8A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL June 22, 2016
From the Fields
Passing it on — Ruby and Amber's
helps teach the next generation
Exploring Cottage Grove area farms
BY JON STINNETT
The Cottage Grove Sentinel
To market, to market, or,
taking the crops to town
BY JON STINNETT
The Cottage Grove Sentinel
E
ach Thursday afternoon since the weath-
er has warmed, a group of area farmers
cleans the life-giving Oregon soil from their
boots and their ripe produce, wipes the sweat
from several brows and converges upon a
small stretch of pavement in downtown Cot-
tage Grove.
The South Valley Farmers Market happens
from 4-6 p.m. each Thursday at the corner
of Seventh and Main Streets, and while it’s
certainly not the fi rst such market to operate
in this community — there’s been a farmers
market here for several years, and the current
version happens in the same spot as a prede-
cessor that occurred about a decade ago — a
larger lineup and more produce means that
more farmers than ever see the market as a vi-
able way to offer their wares directly to the
public.
It’s a young group, by and large, the next
generation that’s dedicated to working the soil,
to managing and supporting the operations of
small farms tucked into the picturesque hill-
sides of the southern Willamette Valley. Some
of these farms have operated for years, while
some are quite new, but the market represents
for each the desire for a more local focus in
their business and a concentrated effort to in-
teract with the public that their produce helps
to nourish and support.
And so, the Sentinel offers a new feature
series dedicated to exploring and cataloging
the life and times of many of the area’s farms
and farmers, to showcasing the products and
ideas that fi nd their way “From the Fields” to
Cottage Grove.
At left: Karen Mar-
tens and son Ed-
die dig potatoes at
Ruby and Amber's
Organic Oasis.
Above right:
Martens shows off
the 'fruits' of her
labor.
photos by Jon Stinnett
O
n a sun-baked late spring day at Ruby and
Amber’s Organic Oasis outside Dorena, it’s
even hotter under the long hoop houses than it is in
the open air.
Yet it’s under the hoops that Karen Martens toils
with her nearly three-year old son, Eddie, always
nearby. Martens turns a trowel full of aromatic black
dirt to fi nd the prize — potatoes with skins that gleam
golden or showcase a deep brownish red when rinsed
clean of soil. Eddie helps out when he can, though
he’s more interested in peeling the new spuds than
mom might appreciate. The soaring temperatures
mean that summer is coming on fast, and these pota-
toes must be harvested to make way for hot-weather
crops like corn and peppers.
This year marks the ninth growing season for Mar-
tens, who hired on as a laborer but has expanded her
infl uence at Ruby and Amber’s to include the man-
agement of some projects there. Along the way, she’s
learned many of the methods, techniques and secrets
that have been the mainstay of the certifi ed organic
and biodynamic operation since owner Walt Bernard
began working the ground there with the two draft
horses that gave the farm its name.
Like many local farms, teaching the methods of
sustainable farming to the next generation is a big
part of the operations at Ruby and Amber’s. Bernard
champions biodynamic farming and the use of hors-
es to work his land while keeping outside inputs to a
minimum, and he offers workshops that draw those
who seek to learn the craft from far and wide.
“It’s defi nitely a trend in farming that everybody
seems to be including that education piece,” said
Martens, who pointed out that Ruby and Amber’s
is currently in a “phase of growth” that includes the
total redesign and upgrade of many of its systems.
She said the outside infl uence of those who journey
there to learn those systems helps keep the farm
humming.
“Things have really grown now that we have new
people,” Martens says, brushing aside the obvious
pun.
Two of those “new people,” Justin and Teagan
Moran, call the farm their home in addition to their
workplace, and they say they’re quite happy there.
The couple came to the area through an internship
placement with the Rogue Farm Corps, which of-
fers hands-on experience at many commercial farms
throughout Oregon.
“There are plenty of farms here that need good
help, and you can be a part of a business that helps
sustain the needs of local people,” said Justin Moran,
who came to Oregon from Devon, England, which
boasts its own ancient farms. Like many who seek
out the skills of farming these days, he said he found
himself dissatisfi ed with the routines of living in an-
other setting.
