Lower Nehalem Community Trust

Spring 2007 Community Garden Our Coastal Food Ecology Center was established to increase the capacity of our community to grow healthy, affordable, local food. It is a place where we experiment with creative and resource efficient systems of food production appropriate to our regional ecology and economy.

The Center, at Alder Creek Farm, demonstrates integrated ecological practices for home and small farm such as the use of composting, mulching, cover crops, worm composting, soil microorganisms, alternatives to pesticides, plants to attract birds and beneficial insects, elk and deer fences, hedgerows, water efficient irrigation, and rain water catchment systems. Use of native plants on site gives community members an opportunity to learn more about local ecology and traditional medicinal and culinary uses of plants.

The Center is a response to a growing nationwide concern about the health and environmental impacts of modern agricultural practices. In Tillamook County local production of fruits, vegetables, grains and meats is extremely limited and except for a few emerging enterprises, virtually all food is imported to our area from considerable distances.

Our garden provides a variety of Volunteer Opportunities.

Garden History

In 2004, funded by gifts from individual donors, LNCT constructed a 7-foot deer and elk fence around the original farm orchard and installed a watering system for irrigation. With that infrastructure in place we began development of a 1.5-acre garden/orchard.

Volunteers transformed a 26x70 foot cow shed into a functioning greenhouse by installing used windows, and a corrugated polycarbonate plastic roof paid for with funds generated by our direct mail newsletters. Over the course of 2005, workers added sliding doors, and boxes and benches for propagating and growing.

The community uses the greenhouse as well as other covered areas for starting plants, extending the growing season, and propagating natives for sale and for our own restoration.

In 2005, Trust volunteers planted fruit trees and berries donated by One Green World Nursery. A small garden was planted and an education program for school children was begun. The children's Pumpkin Patch has become an annual tradition. Elementary school children plant vegetables and a pumpkin patch in the fenced garden. Produce is donated to the North County Food Bank through the summer. The students return to harvest their pumpkins in October.

During 2006, a group of local residents began development of a Community Garden using a variety of organic gardening strategies. Produce from the garden is consumed by gardeners and donated to the North County Food Bank.

Greenhouse Exterior..

Inside Greenhouse Greenhouse Interior

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