Village Gardens Farmers Market Starts July 10th!

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Village Gardens Farmers Market
Thursdays 3pm-7pm
July 10th-August 28th

Village Gardens’ Farmers Market  is excited to be returning to New Columbia for our second season! Located outside of Village Market (4632 N. Trenton), the Farmers Market will provide local, seasonal and cultural vegetables grown by Village Gardens Market Gardener and certified organic produce from Food Works Farm representing the culturally diverse neighborhoods of New Columbia and Portsmouth. The Village Gardens Market Gardeners hail from the Congo, Burundi and Mexico. They will have a wide variety of  unique and cultural vegetables, such as: Amaranth leaf, squash leaf, bean leaf, African eggplant, chili pepper, tomatillos and squash blossoms to name a few. Please join us Thursday evenings for a fun and festive event, shop for produce, enjoy some injera with lentils or tamales with aqua fresca! This is sure to be a great community event, and a great way to support the neighborhood growers and  producers of these amazing products!

Support Food Works! Sign Up for their CSA Today!

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Join the Food Works 2014 CSA!

Our CSA is designed for folks who want to support the Food Works program as well as receive great farm fresh produce! For 21 weeks, from mid June through the end of October (Starting June 11), you’ll pick up your weekly share of beautiful, local, organic produce at one of three drop sites. You’ll also be supporting low income families in North Portland to receive the same beautiful, local, organic produce for free. 

How much does it cost?

The 21 week CSA share is $600. We think that this is a great value for the amount of local organic produce you will receive.

How Do I Join the CSA?

Email us at foodworks@janusyouth.org for information regarding the CSA.

Where Are Our Drop Sites?

We offer 4 sites to pick up your weekly box at:

  • Portland State Farmers Market (Saturday, Downtown Portland)
  • St. Johns Farmers Market (Saturday, St. Johns)
  • Village Market (Wednesday, St. Johns)
  • Sisters of the Road (Thursday, Downtown Portland)

What’s In Our CSA Share?

  • Always Includes 7-12 different vegetables each week
  • It’s a great size for a family of four or a couple hungry adults.
  • Includes the Food Works newsletter that keeps you up to date on farm happenings, what’s in season, our favoriterecipes, youth writings and Food Works program updates.

Testimony from our 2012 CSA members:

“MUCH better than previous CSAs that I have participated in. Everything was *super* fresh.”
“Always fantastic: fresh, not even anything that was past its prime, and with just the right amount of dirt / imperfections to make it feel like you’re eating real food. Am going to miss it until next year.”
“Great variety of produce, seeing the students working at the market, great value.”

 Below is sample CSA Boxes from the 2013 season:

Questions?

Please email us at foodworks@janusyouth.org with any questions that you have about the Food Works CSA. We would love to support you to become a member.

Second Annual Spring Fundraiser

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Join Village Gardens for our second annual spring fundraising event, an inspiring opportunity to celebrate and learn about Village Gardens work to create a more just and healthy food system in Portland. The evening will include food from James Beard Nominee Cathy Whims of Nostrana, community participant presentations highlighting program successes and a silent and live auction. 

Thanks to all our Event Sponsors and Donors!
Event Details

  • Friday, March 14 6:00-9:00pm
  • Bauccio Commons, University of Portland

Funds raised at this event will be used to strengthen programs like Food Works which support youth to grow as strong food system advocates,  assistcommunityleaderstooperatetheVillage Market, Portland’s first non-profit healthy corner store, develop powerful community organizers addressing community health through the Community Health Worker program, and strengthen channels for food access andsocial capital through community gardens,  theurbanlivestock   project, market gardener and micro-enterprise projects.

Generously Sponsored By

Attend the Event

  • Individual tickets for our Spring Fundraiser are $50.
  • Ticket sales will be closed Thursday, March 13th at 8:00 pm.
  • Buy Tickets Online ~ Purchase tickets online now and pick up your tickets at the door at will call.
  • Mail a Check~ Print out a registration form and mail your payment to Village Gardens, c/o Janus Youth, 707 NE Couch St, Portland OR, 97232. Tickets will be held at will call at the event.

Sponsor a Table

A Table Sponsor helps to support a successful event and fills the room with individuals interested in learning more about how Village Gardens is building a healthy, community-based food system. Your $500 table sponsorship includes 8 tickets to the event, recognition on table place cards, event program and online materials. 

Become an Event Sponsor

We are grateful for partner organizations, sponsors, funders, and volunteers who make our work possible each year. Contact Amber Baker at abaker@janusyouth.org with any questions or for more information. Thank you for your support!