“Sustainable agriculture is attracting young people
because there are plenty of us who had a career, who
went to college but became disillusioned or weren’t
happy with that,” he said. “Here, we’re doing some-
thing positive; we’re growing food that becomes a
part of a bigger picture, part of a solution to ecologi-
cal and social challenges.”
Though he came from an area of farms, Moran
said that the practice of farming doesn’t have the
same cachet in England that it does here.
“There’s tons of farmer worship,” he said. “It’s
cool to be a farmer here. There’s a strong image of
the family farm in America, and people want to see
and support them.”
And in an age where families passing down the
operations of their farms through generations is no
longer a given, the energy and enthusiasm of those
who seek the farm life later in their own journeys
could be the key to sustaining local farms into the
future.
“Kids don’t necessarily want to stay on the farms
they grew up on anymore,” Martens said. “It’s pro-
vided a place for a lot of young people to come and
make a real difference.”
LCC
Continued from page 1A
support resource for parents.
With regard to the college’s
hope for the Cottage Grove facil-
ity, Kuhar, LCC’s Interim Dean,
said that the college is commit-
ted to making the CG campus
sustainable and active and is in-
terested in fostering community
partnerships to make it happen.
Herburger shared a number of
short-term goals that LCC has
identifi ed for Cottage Grove:
To explore the viability of a re-
cording studio; the college has
circulated a survey on whether
such a facility would be benefi -
cial. The college hopes to offer
non-credit training certifi cates
to offer more short-term tech-
nical training programs includ-
ing Heritage, GLOBE (Global
Learning and Observations to
Benefi t the Environment) and
other professional development
opportunities. It also seeks to
establish a weather center on
campus and increase the pres-
ence of the Small Business De-
velopment Center (SBDC) and
customized training here.
Herburger stated that the
main challenges at the local
center were assessing the needs
of the local population, fi nding
qualifi ed non-credit instructors,
marketing and improving the
college’s local image and fund-
raising.
During the election of a com-
mittee chair, KNND owner Cam-
eron Reiten stepped forward,
and Alan Baas volunteered to
serve as vice-convener.
The committee plans to meet
again in mid-July, at which time
a subcommittee will present by-
laws and a mission statement for
the larger group’s approval.
oral Certifi cate of Appreciation
for its work there, and in 2014
the park was honored with the
American Institute of Architects
People’s Choice Award. Also in
2014, Andrea was interviewed
about the park by the Portland
gardening show “Garden Time
TV.”
For Mull, who works at Ter-
ritorial Seed, her efforts in Cot-
tage Grove are part of a love of
gardening that has only grown
since her early years, through
25 years of work in Oregon and
California, trainings in the prac-
tice of bio-dynamics and studies
in environmental science and
biology.
“It’s pretty much been pres-
ent in every facet of my life,”
she said.
“an opportunity for us to be-
come involved in a high-profi le,
civic project.”
Mull now leads the club’s
involvement with the park, or-
ganizing volunteers to plant,
prune, maintain and mulch its
beds. Her work has led to oth-
er accolades for the park: In
2011, the club received a May-
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Walk-ins Welcome
Cottage Grove Lane Community College
G ARDENER
Continued from page 1A
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W orship D irectory
DRAIN:
Gateway Family Fellowship
Church of the Nazarene
337 “C” St. Drain, OR
Sunday School 9:30am
Worship 10:45am
Living Hope Free Lunch
Wed. at 12:30pm
541-836-7051 www.drainnaz.org
HOPE U.M.C.
131 W “A” St. Drain, OR
541-315-1617
Pastor: Lura Kidner-Miesen
Bible Study: 10:45am
Potluck Lunch: Noon
Worship: 12:45pm
COTTAGE GROVE:
