COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL | MAY 20, 2021 | 9A PLANS from A1 that’s where we will do a lot of our outreach.” The nonprofit’s Organic Garden Program provides families with individual plots in community gar- dens managed by Huerto de la Familia. Families also receive supplies, one-on- one assistance from staff and access to educational and social events. Families are encouraged to exercise autonomy in deciding how to use their plot and use the support system to create their own space. Currently more than 160 families are growing their own organic food on six community gardens man- aged by the group. Cottage Grove will be its seventh. “And we’re very excit- ed for that,” said Zarate. “We’re looking forward to this new partnership with South Lane School District EVERYONE DESERVES A GREAT SMILE! CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE YOUR INITIAL CONSULTATION • 541.686.1732 EUGENE CRESWELL 622 E. 22nd Ave Suite C 195 Melton Rd. 541.686.1732 541.686.1732 or visit us at www.thornton-ortho.com and for the opportunity to build what is going to be one of our largest commu- nity gardens to date.” The garden is anticipat- ed to be able to serve about 50 families in the area. Along with raised gar- den beds, the design fea- tures a central, covered community space for out- door cultural events and education. The project proposes to include learning opportu- nities such as workshops on organic agriculture practices, environmen- tal stewardship and food preservation. The Coast Fork Willa- mette Watershed Council has also partnered with the project to conduct res- toration of native plants and wetland habitats in the garden. “So we will have to work with the soil to get it ready to grow food, but every- thing we do is still in align- ment with sustainability of the natural state of that space,” said Zarate. One of the goals of the NOTICE TO CUT OR REMOVE TALL GRASS – HAZARDOUS VEGETATION – COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL Notice is hereby given that property owners or persons in control of property are required in the City of Cottage Grove to cut or remove tall grass, hazardous vegetation and combustible materials during the fire season from June 15 th to November 1 st (CGMC 8.12 Nuisances). Tall grass and hazardous vegetation includes: wild blackberry bushes, weeds & grass more than 12 inches tall anywhere on your property, including public lands out to the street. Vegetation that is likely to endanger buildings or other property should it catch on fire must also be cut or removed. During the fire season inspections will be made and property owners notified that they must cut or remove the hazardous vegetation. Failure to cut or remove the grass or vegetation will result in the City having to abate the problem. The cost of abatement will be charged to the property and if unpaid will become a lien against the property. Property owners are reminded that they must keep hazardous vegetation and tall grass cut less than 12 inches until November 1st. Questions can be answered by the Public Works & Development Department at City Hall, by calling 541-942-3340 or by email: planning@cottagegrove.org. Organic Garden Program is sustainability. Families not only receive assistance in gardening, but are also given knowledge and skills which will ensure they can continue to grow food for the rest of their lives. In addition, there is a strong intergenerational aspect to the work. “Parents who participate in the program, regardless of where they’re from, they care a lot about sharing a love of gardening with their kids and also help- ing their kids understand how food comes to end up on the table,” said Zarate. “They want to really make sure that their children are learning how food is grown and get to be part of that process with them.” The food itself, too, con- tributes to healthier fam- ilies and relieves some fi- nancial burden depending on the volume of a plot. A plot’s yield will de- pend to some extent on a family’s expertise, said Za- rate. “We see that folks as they grow for more and more years, they’re able to grow more volume,” she said. Zarate estimates that most families can meet al- most all of their produce demands from their gar- den plot, particularly in summer months. In addition to making a substantial impact on a family’s food budget, members can receive food preservation classes – can- ning, drying and freezing – to help figure out how to make food last through the winter. The gardens also provide opportunities for those with restrictive barriers to growing. Zarate pointed to the limited access many people have to starting a garden, especially renters. “Most landlords are not going to want a