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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 28, 2016)
6A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL September 28, 2016 South Valley $2 From the Fields $2 Farmers Market Thursday, 4-7pm Through 10/27 Exploring Cottage Grove area farms Clip for $2 off! Beyond the homestead 7th & Main, Downtown CG Eggs Produce Meat Bakery $2 Brice Creek Croft learns to feed its community Eat Fresh, Buy local! $2 BY JON STINNETT The Cottage Grove Sentinel When Bruce Hutcheon and Val Rocco settled on the land that would become Brice Creek Croft, they originally sought to grow food for themselves. Apparently, they got too good at it. The previous few years had already been a bit of a whirlwind for the couple; they met when Hutcheon offered Rocco a ride while the latter was hitchhiking in New Zealand (really). Rocco spent time interning on a farm on Orcas Island, Wash., while Hutcheon served as an environmental consultant in his native Scotland, a gig that ended when an outbreak of hoof and mouth disease shut down many of the country’s farms. After spending time in California, the couple decided they liked the Eugene area; they would end up here in 2005. “We were planning on buying land to homestead and build there if we wanted to,” Hutcheon said. They’d settle at an idyllic piece of land on the banks of Brice Creek, with Rocco selling produce fi rst through Ruby and Amber’s Organic Oasis to the farmer’s mar- kets in Cottage Grove and Creswell. Over time, Rocco became a stalwart presence and friendly face at the Cottage Grove market, which at the time took place at Coiner Park on Wednesdays in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce’s Concerts in the Park series. Some farmers have deliberately chosen a more solitary life, and as such they aren’t cut out to sell their wares directly to the public — Rocco is exactly the opposite, and she showcases a warmth and charm that makes her the perfect salesperson of her own pro- Skilled Nursing at Coast Fork Nursing photo by Jon Stinnett Val Rocco harvests sweet corn at Brice Creek Croft, which offers its wares at Cottage Grove's Farmers Market each Thursday. their goods to the farmers market at the cor- ner of Seventh and Main streets each Thurs- day afternoon as part of a concerted effort to reach out directly to their customers, neigh- bors and friends. “For each of us to make the commitment to be there each week is huge,” she said. “We’ve focused on feeding ourselves and grown food because we love working on the land. It offers a healthy lifestyle, which is super important to me.” Rocco and Hutcheon say there’s no spe- cifi c formula or secret to their farming success aside from the time-tested method of keeping animals to consume vegetable waste, then allowing the animals’ waste to fertilize the vegetables. “All that’s required is a lot of muscle and time,” Rocco said. “But every year, you learn something new. Last year, we learned all about pigs. This year, it’s been about bees and making a human baby.” duce and ambassador of the area’s farmers. As time marched on and the farm’s out- put increased, Rocco believed it was time to expand, and the couple leased land nearby to further ramp up production. Now, they’ve reined things back in a bit as Rocco’s teach- ing job at Dorena has taken shape and the demands of expecting a new addition to the family have dictated. But cutting back hasn’t been easy. “It’s hard to stop selling people food,” said Rocco. “We have an intimate relation- ship with our customers, who we see every week.” Two years ago, the Chamber of Com- merce elected to move the concert series to Bohemia Park, leaving the farmers market without an obvious home. “Having the market move was really sad for the farmers,” Rocco said. “We stopped having a place to vend, a place to show our face to the community. Now, we have our face again, and I’m super stoked.” Now, Rocco and other area farmers bring Walking into Coast Fork one can tell this is a place filled with camaraderie and closeness. This place radiates with the loyalty, love and laughter of old friends. Spending time at Coast Fork Nursing Center is like joining a group of life-long friends for coffee. The laugher spills over into the hallways, the appreciation for each other rings in the words they say, and the commit- ment to the future is evident in each and every heart. Onsite Services provided by COAST FORK NURSING CENTER • Activities • Housekeeping • Nursing • Occupational therapy • Physical therapy • Social work • Speech/language pathology 515 Grant Avenue, CG • 541.942.5528 We Want Your News! The Cottage Grove Sentinel wants to be your source for all things Cottage Grove. But we need your help! If you’ve got a news tip, we’d be glad to hear about it: Heraej=bbkn`]^haHqtqnu Assisted Living and Memory Care Apartments Our beautiful community is designed for those who need assistance or have memory impairments. You can be assured that you or your loved one will receive the best in care along with compassionate personal attention from our well trained staff. Call or stop by for more information and a personal tour! We are available 7 days a week! 1500 Village Dr., Cottage Grove, OR 97424 T 541-767-0080 www.MiddlefieldOaks.com $ PUUBHF ( SPWF 4 FOUJOFM In person: 116 N. Sixth Street, Cottage Grove Email: cgnews@cgsentinel.com Office phone: 942-3325 Health Services Directory Counseling & Mental Health South Lane Mental Health Dental Health Douglas G. Maddess, DMD Serving Cottage Grove Since 1988 Dental Health New Patients Welcome Jonathan E. Backer, D.D.S. Preventive and Cosmetic Family Dentistry 942-8437 Dr. Bitner D.D.S., P.C. 350 Washington Ave s Cottage Grove Lumineers The Most Natural Veneer (behind International Fitness) Dr. Shane Parsons 605 Jefferson Ave. Cottage Grove New Patients Welcome 1551 E. Main St. Sedation Dentistry is a Dream come True... find out if its for You! BIRCH AVENUE DENTAL &RPSUHKHQVLYH*HQHUDO'HQWLVWU\ $GYDQFHG&RVPHWLFTHFKQLTXHV ,PSODQWV Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm Emergency appts. available daily New patients welcome h53!#(#-.-50#&&5R5'5 ,#(&35(5,#(!5-.Ŀ Please call for an appointment at 541-942-9171 Grant’s Hearing Center Jenna Buetow Oregon Hearing Aid Consultant 541-942-8444 1498 E. 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