makes injera every other day at the Village Market in New Columbia. Casey Parks/The Oregonian

Asha Gebibo, 64, makes injera every other day at the Village Market in New Columbia. Casey Parks/The Oregonian

University of Portland will host a fundraiser Friday for the nonprofit Village Gardens. The evening will include food from James Beard Nominee Cathy Whims of Nostrana, community participant presentations, videos and a silent and live auction.

Most people know Village Gardens through its corner store Village Market. The store in New Columbia offers fresh produce, take-out food from different countries and staples such as milk, bread and spices.

The organization also runs the Food Works farm on Sauvie Island and sponsors individual and family garden plots in low-income areas. The nonprofit it also offers employment opportunities for adults and teens, as well as after-school and summer activities for children and homework clubs. It also runs a livestock project, a community health worker program and a youth-run entrepreneurial business that grows and sells salad mixes at local farmers markets.

For the past 10 years, the nonprofit has focused on using grants to pay for its programs in low-income areas such as St. Johns Woods. It’s never asked for donations before. The new campaign hopes to build a network of donors. The money raised at this event will support families as they launch small market garden and farm businesses. It will create an incubator kitchen at the Village Market. And it will establish a seasonal community street farmers market in New Columbia.

They’re still looking for businesses to sponsor tables. So far, sponsors include University of Portland, and its School of Nursing, Bon Appétit, Nostrana, Portland Nursery, and New Seasons Market. Partners for the dinner include Columbia Distribution, Deschutes Brewery, Widmer Brewery, Casa Bruno, A to Z Wineworks, Alpenrose Dairy, Dry Soda and Batchpdx.

Tickets for the event, which runs 6-9 p.m. in the Bauccio Commons on campus, tickets are $40.

First Annual Spring Fundraiser

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Join Village Gardens for our first annual spring fundraising event, an inspiring opportunity to celebrate and learn about Village Gardens work to create a more just and healthy food system in Portland. The evening will include food from James Beard Nominee Cathy Whims of Nostrana, community participant presentations, brief videos highlighting program successes and a silent and live auction. 

Event Details

Friday, March 15 6:00-9:00pm

Bauccio Commons, University of Portland (Directions and Map)

Funds raised at this event will be used to further the work of Village Gardens. In 2013 Village Gardens plans to focus on Growing a Neighborhood Food Hub From Seeds to Sales by Supporting families to launch small market garden and farm businesses, creating a community incubator kitchen in partnership with the Village Market community-run health corner store, and establishing a seasonal community street farmers market in New Columbia. The project will support the development of a full-system, comprehensive approach to ensuring a just and thriving neighborhood food economy by supporting vibrant sustainable farms and gardens, healthy people, and strong community relationships.

Attend the Event

Individual tickets for our Spring Fundraiser are $40.

Buy Tickets Online ~ Purchase tickets online now and pick up your tickets at the door at will call.

Mail a Check~ Print out a registration form and mail your payment to Village Gardens, c/o Janus Youth, 707 NE Couch St, Portland OR, 97232. Tickets will be held at will call at the event.

Connect with Village Gardens Staff ~ VG staff and community leaders are currently selling tickets in person. Connect with Wasongolo, our Community Organizer, at ewasongolo@janusyouth.org to purchase tickets from a community leader.

Sponsor a Table

A Table Sponsor helps to support a successful event and fills the room with individuals interested in learning more about how Village Gardens is building a healthy, community-based food system. Your $350 table sponsorship includes 8 tickets to the event, recognition on table place cards, event program and online materials. Become a Table Sponsor online today.

Become an Event Sponsor

We are grateful for partner organizations, sponsors, funders, and volunteers who make our work possible each year. Please consider supporting the Village Gardens Spring Fundraiser by becoming an event sponsor. Download our Event Sponsorship Flyer or contact Amber Baker at abaker@janusyouth.org or contact Rosalie at 503.542.4605 or rkarp@janusyouth.org for more information. Thank you for your support!

Many Thanks to Our Current Event Sponsors!

Thanks to our partners at Columbia Distribution, Deschutes Brewery, Widmer Brewery, Casa Bruno, A to Z Wineworks, Alpenrose Dairy, Dry Soda, and Batchpdx for the generous contributions to the dinner!

