Annual Meeting

Downstream Effects/Oregon Sustainable Agriculture Land Trust

Oregon Sustainable Agriculture Land Trust, Inc.

OSALT Joint Board

1/14/2006

Minutes

The meeting was called to order by Will Newman II at 1:14 pm.

Trustees present: Susan W. Clark, Will Newman II

Board Members present: Will Newman II (President), Stephen Shibley (Treasurer), Karen Tillou (Secretary)

Joint Board Members present: Sean Ragain, Will Newman II

Absent: David Reid

Invited Guests present: Steven Reid (webmaster), Kim McDodge (Ariadne Garden site manager), Hironao Miyoshi and Seiko Kametani (Growers at Natural Harvest Farm), Sybil Kelley (Champion for Emerson Street Garden), John Brush and Brenna Bell (Tryon Life Community Farm) and 23 others.

Pam Leitch, Sherry Spenser, Hironao Miyoshi, Seiko Kametani, Kim McDodge, Terrence Dodge, Lisa LaPine, Paul Sunderland, John Martinson, Sybil Kelly, Jon Dragt, John Gardiner, Christine Perala-Gardiner, Liz Belz-Templeman, Steve Radtke, Rick Reid, Steven Reid, Pat Bozanich, Bev Koch, Tom Winterrowd, John Brush, Brenna Bell, Judy Bluehorse.

Will described the tripartite operating structure of OSALT and explained that this meeting is a simultaneous meeting of the Trustees of the Trust, the Board of Directors of the Corporation, and the Members of the Joint Board.

OSALT is two organizations; the Trust was formed ten years ago. The corporation was formed when we found out that tax exempt status was going to be denied to the trust, but would be allowed if we incorporated, so we did. The tax-exempt status is important to help us continue to protect the land by preventing the forced sale of land to pay high property taxes.

The Trust and the Corporation created the Joint Board and authorized it to act for them both in ordinary operations. This meeting includes both entities and the Joint Board.

Reports:

Operations – Will Newman said that OSALT has been fairly quiet for the past several years. We went through a lengthy IRS audit, but after many copies and months, the auditor gave us a complete clean bill of health. Water rights cost quite a bit and a final bill was on hold waiting for funds, which we raised by selling a collection of used equipment. Applications for tax exemption have been filed for NHF, Ariadne, and the Greeley Orchard, with NHF now approved.

Will reported on the OSALT application to the Greenspaces Program in Multnomah County. We have just recently been deeded what we are calling the Greeley Orchard. At the end of 2005 we had no debt, new property, more visibility, a reconstructed website, and much more momentum.

Web Site – Steven Reid did the website for Home Orchard Society and is now rewriting OSALT’s. He reported that there is now online class registration, land descriptions, how to donate land, research projects and articles about them, links, and a structure that will be easy for Will to maintain.

Ariadne Garden – Kim McDodge reported on Ariadne. Mulch was pulled off too soon last spring and fertility suffered. Mineral cycle was impacted by heavy rain. Compost isn’t the best, but they keep working on it. It includes contributions from a chicken, some guinea pigs, and wild rodents, and is turned by community volunteers about every two months. They made about $2,000 and spent about $1,300, and keep the excess in the Albina Community Bank. They plan to trade 4 shares, grow 4 shares for volunteers and put 2 shares on the fence to give away. Community volunteers come and go. They spoke recently at the Master Gardeners, which was arranged by a long-time volunteer. A strange problem about a month ago was the arrival of a neighbor’s Cadillac all the way to the back of the garden.

Natural Harvest Farm – Sue Clark reported on NHF activites, including progress on rotational grazing fences, Open Farm Day, Harvest Festival, and Waldorf School visits, and energy independence planning.

Growers at Natural Harvest – Hironao and Seiko reported they did 27 CSA shares. They offered their photos of rodents and a very funny poster of rodent life cycles. They presented reports on rodent control trials and wool and plastic mulch trials. They are mulching to support fungal growth in the vegetable beds. In 2006 they will continue the CSA, but with fewer shares and a break in their deliveries.

