The Perfect Portland Gardener's Smock...

comes from Cornwall, of course. I've been coveting one of these traditional smocks for years and they've just introduced a WAXED cotton version which I think is the universe telling me buy! Buy! How perfect is this for gardeners in the Pacific Northwest? I seem to do most of my heavy garden work in the wet and muddy Spring. Peeping Toms take note: I often end up stripping down on my front doorstep before coming inside after a Spring gardening session. And how cool and jaunty is this big collar? I love a big collar. I'd look so cool in my garden OR on my yacht.

Cornwall is also home of the "cream tea" (if you're like me you like the sound of that before you even know what it is). It's an afternoon tea of hot scones served with clotted cream and jam. Oh yeah. Can we get a Portland food truck for that?

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Food Works Farm

Last Spring I had the opportunity to visit Food Works, a youth-run farm on Sauvie Island that pretty much blew my mind. What these kids are doing is so inspiring. What first started as a tiny 20′ by 20′ neighborhood plot by some parents aiming to keep their kids out of trouble in a low-income housing development in North Portland has grown into a full-fledged youth employment project now in it’s 12th year.

Food Works sells produce at farmers markets and to restaurants. They have a CSA. They sell their food at the associated Village Market, Portland’s first non-profit healthy corner store. The crew donates produce and volunteers at hunger relief organizations. They give public cooking demos to inspire and educate people about using fresh produce. And they do it ALL with very limited guidance or help--they have just a couple program supervisors--but have remained the driving force behind all their activities. Amazing.

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