March 15 is just around the corner…

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Thanks to all our supporters and partners for their amazing contributions to our Spring Fundraiser Auction! Check out the list below for a sampling of some of the great items you could leave with March 15th!

Live Auction

  • One Year supply of dairy products from Organic Valley
  • One night stay for two at Breitenbush Hot Springs 
  • Food Works CSA membership for the 2013 season
  • Dinner at Wildwood Restaurant, two tickets to a dance performance at Body Vox and one night stay at Inn at Northrup Station
  • Farm Dinner for 10 guests at Red Truck Farm
  • Garden Install by the Food Works Crew. The package includes: Two cedar raised beds, compost fill, vegetable starts for the entire season and a Gardening Workshop taught by Food Works Youth Leaders
  • Gardeners Package: Gift certificates from Wild Garden Seed and Territorial Seed, gift basket from Portland Nursery, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Bogs Boots and a one hour on-site garden consultation with Garden Fever Manager Patty Hune.
  • One night stay in Astoria at the Cannery Pier Hotel and dinner at Fort George Brewery
  •  Ethiopian dinner and coffee ceremony for 10 guests. An in-home meal cooked by Village Gardens own Asha Geibibo

Silent Auction

  • Eastside Distilling tasting & tour for 10 guests
  • Gift basket from The Olive & Vine
  • Tattoo from Corey Crowley of Atlas Tattoo
  • 10 passes to Hollywood Theatre
  • $50 gift certificate to One Green World and a one hour consultation with Core Home Fruit Services
  • Variety of wines donated by Daniel Johnson of  Wine Is Serious Business
  • Two hour private ceramics instruction with Gabriel Parque of Lewis and Clark College
  • A cooking class for two at Portland’s Culinary Workshop
  • Gift Certificate to Johns Street Cafe
  • $50 Gift Card to People’s Co-op
  • Ticket to Forktown Food Tour
  • One Hour Thai Massage from Emily A Gowen Bodywork, LLC
  • $100 Gift certificate to Alberta Co-op Grocery
  • Acupuncture and sauna session at Mandala Medicine Acupuncture
  • Dinner at Toro Brovo
  • Two bicycle tune-ups at Weirs Cyclery
  • Fragrances from OLO Fragrance
  • Gift Certificate to any McMenamins
  • Hand printed cards from Curiocity Printing
  • Gift Basket from City Farm
  • Photo gift cards from Caldera Press
  • Garden Fever Gift Card

Village Gardens’ Master Gardener Training

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Top Left: Linda painting community plot sign; Top Middle: Map of community designed Unthank Eilliot Garden site; Top Right: Community harvest from Seeds of Harmony Garden; Bottom Left: Barbara leading seeding training; Bottom Right: Seeds of Harmony…

Top Left: Linda painting community plot sign; Top Middle: Map of community designed Unthank Eilliot Garden site; Top Right: Community harvest from Seeds of Harmony Garden; Bottom Left: Barbara leading seeding training; Bottom Right: Seeds of Harmony community-led gardener meeting. 

For the past 6 years Village Gardens has been partnering with the Oregon State University Extension. Many community members have a big desire to start gardening but don’t, do tolack of knowledge or fear of killing all their plants and seeds. We have been able to offer the amazing educational opportunity of 11 weeks of intense gardening training through OSU’s Master Gardener Program . All Master Gardener classes are given by experts in the field and most if not all have PHD’s in their respective fields. After the 11 weeks of training, community members are then required to return to the Village Gardens’ urban garden sites and support new gardeners by sharing the knowledge that they learned during the course.

The Master Gardener Training is not only an opportunity to learn more about plants, but it also is the perfect environment for community members to branch out and get to know other like minded citizens who have similar passions for growing plants and vegetables. This is where the magic starts to bubble. Community members’ skills and confidence grow like a tomato plant in late July. Connections are made, friendships are cultivated and unity is palpable. All of this has been supported by the OSU Extension. Their generosity has been so impressive that the entire 11 week series of training has been provided free to Village Gardens’ participants. This has been by far one of the most generous acts of support we have had at Village Gardens. For one individual to attend the training’s, the costs is around $400 dollars.

