Running and Passing.

Libraries and Librarians are often under appreciated, overwhelmed, and seemingly at odds with the demands of contemporary culture. Yet, they have adapted remarkable well to digital shift and still function as a hub for community and culturally relevant information.

Since 1982, participating libraries across the United States have celebrated the last week of September as Banned Book Week. The event celebrates freedom of speech and to a larger extent complete intellectual freedom. Its aims to “teach the importance of our First Amendment rights and the power of literature, and to draw attention to the danger that exists when restraints are imposed on the availability of information in a free society.”

Sellwood Public Library : Portland, Oregon

The library and librarian were LexisNexus before there was Google. With all the discussion about Creative Commons, Google Book Search, and copyright, your local library just keep trudging onward. Godspeed Mr. and Mrs. Librarian, you’ve been with us for a few millennia and hopefully more than a few more. Enjoy banned book week.

Thanks to the ALA.

On Saturday mornings, I wake up at 4:30 am to shower and eat breakfast before starting my 5:30 am shift at the Portland Hollywood Farmers Market. I work for Persephone Farm, an organic operation owned by Eleanor O’Brien and Jeff Falen. Located in Lebanon, Oregon, Persephone is a fantastic and ever expanding operation producing everything from kohlrabi to swiss chard to “cheddar” cauliflower. Certified organic by Oregon Tilth, Persephone grow some of the nicest produce in the area. They also operate a unique free range chicken operation, providing greens, insects, soy and flax seed fed hens with an open pasture from which they lay an abundance of choice eggs. I love working at the market as it provides a unique opportunity to interact with the community while promoting sustainable habits, a healthy diet, and cheerful smiles.

The Hollywood Farmers Market runs from April until November and is located on NE Hancock between 44th and 45th Avenues in Portland, Oregon. Hours of operation are Saturday’s from 8am until 1pm. The market features a weekly musician and/or cooking demo, community booths, and both fresh produce and prepared foods.

Below is a short photo essay of the our market stand.

Reed College Graduate Seth Belber is the Farm+Market Manager for Persephone Farm. Originally from Philadelphia, PA, Seth is kind hearted gent, possessing an excellent skill-set of practicality, aesthetics, and dedication.

Yesterday, I participated in my first harvest with the Portland Fruit Tree Project. The project aims to “share the bounty and of urban fruit and nut trees.” Fruit that would otherwise go to waste is gathered with half of the take going to harvest volunteers and the rest to the local food bank. Portland food banks, like many, suffer from a severly short supply of fresh produce. This year the Portland Fruit Project aims to harvest over 10,000 lbs of fruit and nuts that would otherwise end up as yard waste!

On this occasion we harvested Asian Pears from a Southeast Portland neighborhood. We gathered close to 500 lbs of pears from one tree, enabling each of the 10 volunteers to take home about 24lbs of peaches with the rest going to the food bank.  A fruit lover, I took my share and made the personal pledge not to let them go to waste. When I arrived home, I immediately shared some with my neighbor who in turn gave me some of this fresh wild chanterelle mushrooms. It was a tasty treat and an equal exchange.

A big thanks to the Katy Kolker, founder and director of the Fruit Tree Project.  She has created a vibrant group that prevents waste and builds community.

Incidentally, Katy and her friend Jim attended Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, which is my birthplace and former stomping ground. It brought back some good Ohio memories for the three of us as we lovingly picked Asian Pears into the early evening.