Tryon Life Community Farm – Brenna Bell talked about how busy they’ve been raising money and saving the farm. It is 7 acres surrounded by Tryon Creek State Park, which was targeted for development into high end homes. They bought the developer’s option. They had 8 months to raise $1.4M while raising their gardens and running their educational programs. Just a few days ago they closed on the property. John Brush explained the purchase. Conservation easements are owned by government entities (Metro, City of Portland). Having OSALT involved was really helpful. They worked with Equity Trust, modifying a community land trust lease, so they have a 99-year ground lease which limits what can be done on the land but allows some flexibility.

They have been moving their gardens toward permaculture, bio-intensive plantings, mixing annuals and orchards. This coming year they will do a major design process with the many partners that have come forward during 2005.

Village Building Convergence launch party will be tonight and it will also be a victory party for the farm. There will be more celebrations, but they aren’t fully planned yet.

Greeley Orchard – Will explained another piece of land that has come into the trust in 2005. It is a land locked acre in NE Portland, with a wide sidewalk and bus stop nearby. It is will be one of the major projects of 2006. Terrence Dodge noted there is a farmer’s market at the Kaiser facility on Interstate.

Emerson Street Garden – This is a 25’x100’ on NE Emerson, which is contaminated with lead. Sybil has been trying to turn this lot into a garden for a decade. She said she moved into the neighborhood. The lot was behind the house she was living in and she pictured it being a little educational garden. It was designated a brownfield property, and she is looking forward to doing remediation on the property as a part of a community education project. DEQ is involved with this property and Sean Ragain has been involved in the clean up planning. Sean wrote a work plan, met with government representatives. There may be DEQ fees ($2,000, or $500, which may be waived, or covered by the City of Portland’s Brownfields program). Lab analysis services will be donated, and earth moving also donated. Lead tends to be primarily at the edges of the old house site and can be remediated by moving the contaminated soil, planting plants that uptake lead, and diluting the lead to acceptable levels. Will and Sybil will meet with Sean to plan how to take the project to the next level, get the plan approved by DEQ, and finalize the transfer of title.

Trustees, Corporate Board Members and Joint Board members voted to accept the reports as submitted.

New Business:

Joint Board expansion – Will explained that the expansion of the Board is needed to work on projects (see above), and also to apply for grant funding. We are looking for six to eight new board members, and Will is ready to explain the responsibilities and commitments to those interested in the possibility.

Discussion:

Christine talked about nutrients and integrating animals into food producing systems. They have lovely compost and would love to see it go into gardens. They have 1 and 2-year old compost available. They are also interested in helping to get small animals into agriculture.

Judy Bluehorse explained the food based ecological education design (FEED) program. A brochure was circulated, and John and Christine are teaching in it; so is Judy.

Will explained Diggable City on behald of Paul Sunderland, who had to leave early. The City of Portland surveyed the city for city-owned sites that are suitable for growing food. They formed sub-committees, including one on Urban Agriculture, which Paul chairs. Pam Leach serves on the committee and mentioned that there are three pilot projects being proposed that will each have a different focus.

Christine Perala Gardener and John Gardener are interested in being on the board, and so is Liz Belz-Templeman. John asked if we had plans to create a working group on energy independence. Will said the Joint Board will need to decide that. Sherry Spencer is interested but needs to take a little time to recuperate from the HOS tax issues.

Lisa Lepine suggested using the tenth anniversary to raise OSALT’s profile. Kim said it was a chance to become more politically visible.

John Gardener used the term “sister or brother organization” and suggested Water Works, which makes flow form structures as a partner in the water projects at NHF. Discussion followed, including 1% for art as a funding wource, the integration of ideas.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:42 pm by Will Newman II.

Respectfully Submitted,

Susan W. Clark, Trustee