I have dedicated the last two years to developing 3 garden and farm projects on very minimal budgets. In response to a call to action, this year I intend to dedicate more time to learning what it takes to scale up my growing projects. I have partnered with two African American female farmers.

 
My specific request to help our small scale farm succeed with a small infrastructure and capital investment.
1. 50ft X 20ft Hoop house estimated cost $1000.00 – due to the climate here in Oregon our outdoor grow season is very short. To be more efficient a hoop house would allow us to do nearly year round growing.

2. Weed dragon – (flame weeding tool) estimated cost $140.00 – this is an efficient way to kill weeds without destroying organic material.

3. Small reusable food package containers for the storage of food $300.00 – This can greatly improve the storage of organic food, adding days to their shelf life and making it more efficient to keep and transport food.

4. Modified Cooler conditioner – for a large food container – $500.00 – we plan to turn a small metal freight container into a large cooler for food storage.

Total request: $1940.00

 
The June Key Delta House and the Urban Harvest garden both located in a largely gentrified neighborhood on a property owned by the black organization Delta Sigma Theta and Urban League of Portland. These two projects have engaged hundreds of volunteers of all races in the surrounding neighborhoods. We are also building these garden to teach young people and learn from elders.
Ujamaa Farms is our newest project meant to be a small scale farm. It is located on 130th and foster which is an official food desert http://www.ers.usda.gov/data/fooddesert/fooddesert.html. The project intends to bring organic food to the surrounding community through relationship building with local corner store markets and selling food within the current zoning code laws. We will open this farm up to community members to learn about small scale organic farming . We have a partnership with Zanger farms which is a local non profit to share educational resources.
Communities of color need to be engaged in farming. Ujamaa farms intends to promote the amazing experience of growing food to the surrounding community which has become more diverse over the last 10 years due to gentrification of the inner city.

 
The hops plants will produce root cuttings that can be used to replant but I want to do this next year after established. I need $1,250 for organic root stock as I\’m certified organic w/ CCOF and need to get organic root stock. I purchase from an organic supplier in Colorado (Rising Sun Farms). I\’m also changing over from flood irrigation to micro irrigation and have been putting in emitters, a sand filter, and irrigation line. I need another $1,250 to change over to a drip system. This will help me expand my plants to a point where I can get more root stock from my plants\’ root system from here on forward. The micro irrigation system will help me save water and money in the end. I want to get to the point where this business can sustain itself (and I see it happening in the next year) but I need some help getting there. This is only ¾ of an acre but I can use these roots to propagate future acreage.

 
After I\’m more sure that this hops business will be a success and it has been established, then I would like to share my knowledge with other farmers in the area. I really think that with enough water hops would do well in the Central Valley. There is very little chance of Downey Mildew with our heat (traditional issue with hops). I have tried several varieties that work and do not work but I think there needs to be more research done on hops growing at an academic level. I know some people at the newest UC campus (UC Merced) and after established I would like to sponsor some hops research of some sort (Merced Community College maybe). I get more numbers of harvests and harvest amounts in Merced than I read they get in Oregon and Washington. I really think this could be a new revenue source and product for the valley. The name of my corp. is Hip Hops Inc.

 
Organic farming is important to me because I believe eating fresh and healthy produce is good for you. I am constantly surprised at the demand for good veggies and I appreciate the opportunity to provide others with the quality of food they deserve.
I am creating a successful home business from a small scale organic vegetable market garden. The most important factor in the quality of my vegetables is a cooling environment to maintain freshness and optimize shelf life. Previously I used 2 household refrigerators and the kitchen sink to cool, wash, and store the veggies. As I am expanding the garden size to a 1/4 acre I will need more economical equipment. I am requesting $1600 to purchase a used 2 door reach-in commercial refrigerator cooler and $400 for a stainless steel sink washing area. These items will support the increased quantity I grow and ensure a healthy and tasty product from my field to their final destination.

 
My town doesn\’t have a grocery store so people have to drive to the next city to buy organic produce. When folks hear that I grow organic vegetables their overwhelming response is enthusiasm. But the excitement is often about more than just having better access to fresh produce. Many people are eager to learn more about the farming process. I serve the community through educating about growing food and taking care of land. There is a wonderful curiosity in both kids and adults when they are around a garden and I look forward to continually teaching others what I know to help keep them involved.

I am seeking a grant in the amount of $2,500 dollars to help with the expantion of the irrigation system required to service more ground. This would enable more feilds to be utilized allowing for less cramped crop rotation and more varied product offerings.

The main benefit of this operation is that people with smaller incomes are more able to afford healthier, more wholesome foods for them selves and their family\’s. Once this option is realized, more people would likely choose it. In turn possibly making more of the conventional farmers consider converting to organic operations and expanding the availibility of organic foods at a more affordable price.