Appeal Tribune Wednesday, February 1, 2017 3A
‘Our little farm is doing big things’
Bear Branch offers
consumers a convenient
way to stock the pantry
ANNETTE UTZ
FOR THE STAYTON MAIL
For those ready to get
away from the cans and
frozen goods and waiting
for local produce to crop
up, Bear Branch Farms
will soon have a conve-
nient way to stock the pan-
try and curb the appetite
for farm-fresh goods.
Bear Branch works on
a Community Supported
Agriculture basis, which
is essentially a farm
share. Customers pur-
chase “shares” and re-
ceive a weekly box or bag
of quality, non-GMO, pes-
ticide-free produce di-
rectly from the farm.
There are over 60 varie-
ties of vegetables, fruits
and
herbs
available
throughout the season.
The farm is currently sell-
ing 2017 CSA shares, in-
creasing from 50 in 2016
to 125 this year.
“Our little farm is do-
ing big things,” said Janis
Newsom, who owns and
operates the farm with
her husband Nate. “It is
super exciting. Yes, we’re
gearing up for an exciting
season.”
For the CSAs, the sea-
son is split into two 13-
week sessions to help
families work around sea-
sonal commitments and to
lower upfront costs. Sum-
mer 1 runs from May 13 to
Aug. 5 and Summer 2 is
Aug. 12 through Nov. 11.
The farm tries to have
at least nine varieties of
produce available weekly,
up to 14 during mid-sea-
son.
There are also three
size options and costs are
in line with both size and
length of membership.
A small share (avg. 5-7
lbs. per week) is $260 for
Summer 1 or 2, medium
shares (10-15 lbs.) go for
$325 and large shares (15 –
20 lbs.) are $390. The farm
is Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program cer-
tified to aid in the cost, en-
abling those facing diffi-
culties to still be able to
access fresh products.
To receive weekly
Bear Branch CSA goods,
pickups are scheduled
weekly at the farm, Foot-
hills Church in Stayton
and the Salem, Silverton
and Albany farmers mar-
kets.
The
system
has
changed from last year in
that members bring their
own bag, box or basket
and produce will be in
bins with labels that in-
SPECIAL TO THE STAYTON MAIL
Bear Branch Farms maintains a consistent presence at local farmers markets.
struct members to take a
certain amount of each
item based on box size.
“We tried this out dur-
ing our winter CSA and
the customers loved it,”
Janis said. “We are very
excited about this new
style as it gives you more
options as far as picking
the exact sizes for zucchi-
ni, tomatoes, etc. that you
enjoy and depending on
how you plan to use it.
“You can’t actually cus-
tomize your box but there
is a ‘swap bin’ available so
customers can trade out
items if they have aller-
gies or dietary restric-
tions or simply don’t like
something.”
Boxes can still be
washed and prepacked if
desired for an additional
fee.
Another new develop-
ment is a “member share”
program, rather like a
produce checking ac-
count. For those who don’t
appreciate surprise vege-
tables, customers can buy
a $400 share and visit the
farmers markets to gath-
er the produce of their
choice, with the cost (mi-
nus a 15 percent discount)
being deducted from their
deposit.
Either
way,
Bear
Branch sends out weekly
emails to all members
with recipes for unfamil-
iar products or new ways
to cook old favorites. The
email gives farm updates,
explains what produce
will be receive in a given
week and a reminder
about pick up times.
“You can also join our
Facebook group to swap
recipes and chat with oth-
er CSA members along
with farm owners for tips
and tricks,” said Kayla
Newsom, Nate and Janis
Newsom’s oldest daugh-
ter. “It’s a lot of fun. Peo-
ple share their ideas and
post photos of their dish-
es. It also adds a sense of
community and commu-
nity support of agricul-
ture.”
In addition to these
programs, Kayla pointed
out that they have a dona-
tion system in place for
those in need and a work
share program.
With all of this in place,
plus supplying local res-
taurants,
the
family
owned and operated farm
has come a long way since
beginning operation in
Oct. 2015 under the guid-
ing hands of Janis, Nate
and their eight children.
“We absolutely love it
here,” Janis said, “and be-
tween the (CSA), the
SNAP program and dona-
tions we can make sure
that everyone can have
healthy and nutritious
food to eat. That is our
passion.”
annetteutz1@gmail.
com or follow at twit-
ter.com/AnnetteUtz
Wurstfest brings out
the best in Mt. Angel
CHRISTENA BROOKS
SPECIAL TO THE APPEAL TRIBUNE
MT. ANGEL – The 9th
annual Wurstfest will
light up the Festhalle for
two days, Friday, Feb. 24
and Saturday the 25. Spon-
sored by the Mt. Angel
Chamber of Commerce,
this mini indoor Oktober-
fest features beer, wine,
sausage, German music
and vendor booths.
Friday is senior day,
and Saturday morning
will bring the Wurst Run
& Walk, 5K and 10K races
through the streets of Mt.