6th & Gibbs Church of Christ
195 N. 6th St. • 541-942-3822
Pastor: Aaron Earlywine
Youth & Families Pastor: Seth Bailey
Services: 9am and 10:30am
Christian Education
Nursery for pre-k - 3rd Grade
www.6thandgibbs.com
Calvary Baptist Church
77873 S 6th St • 541-942-4290
Pastor: Riley Hendricks
Sunday School: 9:45am
Worship: 11:00am
The Journey: Sunday 5:00pm
Praying Thru Life: Wednesday 6:00pm
Calvary Chapel Cottage Grove
1447 Hwy 99 (Village Plaza)
541-942-6842
Pastor: Jeff Smith
Two Services on Sun: 9am & 10:45am
Youth Group Bible Study
Child Care 10:45am Service Only
www.cgcalvary.org
Church of Christ
420 Monroe St • 541-942-8565
Sunday Service: 10:30am
Cottage Grove Bible Church
1200 East Quincy Avenue
541-942-4771
Pastor:Bob Singer
Worship 11am
Sunday School:9:45am
AWANA age 3-8th Grade,
Wednesdays Sept-May, 6:30pm
www.cgbible.org
Cottage Grove Faith Center
33761 Row River Rd. • 541-942-4851
Lead Pastor: Isaac Hovet
www.cg4.tv
2 Sunday Services: 9am & 11am
Full Childrenʼs Ministry available
Covered Bridge Nazarene Church
152 S. M St.
541-942-4422
Pastor: Cindy Slaymaker
Sunday School: 9:30am
Worship 10:30am
Delight Valley
Church of Christ
33087 Saginaw Rd. East
541-942-7711
Pastor: Bob Friend
Two Services:
9am - Classic in the Chapel
10:30am - Contemporary in the
Auditorium
First Presbyterian Church
3rd and Adams St • 541-942-4479
Pastor: Karen Hill
Worship: 10:00am
Sunday School: 10:00am
www.cgpresbynews.com
Grove Community Church
77820 Mosby Creek Rd.
Cottage Grove, OR 97424
541-942-0123
Pastor: Bryan Parsons
Worship: 10:30 a.m.
Nursery: Infant - Pre-K
Kidʼs Church: K to 5th grade
Hope Fellowship
United Pentecostal Church
100 S. Gateway Blvd. • 541-942-2061
Pastor: Dave Bragg
Worship: 11:00am Sunday
Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday
www.hopefellowshipupc.com
“FINDING HOPE IN YOUR LIFE”
Living Faith Assembly
467 S. 10th St. • 541-942-2612
Pastor Rulon Combs
Sunday School All Ages 9am
Worship & Childrenʼs
Church 10:00 am
Sat Evening Service 6:00pm
Youth 180 Mondays 5:30-8pm
Non-Denominational
Church of Christ
1041 Pennoyer Ave * 541-767-0447
Preachers: Tony Martin & Robert Evans
Sunday Bible Study:10:00am
Sunday Worship:10:50am & 5:30pm
www.pennoyeravecoc.com
Old Time Gospel Fellowship
103 S. 5th St. • 541-942-4999
Pastor: Jim Edwards
Sunday Service: 10:00am
Join us in Traditional
Christian Worship
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
and St. Philip Benizi
Catholic Churches
1025 N. 19th St.
541-942-3420 / 541-942-4712
Pastor: Roy L. Antunez, S.J.
Euch. Liturgies; Sat. 5:30pm
Sun. 10:30am
St. Philip Benizi, Creswell:
552 Holbrock Lane • 541-895-8686
Sunday: 8:30am
St. Andrews Episcopal Church
1301 W. Main • 541-767-9050
Rev. Lawrence Crumb
“Church with the fl ags.”
Worship: Sunday 10:30am
All Welcome
Seventh-day Adventist Church
820 South 10th Street
541-942-5213
Pastor: Kevin Miller
Bible Study: Saturday, 9:15 am
Worship Service: Saturday, 10:40 am
Mid-week Service: Wednesday, 1:00 pm
Trinity Lutheran Church
6th & Quincy • 541-942-2373
Pastor: James L. Markus
Sunday School & Adult Education 9:15am
Sundway Worship 10:30 am
Comm. Kitchen Free Meal Tue & Thur
5:00pm TLC Groups
tlccg.com
United Methodist Church
334 Washington • 541-942-3033
Pastor:Lura Kidner-Miesen
Worship: 10:30am
Comm. Dinner (Adults $5, Kids Free)
2nd & 3rd Monday 5-6:00pm
cottagegroveumc.org
“VICTORY” Country Church
913 S. 6th Street • 541-942-5913
Pastor: Barbara Dockery
Worship Service: 10:00am
Message:
11:00am
“WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES”
Our Worship
Directory is a
weekly feature in
the newspaper. If
your congregation
would like to
be a part of this
directory, please
contact the
Cottage Grove
Sentinel
at 541-942-3325.