This year we have 5 participants who are comprised from two different Portland communities. Trish has been a Seeds of Harmony Garden Leader for 2+ years and for the first time is taking the Master Gardener Class. Jean  has been working with Village Gardens planning and designing the new Market Gardening project, where 3-5 families will be growing on a 1/4 acre located on Sauvie Island. Stephanie, Mary, and Kathy are all new gardeners from the newest Village Gardens Community Garden, Unthank Eliot Memorial Garden. These 3 women have been carpooling and then holding study hours during the week to practice for the tests and review the material.

This really sums up why the Master Gardener training is  so much more than garden education. It is about more than growing red tomatoes, or greening the grass.  For Village Gardens’ participants the training has provided an opportunity to grow connections and build community through shared experiences. The knowledge and resources that are gleaned during the trainings last for decades back in the community gardens. We have gardeners who participated in the OSU Master Gardener training 6 years ago and are still leading workshops on invasive weeds and how to safely remove them, and others who are training new gardeners on the art of composting.

From all of us at Village Gardens we thank you Oregon State University Extension and a specific thank you and gratitude to Mr. Weston Miller who has made this possible.

Help Spread the Word.

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Village Gardens’ 1st Annual Spring Fundraiser is Friday March the 15th from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at Bauccio Commons, at the University of Portland.

3 Reasons you should put March 15 on your calendar:
Youth Farmers.

Food Works Farm empowers 30 urban teens to build leadership and employment skills through operating a 2 acre organic market farm business.  These youth farmers are improving their local food system by promoting community health through Veggies on the Street community cooking & nutrition demonstrations and distributing over 3,000lbs of organic produce directly to their community.

Real Community. Real Food.

Community-Led Seeds of Harmony & New Beginnings Gardens provide over 35,000 square feet of vegetable gardens and a 30 fruit/nut tree orchard located in St. Johns Woods, New Columbia and Tamaracks housing communities. The gardens provide an affordable source of healthy, organic fruits and vegetables for over 300 neighborhood residents each year. They also provide a safe place to relax with friends as well as opportunities for civic engagement and leadership development for volunteers. In 2012 Garden Leaders supported 40 new gardeners to build a community garden in the Unthank Plaza and Elliot Square communities.

Just Food.

In 2013 Village Gardens plans to focus on Growing a Neighborhood Food Hub From Seeds to Sales by Supporting families to launch small market garden and farm businesses, creating a community incubator kitchen in partnership with the Village Market community-run health corner store, and establishing a seasonal community street farmers market in New Columbia. The project will support the development of a full-system, comprehensive approach to ensuring a just and thriving neighborhood food economy by supporting vibrant sustainable farms and gardens, healthy people, and strong community relationships.

Funds raised at this event will be used to further the work of Village Gardens.

New Community Orchard: Portland Fruit Tree Project Partnership

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Left & Lower Right: Village Gardens gardeners participating in orchard pruning trainings. Top Right: Community led planning meeting at Village Gardens.

Left & Lower Right: Village Gardens gardeners participating in orchard pruning trainings. Top Right: Community led planning meeting at Village Gardens.

We are very excited to announce that Village Gardens and Portland Fruit Tree Project are partnering to bring a new Community Orchard to North Portland! The orchard will be located in the Portsmouth neighborhood, just north of Village Gardens’ Seeds of Harmony Garden and directly adjacent to the Tamaracks Apartments (see here). Not only will the Portland Fruit Tree Project be supporting Village Gardens in designing and then building a community orchard but they also will be holding trainings on the how-to prune and care for fruit trees.

So if you are interested in taking part in this new and exciting project please come to the design meeting Saturday, February 2nd, 10am-12pm at the Charles Jordan Center (9009 N Foss Ave) – Chief Joseph Room. Free snacks and drinks will be provided!This will be your opportunity to help decide what trees & plants will go into the orchard, brainstorm other community uses for the site, and meet with fellow community members excited about creating this wonderful new orchard!If you’re interested in attending this event, please RSVP by calling 503-284-6106, or sending an email to spencer@portlandfruit.org.