tenant to dig up the grass or what- ever landscaping to put in a food garden, so it can be very limiting,” she said. “If people don’t have a home they own with a yard to start a garden, then often MARTINEZ YARD SERVICES, LLC Serving Cottage Grove, Creswell, Lowell, Dexter, Pleasant Hill, Eugene, Springfi eld & Junction City • Property Cleanup • Yard Service • Moss Removal • Pressure Washing • Gutter Cleaning • Brush Removal • Bark Installation • And Much More Francisco Martinez, Owner (541) 579-0454 • Call Today! Install, Service, and Replace Pumps and Water Filtration Systems Test Water Quality And Water Flow Rate For service after hours, Call (503)991-9159 Bonded Licensed Insured CCB# 225978 Brandon Ervin (Owner) Tel: 541.649.8100 24 Hr. Service: 503.991.9159 Email: ervinfamilypumpservice@gmail.com people don’t have the op- portunity to grow their own food. And we’re try- ing to overcome that bar- rier and provide access to more folks.” The garden has been a multi-year project and is slated to be ready for families to dig into their own garden plots by next spring. The current timeline puts irrigation, fencing and a shed due to be fin- ished by the end of this summer with soil work and other preparation done as spring approaches. As construction moves forward, Huerto de la Fa- milia is welcoming of local volunteers who would like to contribute. The City of Cottage Grove has already thrown its support behind the project. During a May 11 Cot- tage Grove Budget Com- mittee meeting, Huerto de la Familia was approved to receive a $5,000 line item on the budget, mon- ey which will go toward the costs of developing the garden. In all, the project is ex- pected to cost a little more than $73,000. More than $35,000 of in-kind dona- tions have been committed to the project already, the nonprofit reported. “Huerto de la Familia is especially thankful to these community partners and Cottage Grove for helping make it possible,” said Zarate of the financial and network of support. In the meantime, Zarate is eager to connect with more Cottage Grove com- munity groups and gather local momentum for the project. “We look forward to working to find more local support in the community to help make the garden possible,” she said. “And we feel very confident that folks will want to help bring this to fruition and get this ready to go.” More information about donating and volunteering can be found on the non- profit’s website at huer- todelafamilia.org under the “Get Involved” tab. We Are Better Together As we look to a new year, we’re celebrating what connects us as a community, and what we can do to bridge our divides. From virtual events and local perspectives to cultural insights and conversation starters, we invite you to join us in making our community better, together. Help rebuild our economy by supporting these and other local businesses! AUTO DEALERSHIP Brad’s Cottage Grove Chevrolet 2775 Row River Rd 541-942-4415 AUTOMOTIVE Huddle Automotive Repair 80408 Delight Valley School Rd 541-942-2521 CARPET CLEANING Quality Cleaning, Inc PO Box 665 Creswell 541-942-0420 INSURANCE Farmers Insurance 330 Hwy 99, STE C 541-942-0165 State Farm Insurance - Matt Bjornn 1481 Gateway Blvd 541-942-2623 JEWELRY APPRAISAL The Jewelry Girl, LLC 2001 Franklin Blvd, Eugene 541-556-9598 LANDSCAPE SERVICES CHAMBER Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce 836 E. Main 541-942-2411 COMPUTER REPAIR Martinez Yard Sevices, LLC Cottage Grove 541-579-0454 Prasada Landscapes LLC P.O. Box 341 Cottage Grove 541-731-8528 MEDICAL CLINIC PC Garage 711 E. Main St. 541-649-1073 EMERGENCY SERVICES South Lane Fire & Rescue 233 Harison Avenue 541-942-4493 GUN SHOP Emerald Valley Armory 147 E. Oregon Avenue Creswell 541-895-2666 Camas Swale Medical Clinic 170 Melton Rd. Creswell 541-658-5301 NEWSPAPER Cottage Grove Sentinel P.O. Box 35 Cottage Grove, OR 97424 541-942-3325 www.cgsentinel.com NON-PROFIT Rotary Club of Cottage Grove Oregon P.O. Box 424 Cottage Grove, Oregon 97424 541-554-6946 ORTHODONTICS Thornton Orthodontics Magnolia Gardens Senior Living 1425 Daugherty 541.942.0054 Middlefield Oaks Senior Living 1500 Village Dr 541-767-0080 VISION CARE 195 Melton Rd. Creswell 541-686-1732 PUMP SERVICES Ervin Family Pump Service, LLC 571 S 8th St. Cottage Grove, OR 97424 541-649-8100 RETAIL Free Rein on Main 1601 W. Main St 541-649-1240 Territorial Seed Company Store 20 Palmer Ave 541-942-0510 The Flower Basket & Gift Boutique 119 S. 6th St 541-942-0505 The UPS Store 1498 E Main St Ste 103 541-767-0888 SENIOR LIVING Pacific Clear Vision 257 N. 8th St 541.942.5000 YOUTH SERVICES Looking Glass Youth & Family Services Rural Program 508 E. Whiteaker www.lookingglass.us 541-767-3823 Crisis Line 541-689-3111