Happy Holidays from Village Gardens

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Dear Village Gardens community,

As I think back on the 2013 season, I am touched by the deep dedication of our community leaders, staff, and each of you who have contributed to the success of Village Gardens this year.This season I stepped away from the program to welcome the birth of my first child, and our dedicated team continued to advance the good work of Village Gardens, while short-staffed for much of the growing season. This incredible team launched a new micro-enterprise project supporting families to begin growing produce to sell for the market, and others to begin prepared food businesses using the Village Market kitchen. Our team began a new community farmers market in New Columbia where these new enterprises showcased their products and sold healthy, culturally relevant foods back to their neighbors.  Garden leaders partnered with the   Portland Fruit Tree project to plant the first ever community orchard on a housing authority property. Our Community Health Worker team engaged in regional health care reform dialogues advocating for their communities and for peer health promotion. Gardens flourished, trees were planted, chickens foraged, youth grew into strong leaders.

2013 also marked the launch of our first annual fundraising dinner to support Village Gardens’ social justice work. With wonderful community support, we raised $33,000 for our programs. This winter we invite you to help us build on that momentum as we wrap up this incredible year. To continue to bring a spirit of hope to communities through food justice work, health promotion and positive neighborhood transformation, we need your help.  Please consider a gift to Village Gardens this holiday season.  At Village Gardens we absolutely know that “it takes a village.” Thank you for being a part of ours.

With deep gratitude,
Amber Baker
Village Gardens Program Director

Village Gardens 2013 Celebration

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2013 has been a great year at Village Gardens and there is a lot to celebrate! It was a successful growing season at the Seeds of Harmony & New Beginnings Gardens and the Food Works Farm. The Village Market continues to build on its success, offering more options for the community and expanding prepared food items from the deli. The Village Gardens Community Health Workers have also been busy promoting health in their communities. Launching new programming as well, the Village Gardens team laid the foundations for our neighborhood food hub by supporting micro-enterprise projects in food production and food preparation, and assisting these new ventures in accessing marketplaces.  In 2013, four gardening families began growing produce for sale on a new plot of land on Sauvie Island through our market garden project, and Rosario, a Village Market employee, started her micro-enterprise tamale business, Playa Del Sur, using the certified kitchen in the market. We provided a outlet for their produce and Rosario’s tamales by creating the Village Gardens Farmers Market, located outside the Village Market in New Columbia. Overall it was a fun and exciting year full of growth at Village Gardens and we want to celebrate all the collective success…with you! So please join Village Gardens for an inspiring opportunity to celebrate and learn about our work to create a more just and healthy food system in Portland. The evening will include food and drink, community participant presentations and an opportunity to join our efforts.

All are welcome to this FREE EVENT
Friday, December 13th, 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Village Market,  4632 N Trenton Portland , OR 97203
6:30pm ~ Village Market Open House, Michoacán Dinner
8:00pm ~ Presentation @ New Columbia CEC
Purchase dinner prepared by Playa Del Sur
Updates on Village Gardens progress and vision for 2014.
Inspiring testimonials by Village Gardens participants.

If you would like to pre-order tamales from Playa Del Sur for Holiday Parties or stocking up the freezer, contact Jason Skipton at 971-998-4064
Chicken Tamales-$15/Dozen
Christmas Tamales-$18/Dozen
Sweet Tamales-$12/Dozen
Order by December 10th for pick up at the event December 13t

Become a Village Gardens Donor Organizer

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Information and Training Session, Thursday, November 7th, 2:00-4:00pm

Location: Fountain Room in New Columbia, Meet at the Village Market, 4632 N Trenton St

From the beginning, Village Gardens has been a strong community-led program, grown out of the vision and commitment of countless community leaders and champions.  As we enter our second decade as a program, we are working to change the way we think about funding our work.  We have seen time and again the power of community organizing and community-based solutions in addressing the most pressing issues facing the neighborhoods where we work, and we want to leverage that community power to build a broad grassroots philanthropic base for Village Gardens.

To do this we need your help!  By becoming a Village Gardens Grassroots Donor Organizer you will help to shift the way that Village Gardens funds its work in the short and long term – growing strong community-based roots, not just in our programming but in our fundraising as well.

 What does a donor organizer do?

