Backyard Bounty Farm is an urban farming operation growing fresh, high-quality vegetables, fruits, and herbs for Portland folks. Over 200 varieties are grown in love for CSA, special occasions, and restaurants.
Hi! I’m the farmer, Melanie. This will be my third year running a CSA. Backyard Bounty has its roots in turning lawns into food. In 2007 in my parent’s and neighbors’ SW Portland backyards, I started a 8 member CSA. The second season I partnered with Sunroot Gardens turning over 20 lawns to farm plots throughout SE. We were mostly “bike farmers:” toting tools and produce around with the trailer! In my third year in 2009, will be increasing scale and decreasing number of lots as I move from farming 20 plots to one large backyard at Lovena Farm.
Lovena Farm is carved by Johnson Creek in Milwaukie, just 7 miles from downtown Portland (see map here). Upon entering the property, the sounds of the car traffic and neighboring industry fades to the bubbling of the creek and clucking of the chickens. The cottwood, maple, birches and aspen surrounding the farm hold the land as a sanctuary. Native plants line the creek and berry bushes and fruit trees are scattered throughout the land.
I will be living on the 2.7 acre property that is home to other families too. I’ll be cultivating a 1/2 acre for veggies and herbs for the 25 member CSA. I’ll also be harvesting from the 40 beautiful fruit trees and vines. I’m fortunate to be able to work on this land as it has been farmed the last two years by a fellow farmer, Will, who has built the soils by cover cropping and adding over 2,000 pounds of compost. Prior to this, the land had been fallow since the1950’s, at which time Lovena and Curtis Horner grew corn and other crops. They started the fruits and were stewards of the land into their 80’s until 2005 when the four households bought the property.
What we Grow
Backyard Bounty offers a diverse mix of over 200 varieties of vegetables, herbs, and fruits, all year round.
- Vegetables – arugula, asian greens (over 20 varities), beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, chicories,
collards, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuces, mustards, onions, peas, potatoes, parsnips, peas, peppers, radishes, rutabaga, squashes, tomatoes, and turnips.
- Herbs – basil, cilantro, dill, parsley, and rosemary.
- Fruits- figs, grapes, kiwis, persimmons, plums.
Farming Methods: Natural Style!
Farming techniques adjust to each site, according to observations about the specific ecosystems. I try to incorporate the following into my methods.
*Varieties chosen with nutrition, flavor, and yield in mind. Ninety-nine% open pollinated seed source.
*No synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides or genetically modified seeds.
*Amendments added to build soil fertility including alfalfa meal, kelp meal, rock phosphate, dolomite and agricultural lime, and azomite.
*Low til.
*Limited inputs and energy expended.
*Transport produce by bicycle trailer.
*Save seeds.
*Low water usage and dry gardening crops.
*Insectary plants and providing habitat for wildlife.
*Crop rotation and cover cropping.
