Brooklyn Neighborhood, Portland, Oregon

Brooklyn’s very own farmers market Know Thy Food is celebrating their first anniversary with a huge celebration and fundraiser from 2-6 PM Sunday, June 5 at The Warehouse, 3434 SE Milwaukie Avenue. Live music by The Alphabeticians, Van Oodles, Professor Banjo, and others to delight. Samples of farm fresh foods and goods will be available, along with a balloon sculptor, silent auction, a “meet the farmers” event, and much more. Suggested donation $5 per person, $20/family. All funds raised will help improve Know Thy Food and ensure local farm direct and bulk foods are available to as many families as possible. Bring a Friend and get a free cup of coffee at the Warehouse Cafe!

Dear Neighbors,

Several volunteers have expressed interest in our Foot Patrol program, which we’re re-launching this spring. We’ve got a coordinating committee, we just need a few more volunteers to join the patrol. The commitment is only a few hours a month. Here’s how it works: you email us to let us know you’re interested, and once we have a few more volunteers, we’ll do a brief training and set up a schedule. Then, on a weekly or biweekly basis, a group of 4-5 of us walk the neighborhood wearing orange vests, and carrying flashlights and a graffiti cleanup kit. If we see an easily removable graffito, we clean it up, otherwise, we take down the location to address it in the future. It’s a great way to get some exercise, meet your neighbors, and discourage graffiti and vandalism.

To get involved, Email Don Stephens.

The SE Uplift Sustainability Program is hosting a series of free trainings to help homeowners learn about inexpensive do-it-yourself ways to increase the energy efficiency of their homes. Professional trainers will cover topics such as behavior modification and light weatherization, bypass sealing, basic insulation, ventilation corrections and discussing when to call a contractor. There will also be a field session in a home where participants will get guided hands-on experience applying weatherization methods. [Read more →]

What if 60 eighth grade students wrote, staged, designed, costumed and performed an original script?

What if it was good!?

Documentary film-maker, Jason Turner, followed Winterhaven School’s 8th grade students during the production of their original Rock Opera.  What he captured is the creative spirit of children who, when given no limits, amaze even themselves. [Read more →]

For our online friends and those outside of our volunteer-powered neighborhood delivery area, the May/June issue of the Brooklyn Neighborhood News is available at this link.

The Portland Growers Alliance is a collective of local, organic produce growers supported by Mercy Corps NW’s agriculture program. This year they are marketing their produce through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. CSA members pay in advance to receive a weekly box of freshly harvested (extremely local!) produce. They are growing fresh produce in SE Portland and Damascus, including sites in Sellwood and near Johnson Creek. For more information or to make an order, email Lauren Morse or call her at 503-858-0216. Download the CSA Brochure and Order Form at this link.

SE Uplift, Southeast Portland’s coalition of neighborhood associations, is partnering with the Bureau of Environmental Services, OSU Sea Grant and other organizations to hold a Water School on April 29th and 30th at Western Seminary, 5511 SE Hawthorne. The Water School is a two-day mini-college for individuals interested in current watershed and stormwater management issues.

Courses and field trips will be taught by experts in the region and include topics such as natural history of Portland, watershed friendly gardening, rain water harvesting, and urban wildlife. Participants can earn credit towards their Master Watershed Stewardship certification by attending this event. There will also be a volunteer expo to learn about volunteer opportunities, and a session to explore ideas for new projects in the community.

Learn more about the class schedules and registration.

Dear Neighbors–Great News!

The Oregon Dept of Transportation (ODOT) has approved our proposal to build a community garden at their lot located just south of SE Franklin Street at SE McLoughlin Boulevard. We’re planning on installing raised beds, a fence, stairs, terraces, a shed, a sign, and water spigots with guidance from ODOT’s landscape department. The Brooklyn Neighborhood will maintain the site. [Read more →]

Bicycles are taking over the Oregon Convention Center April 9 and 10 for the PDX Bicycle Show presented by Drive Less Save More. There will be lots of hands-on activities for everyone of all ages, including:

Try the Ride Zone- try out all kinds of bikes and gear in a city block atmosphere (not been on a bike since you were 12, no problem!) [Read more →]

The Warehouse, home of Brooklyn’s newest cafe/clothing store/community pantry/alternative school, is hosting baby-friendly family dance classes in April.  They start out the month on Saturday April 2nd with a free hour of music, dancing, and singing, followed with a lesson in swing dancing.  This FREE party is open to all caregivers and children under 3! Plus a chance to win a free class for Talia’s ‘Ballroom with Baby’ dance series. “Ballroom with Baby” is the Friday class from 10:30 to 11:15 running April 8th through the 29th. [Read more →]