Outback Food Initiative (OFI) held its monthly meeting on Thursday, March 24, reviewing the scion exchange held during Irish Days and detailing possible locations for a planned community garden.
The scion exchange, where root stock is grafted with fruit tree scions to establish a new fruit tree, proved a successful venture during the chilly Irish Days festivities, both garnering interest for the grafting demonstrations and exchange of scions to the warmth provided indoors during the event. Emmie Harcourt, Americorps Outback Food Initiative coordinator, announced that $134 net was raised from the event for OFI, with the purchase of root stock being the largest expense. The interest in the event led Harcourt to consider holding future scion exchanges, with a debate over whether or not it should be held in connection with Irish Days or at a later date in association with farmers markets, Earth Day or a healthy food week initiative.
Harcourt has led efforts with assistance from Amanda O’Bryan in establishing a community garden as well as school gardens. O’Bryan has sought grants for a Union School garden.
While there have been discussions about possibly building a community garden on school property, which would necessitate school board approval before any action is taken, alternate locations have also been pinpointed to begin garden projects. This includes a fenced area adjacent to Lake District Hospital that previously was utilized as a garden, as well as portions of space in the Greenhouse north of Lakeview offered as a possible site. Additionally, property near the Fremont Sawmill owned by a Klamath Falls chef was presented to Harcourt as a potential community garden site. Benefits of each site were detailed with feedback sought, with greenhouse use allowing for starts and a longer growing season while the hospital’s previous garden location provides fencing to prevent local deer from accessing the area. To revitalize the hospital space volunteer work would be required to remove overgrown plants and establish lots. Harcourt hoped to collect local donations of manure, straw and mulch for the project, for whichever site is chosen.
Lake District Hospital Nurse Pam Sutfin volunteered to be the OFI treasurer. While the Community Health Improvement Partnership acts as a fiscal sponsor of OFI, funds raised from the scion exchange and future endeavors necessitate an overseer of funds.
Harcourt also announced an upcoming community food assessment meeting in Paisley on Monday, April 18 at 6 p.m. at the Paisley School cafeteria, where citizens can discuss access to locally grown food and ways to improve nutrition and gardening.
Outback Food Initiative meetings are open to the public, held at the Penn Wilbur Conference Room at Lake District Hospital on the fourth Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. The next meeting will take place on Thursday, April 28 at 6 p.m.
Originally Published in Lake County Examiner
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