Page A-4
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Good Shepherd
Lutheran Church
Farming in the valley
By Christine Gardiner
The Illinois Valley is blessed with
a variety of climates and soils, from
O’Brien to Takilma, from Waldo to
Kerby and Selma. Lots of folks move
here to farm with various goals, to
experience the great variability of local
weather along with the challenges and
independence of small-scale farming.
Dale DeVorss and his wife,
Barbara, moved to Selma in 1986 from
Fort Bragg, Calif., where he worked in
the woods and in the mills. They had
found their dream property on Eight
Dollar Mountain Road. After a few
years there, a piece of raw land with an
unfinished house in Kerby, came on the
market. The land market was depressed
back then, so they bought the land
cheap in 1989, moved in and finished
the house.
Dale started small, growing a few
acres of corn and “a few tomatoes.”
He called it “gardening” in the early
years, while working either in timber
or drywalling to make ends meet.
The farm really began to sustain them
financially around 1997. Kerbyville
Farm is now 30 acres in size, blessed
with an abundance of good water and
fertile, floodplain soils.
The main crops at Kerbyville
Farm have been corn, melons,
tomatoes and strawberries. Dale also
grows onions, sugar snap peas, beans,
peppers, potatoes, summer and winter
squashes and pumpkins. This year
he’ll grow raspberries and strawberries
on the farm. Each year he brings in
blueberries from Willamette Valley in
refrigerated trucks, and sweet peaches
from Maryhill, Wash.
Corn is the number one crop
because folks can buy it and eat it all
summer long, so a farm can supply
lots of it for a few months. Kerbyville
Farm grows some of the best corn in
the valley, with competition from his
neighbor Nelson’s “Sweet Cron” farm.
Dale says some of the great challenges
of corn include problems like weeding,
planting it correctly, watering and
keeping the soil fertility as high as corn
likes it. Dale grows high sugar varieties
of hybrid corn, and that’s why his corn
tastes so good. Hybrid corn seed is
very expensive, and the farmer can’t
save hybrid seed to grow the same crop
next year. So, Dale buys his corn seed
every year, and that adds to the cost of
producing that delicious corn.
Corn used to be priced at 10-12
ears/$1, but over the years, the price has
gone up, along with the costs of farming.
Now the price is around to 2-3 ears/$1.
But Dale says you can still buy corn at
12/$1, if you pay with a pre-1964 silver
dollar. Isn’t that a telling statement about
the value of the dollar today?
In recent years, Kerbyville Farm
has grown to seven employees at the peak
of harvest season which runs August to
September. Grandson Brandon Hart
added a bakery in 2008. Brandon is the
oldest of Dale’s eight grandkids, all of
whom live here in the valley. This year
Brandon gave the bakery a new name,
“Hart’s Bakery.” In 2011 he’ll offer pies
and turnovers made with local fruit and
a new line of cinnamon rolls. Kerbyville
Farm also sells the fabulous breads
by Marcy Sowa, baked in the Selma
Community Center kitchen. Look for
the Grand Opening of Hart’s Bakery
coming in June.
Dale’s new bride, Renee, is a
bright addition to Kerbyville Farm,
as the family diversifies the farm’s
offerings to the community. Kerbyville
Farm is the only outlet for local,
organic eggs in our valley. Local
organic eggs not only look and taste
better; they are lower in cholesterol
and higher in anti-oxidants and beta-
carotene. These high-quality eggs are
just as much medicine as they are food.
Dale would like to carry more eggs, so
local egg producers can contact him to
see about selling eggs there. He can be
reached by email at dale@cavenet.com
or calling 541-592-2638.
Remember that local farms provide
real Homeland Security. It’s important
for everyone to support your local
farmer, because only a local farm has
the ability to grow that food again next
year. Dale says America needs more
young farmers and more opportunities
for young farmers. America may have
to feed itself as a nation sooner than
many people think. Every time you buy
food from a local farm, you are part of
the solution to America’s economic
crisis. Every dollar is a vote.
Valley resident Christine Gardiner
will make occasional volunteer column
contributions to the Illinois Valley
News that deal with local, sustainable
agriculture.
Memorial
Service
Find Us at
The Guild Gallery
IV Visitor’s Center
Forest Edge Farm
LLOyD WHItE - A
celebration of life for Lloyd
White that was originally
scheduled for June 16 has
been changed. The new
date is Saturday, July 9 at
2pm at the White Ranch.
The day of Pentecost can
have up to three meanings. For
the Jewish people over time it
has been a harvest-festival day,
since the small-grain crop was
being harvested. It was also a
time to mark the giving of the
Ten Commandments to Moses
at Mount Sinai. Those are two
good reasons to celebrate.
For the people of the Church
it has still another meaning,
as Christians recognize the
coming of the Holy Spirit
to empower the church for
ministry in their time and
place. That is not just a fact
to celebrate but an important
factor to rely on, even on a
daily basis. The Spirit helps --
even enables the believer -- to
share their faith. The Spirit also
causes the hearer to believe in
the Lord and receive his grace
and mercy through Christ.
Facts to celebrate in this day
and age. Faith factors to rely
upon on a daily basis.
Good Shepherd Church
Council meeting --
Wednesday @ 7pm [6/15]
Good Shepherd Singers
rehearse -- Thursday @ 4pm
All-Comers Bible Class --
Sundays @ 9:15am
Worship & Communion --
Sundays @ 10am
More weather to come
Time to buy your new
HAND-FELTED LLAMA WOOL HAT
at Pottsville
Saturday, June 18, 9 to 5
Sunday, June 19, 9 to 4:30
Food Booths - Flea Market - Miniature Railroad - Pony
Rides - Tractor Pull - Spinning, Weaving, Quilting,
Broom Making, Blacksmithing
Raffle - Fairbanks Morse 3 hp
1921 Engine Style Z
1947 Case VAO Tractor
0322
For information,
phone (541) 479-2981
Senior Lunch
Menu
Sponsored by
School’s Out ... Let’s Eat!