Angel. Race registration
is at http://racenorth-
west.com/wurstrun.
The library is hosting
its regular kindergarten
corner, where kids can do
crafts and take home a
free book. Music and
dancing will be on show
throughout the two-day
festival, which runs 10
a.m. to 10 p.m. both days.
Adult admission is $5,
or $10 with a specialty
beer stein. Those under
21, who must be accompa-
nied by an adult, are free.
www.edwardjones.com
Member SIPC
LOCAL ADVISORS
Salem Area
Vin Searles
Jeff Davis
Keizer Area
Surrounding Area
Sheryl Resner Bridgette Justis
FINANCIAL ADVISOR FINANCIAL ADVISOR
FINANCIAL ADVISOR
FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Mission | 503-363-0445 Liberty | 503-581-8580 Keizer | 503-304-8641 Sublimity | 503-769-3180
Michael Wooters Garry Falor Mario Montiel
Tim Yount
FINANCIAL ADVISOR FINANCIAL ADVISOR
FINANCIAL ADVISOR
FINANCIAL ADVISOR
South | 503-362-5439 West | 503-588-5426 Keizer | 503-393-8166 Silverton | 503-873-2454
STATESMAN JOURNAL FILE
The Mt. Angel Kinder Dancers perform at the Mt. Angel Wurstfest in 2015. Mt. Angel
schoolchildren also will perform at this year’s event Feb. 5-6.
Derek Gilbert Chip Hutchings
Walt Walker
FINANCIAL ADVISOR FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Commercial | 503-362-9699 Lancaster | 503-585-4689
FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Stayton | 503-769-4902
Caitlin Davis Tim Sparks
FINANCIAL ADVISOR FINANCIAL ADVISOR
West | 503-585-1464 Commercial | 503-370-6159
February plans at the Senior Center
CHRISTENA BROOKS
SPECIAL TO THE APPEAL TRIBUNE
SILVERTON – Along
with its usual low-cost yo-
ga, Zumba and tai chi
classes, the Silverton Sen-
ior Center is offering a va-
riety of events to those
aged 60 and over during
the month of February.
A few are open to all
ages, including the Sweet-
heart Dance on Sunday,
Feb. 12. It’s $5 per person
or $7 per couple. The Vin-
tage Boys will play, and
refreshments will be
served. The event runs
from 2 to 4 p.m. On Sun-
day, Feb. 25, the public is
also invited to the commu-
nity pancake breakfast
fundraiser. The meal is $5
for adults, $3 for kids un-
der 12, and free for kids
under 4.
Starting Feb. 4., sen-
iors can get free tax ad-
vice every Saturday from
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Coordi-
nated by the AARP, this
tax help doesn’t end until
April 15 has passed. Ser-
vices will be provided on a
first-come-first-served
basis.
Also scheduled for
Feb. 4 is a free community
volunteer fair from 9 a.m.
to 1 p.m., a chance for at-
tendees to peruse the va-
riety of service opportu-
nities in our area. Local
non-profits and service
clubs will be on hand to
explain their volunteer
needs.
Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 6:30
p.m. is the center’s free
“Compassionate Friend”
grief support group for
anyone who’s experi-
enced the loss of a loved
one.
A free gardening class
with expert Dale Small is
scheduled for 2 p.m. on
Feb. 8.
Tuesday, Feb. 21 will
bring a free hypnosis
class at 1 p.m. led by How-
ard L. Hamilton, followed
by a free Alzheimer’s sup-
port group at 2 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 23 is a
Mt. Angel resident lands scholarship
CHRISTENA BROOKS
SPECIAL TO THE APPEAL TRIBUNE
PARKLAND, Wash.—
Anthony Beyer, a Mt. An-
gel resident and student
at Blanchet Catholic High
School, has been awarded
a prestigious Pacific Lu-
theran University Presi-
dent’s Scholarship worth
$26,000 a year. PLU offers
a number of merit schol-
arships to recognize aca-
demic achievement, lead-
ership and service, as well
as the promise of con-
tinued success in these
areas as a PLU student.
The Presidential Scholar-
ships are renewable for
three additional years of
undergraduate
study.
More than 500 incoming
first year students apply
for Presidential Scholar-
ships each year, and the
standards are high: Stu-
dents who have demon-
strated significant leader-
ship and service and have
achieved a 3.8+ GPA or
1310+ SAT (math and evi-
dence-based reading and
writing scores) or 28+
ACT are eligible to apply.
Pacific Lutheran Univer-
sity, a private liberal arts
university in Tacoma,
seeks to educate students
for lives of thoughtful in-
quiry, service, leadership
and care — for other peo-
ple, for their communities
and for the Earth.
chance to get free legal
advice
appointments
from attorney Phil Kelley.
Call ahead to 503-873-3093
to reserve an appoint-
ment between 9 a.m. and
noon.
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