Oregon Public Broadcasting

Multnomah County Commissioners are voting later Thursday on whether to create an emergency farm to help feed hungry people.  As Pete Springer reports, the proposed farm is on the same site as a county poor farm used decades ago.

The county farm site is just outside Troutdale across the road from the McMenamins Edgefield.

The county owns 46 acres of land there and the plan was to sell it for a housing development.  But then the real estate market tanked.

The Multnomah County budget isn’t fairing much better either.

Jeff Cogen: “But we really feel like you can’t just say, ‘Well we’re not gonna meet the needs of the community ‘cause our budgets being cut’”

Jeff Cogen is a Multnomah County Commissioner.  He’s standing in the middle of the proposed farm.

Jeff Cogen: “So what we’re doing instead is thinking of creative ways that we can help people in need.  And this is an example of a creative way to help people without having to spend county general funds.”

Actually, the project would require about $7000 in county funds, but that’s a bargain says Cogen.

Farm work would be done by volunteers and an estimated 500 people could be fed off two acres of food.

Jeff Cogen: “Everyone knows we’re going through a tough time right now.  Our community, our country -- and people want to help out.  And one of the cool things about this project is it gives people a way to help.  To help hungry people just by rolling up your sleeves and planting some food.”

Cogen says a group of farmers advised the county to start small and see how it goes.  So the plan is to start planting two acres.

Jeff Cogen “We want to have things that can transport well.  So we’re not going to be growing very fragile things like lettuces and tomatoes.  We’ll be growing things more like beans and squash and root vegetables, corn, things that will transport well.”

If approved by the county, volunteers would begin planting the site in mid-June.  And all the food grown would go to the Oregon Food Bank.