All children can come to this location and
have a nutritious summer meal at no cost!
When is
the
right time
for
hospice?
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Beyond Loss Support Group
Mondays 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Mutual support ~ open to adults (over 18)
Heart of Summer Benefit Gala
Saturday, July 9 - Countryside Village
Wine & chocolate tasting, dinner, silent auction
Celebrating 30 years of Lovejoy Hospice serving
southern Oregon. Watch for further details!
Lovejoy Hospice, founded in 1981 as an independent, not-for-profit
community service organization, provides compassionate hospice care
and bereavement services for adults and children in Josephine, Jackson
and parts of Douglas counties. For information, or to make a gift, call (541)
474-1193 or visit www.lovejoyhospice.org.
When: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
June 21 through August 21
Time:
Breakfast at 9:00am
Lunch at 12:00pm
Where:
9367 Takilma Road
Local Sponsor:
Dome School
Summer Rangers Program
The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
0541
“Early" help from hospice offers patients
and their families the best opportunity to avoid
struggling with symptoms and challenges of a
life-limiting illness.
When a physician has said that there is no
fix for a serious illness or decline in health, it is
time to think about the caring help of hospice.
Questions? Ask your physician or contact us.
THURSDAY, June 16
Baked Ham w/ mustard
sauce, colcannon pota-
toes, seasoned carrots, rye
bread, birthday cake
FRIDAY, June 17
Meatloaf w/ gravy, parslied
potatoes, mixed vegetables,
squash bread, Grace’s choco-
late chip cookie
MONDAY, June 20
Chicken a la King, whipped
541
592-3562
potatoes, green peas, whole
wheat bread, pineapple crisp
TUESDAY, June 21
Vegetable cheese strata,
escalloped tomatoes, spinach
romaine salad, garlic roll, fresh
cantaloupe
WEDNESDAY, June 22
Roast turkey w/ gravy, lyon-
naise potatoes, broccoli cuts,
herb bread, birthday cake
Meals are served in the Cave Junction County Building.
541-592-2126, 541-955-8839
Places of Worship
BRIDGEVIEW
COMMUNITY CHURCH
5181 Holland Loop, CJ
541-592-3923
“We celebrate God’s Presence
in our lives!”
Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
* * *
7th DAY ADVENTIST
265 S. Old Stage Rd., CJ
Sabbath School - 9:30 a.m.
Saturday Worship 11 a.m.
Prayer/Praise 7 p.m. Tuesday
Pastor Marvin Clark
Church (541) 955-4943
Madrone Adventist School
541-592-3330
* * *
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
OF SELMA
18285 Redwood Hwy., Selma
541-597-4169
Pastor Monty Pope
Sunday School - 9:45 a.m.
Worship - 11 a.m.
** *
COMMUNITY BIBLE CHURCH
Pastor Dave Gordon
113 S. Caves Ave., CJ
Office: 541-592-3896
Email: cbccca@cavenet.com
Sunday Worship - 10:30 a.m.
Christian Academy
Pre-K to 12th grade
Awana - Wednesdays - 6 p.m.
IMMANUEL UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
200 Watkins St., CJ
Phone 541-592-3876
Pastor Charles Chase
Sunday School - 9:15 a.m.
Sunday Worship - 9:15 a.m.
Child-care for small children
* * *
ST. PATRICK OF THE FOREST
CATHOLIC CHURCH
407 W. River St., CJ
541-592-3658
Fr. William Holtzinger, Pastor
Mass - Sunday 11 a.m..
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Sunday - 10:30 a.m.
Holy Days TBA
* * *
GOOD SHEPHERD
LUTHERAN CHURCH
East River Street
& Lewis Court, CJ
Pastor Don Torala
Sunday School - 9:15 a.m.
Sunday Worship - 10 a.m.
Tuesday Youth group - 6 p.m.
Church Phone: 541-592-2290
www.goodshepherdlutheraniv.net
***
ILLINOIS VALLEY
PENTECOSTALS
987 Caves Hwy., CJ
541-592-4716 or 541-218-2792
Sunday - 2:30 p.m.
TAKILMA BIBLE CHURCH
10300 Takilma Road, Takilma
Pastor Dan Robinson
Bible Study / Prayer Time
9:30 a.m.
Morning Worship 11 a.m.
Wednesday Bible Study
7 p.m.
* * *
VALLEY EVANGELICAL
FREE CHURCH
498 Laurel Road, CJ
P.O. Box 1248
Pastor Marvin Porter
Sunday School - 9:45 a.m.
Worship Service - 11 a.m.
evfree@frontiernet.net
541-592-6160
* * *
FOUNTAIN OF LIFE
ASSEMBLY OF GOD
451 S. Junction Ave., CJ
541-592-3956
Pastor Mark McLean
Sunday School - 10 a.m.
Morning Worship - 11 a.m.
Evening Worship - 6 p.m.
Wednesday - 7 p.m.
Adult Bible Study
***
ST. MATTHIAS EPISCOPAL
CHURCH
25904 Redwood Hwy., CJ
541-592-2006
Rev. James Boston
Worship Service - 5 p.m.
1st Sunday of each month
THE CHURCH OF JESUS
CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY
SAINTS
209 S. Junction Ave., CJ
Sacrament Meet - 10 a.m.
Sunday School - 11:20 a.m.
Priesthood, Relief Soc. -
12:10 p.m.
Bishop G. Frank Sybrant
541-245-3394
* * *