  • Attend an orientation training at Village Garden on Thursday, November 7th, 2:00-4:00pm.
  • Work with other organizers to set your own personal fundraising goal and combined group goals (we have no minimum or maximum goals set – this process is about engaging everyone with energy to do what they can!)
  • Learn about grassroots donor organizing, practice asking for money, build your own skills as a grassroots fundraiser, build stronger relationships with the Village Gardens community, and help to spread the word about the work that we are doing.
  • Each Donor Organizer will be asked to also make an individual meaningful contribution (to be determined by each person) and ask people in your personal networks to join you in doing the same.

 Am I really qualified?

  • If you believe in Village Gardens and in empowering communities to build a strong, just, community-led food system, you are qualified!
  • If you are interested in and passionate about community-based fundraising, you are qualified!
  • If you keep hopes high and believe in the basic goodness of people, you are qualified!
  • If you know a few people who would be interested in learning more about Village Gardens, you are qualified!

If you have questions or want more information please contact Amber Baker atabaker@janusyouth.org or 503-927-0820.  If you are ready to sign-up for the Information Session, please RSVP to Amber as well.

Join our great team, work in Food Justice!

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We are hiring for a new and exciting position here at the Village Market! 

Village Market is located in the vibrant neighborhood of New Columbia, and is committed to providing its community with quality, fresh, healthy, affordable groceries. Village Market is excited to begin the process of hiring for the Prepared Foods Manager Position. Please support Village Gardens to get the word out about this employment opportunity.

This is a dynamic environment for creativity, community building, developing affordable, healthy, and accessible foods in the New Columbia neighborhood. We really are looking for someone who has experience working in a fast paced kitchen that has the skills to take our prepared foods to the next level. If you are excited about Food Justice and want to make a huge impact in your community this is the position to apply for.

Position Description:

The Prepared Foods Manager is responsible for overall daily operations of the Village Market Deli/prepared foods department.  This includes staff supervision and scheduling; merchandising, production, product and inventory management; assuring expenditures are within established budget limits; and monitoring sales and margin targets, making any resultant recommendations for change. This position is responsible for monitoring profit and loss for the deli/prepared foods department and promptly reporting when profit/loss is outside of expected limits. The position is also responsible for assuring the deli/prepared food department operates in compliance with all State and local safety and health regulations and assuring the kitchen is clean and orderly. This position works closely with other Village Gardens staff to support a thriving volunteer and community engagement process at the store and works in partnership with other Agency staff, including administrative staff, and to assure operations are in compliance with the Agency’s policies and procedures.

Application Guidelines/Contact: To be considered for this position, please submit a resume and cover letter that includes your minimum salary requirements to Melissa Allen, HR Assistant, c/o Janus Youth Programs, Inc., 707 NE Couch Street, Portland, Oregon 97232 or e-mail to her at mallen@janusyouth.org. Or they can be reached at 503.233.6090, This position is open until filled.Village Market is a part of our Village Gardens Program, a program operating under Janus Youth Programs, Inc. We value diversity and are an equal opportunity employer.

The BEST eggs in Portland!

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The eggs have been selling out quickly at the Village Gardens Farmers Market!! Get there early tomorrow to purchase the best eggs in Portland! All the proceeds from the sales of eggs go directly back into the program for chicken food, supplies and new items to make the happy chickens even happier. See you all tomorrow, Thursday, 3-7pm 4632 N. Trenton Portland, Oregon. Only 3 weeks left for the Village Gardens Farmers Market.

Local Produce on sale!

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Thanks so much to everyone who came out and supported local farmers at the Village Gardens Farmers Market yesterday! If you weren’t able to make it please join us next Thursday August 8th from 3-7pm or if you can’t wait that long come into the Village Market at 4632 N. Trenton where we are selling Food Works produce and Market Gardener Vegetables! It’s a double positive, supporting the only nonprofit grocery store in the Pacific Northwest and at the same time supporting local farmers!
See you all soon!

Food Works at the Village Gardens Farmers Market

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Look who is going to be at the next Village Gardens Farmers Market this Thursday night from 3-7pm…. yep, that’s right, Food Works!!! Join us for an evening filled with tamales, greens, cucumbers, face painting and live music!
We’ll be there with Food Works, Market Gardeners, Shave Ice and much more. 4632 N. Trenton Ave, ride your bike, walk on over, take the #4, and don’t forget your shopping bags. See you Thursday!

Village Gardens Farmers Market

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Here are some of the Market Gardeners preparing their plots for the season. Many of these farmers come from agrarian societies, Congo, Burundi, Angola, and Mexico. They all are selling their fresh produce at the Village Market and will be selling starting next week July 25th at the seasonal farmers market located at 4632 N. Trenton, right in front of the Village Market. The Village Gardens Farmers Market will run for 6 weeks, Thursdays from 3-7pm. Come out and support your neighborhood Farmer!

Village Gardens Farmers Market

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Starting next week, Thursday July 25th and running for 6 weeks, through August 29th Village Gardens will be holding a seasonal farmers market outside the Village Market Grocery Store. Located at 4632 N. Trenton. The hours are 3-7pm. We will be highlighting the amazing work of the Food Works youth, 3 Market Gardeners will be selling their new delights: squash leaves, squash blossom, beans leaves, green tomatoes and much, much more. you might be asking, what is a Market Gardener, well this is new this year to Village Gardens. We were fortunate enough to have a local land owner donate a 1/4 acre of space for 5 families to grow culturally appropriate vegetables to sell at the Village Gardens Farmers Market. So talk about local, this is local community members farming on Sauvie Island and then selling their products to their neighbors in New Columbia!

The Village Gardens Livestock project will also be selling their pasture-raised, organically feed eggs at the market.

Please come and join us on Thursday nights! There are also going to be craft tables and live music!

Thursdays July 25th – August 29th 3-7pm

Outside the Village Market, 4632 N. Trenton St

  • Food Works produce
  • Market Gardeners produce (local community members)
  • Live music
  • Craft table

North Portland Community Orchard Groundbreaking!

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North Portland Community Orchard* Groundbreaking
Saturday April 6th
10am-1pm

Join Portland Fruit Tree Project, Village Gardens, and North Portland community members for the first planting of the new North Portland Community Orchard!  Saturday April 6th 10am-1pm near the intersection of N Alaska and N Trenton (light snacks and refreshments will be provided)

The event will begin with introductions from the orchard partners, Home Forward, and special guest, Mayor Charlie Hales!

After presentations, we will commence planting of various fruit trees and plants, shrubs and bushes, and other beneficial perennials. We will also be installing a mulched bed near some existing fruit trees and mulching around all the new plantings.

Following the work party will be time to enjoy some light snacks and refreshments and celebrate the launch of this exciting new community orchard.

If you are interested in helping with the planting please register so we know how many tools to provide (if you don’t register, you are still more than welcome to come, but understand that we might not have enough tools for unregistered attendees). If you have tools (shovels, forks, soil rakes, etc.) please bring them, and let Spencer know what you are bringing (spencer@portlandfruit.org,503-284-6106)!

*The orchard is located just north of Village Gardens’ Seeds of Harmony Garden (at the intersection of N Alaska and N Trenton near the Charles Jordan Center – 9009 N Foss Ave). Please park near the Seeds of Harmony Garden and walk on the sidewalk (on the east side of the garden) north to the Orchard (note: there is no parking adjacent to the orchard).

Oregonian Article Featuring VG Spring Fundraiser

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Asha Gebibo, 64, makes injera every other day at the Village Market in New Columbia. Casey Parks/The Oregonian

Asha Gebibo, 64, makes injera every other day at the Village Market in New Columbia. Casey Parks/The Oregonian

University of Portland will host a fundraiser Friday for the nonprofit Village Gardens. The evening will include food from James Beard Nominee Cathy Whims of Nostrana, community participant presentations, videos and a silent and live auction.

Most people know Village Gardens through its corner store Village Market. The store in New Columbia offers fresh produce, take-out food from different countries and staples such as milk, bread and spices.

The organization also runs the Food Works farm on Sauvie Island and sponsors individual and family garden plots in low-income areas. The nonprofit it also offers employment opportunities for adults and teens, as well as after-school and summer activities for children and homework clubs. It also runs a livestock project, a community health worker program and a youth-run entrepreneurial business that grows and sells salad mixes at local farmers markets.

For the past 10 years, the nonprofit has focused on using grants to pay for its programs in low-income areas such as St. Johns Woods. It’s never asked for donations before. The new campaign hopes to build a network of donors. The money raised at this event will support families as they launch small market garden and farm businesses. It will create an incubator kitchen at the Village Market. And it will establish a seasonal community street farmers market in New Columbia.

They’re still looking for businesses to sponsor tables. So far, sponsors include University of Portland, and its School of Nursing, Bon Appétit, Nostrana, Portland Nursery, and New Seasons Market. Partners for the dinner include Columbia Distribution, Deschutes Brewery, Widmer Brewery, Casa Bruno, A to Z Wineworks, Alpenrose Dairy, Dry Soda and Batchpdx.

Tickets for the event, which runs 6-9 p.m. in the Bauccio Commons on campus, tickets are $40.