OSALT is unique across our nation as one of the few organizations that holds urban and rural land in trust to promote sustainable agriculture. OSALT does this by acting as an umbrella organization that provides land, management processes and non-profit status to local communities for sustainable food production through gardening, farming, research and education.
 
OSALT is now protecting in trust more than $2 million in urban and rural agricultural land, and managing over 20 community gardens and farms. All of this has been done while operating on a small annual budget. It is only with the financial support of local foundations and private donations, from people like you, that we are able to protect valuable properties.
 
In 2012, OSALT:

  • Helped the Urban Farm Collective (an OSALT program) receive a $2,400 grant for youth garden programs. Urban Farm Collective donates a significant portion of the vegetables grown in its gardens to the food bank at St. Andrews Church in NE Portland.
  • Received a grant from the Portland Development Corporation to build education space at Greeley Forest Garden, and our food forest is beginning its journey—we planted apple and plum tress this Spring, with nut trees coming next year.
  • Helped the Portland Area Community Supported Agriculture Coalition ("PACSAC"—an OSALT program) receive a $60,000 reimbursement grant from the USDA to support local small natural and organic farmers in the Portland area.
  • Received new property from Multnomah County Digs near Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham.

 
For 2013 OSALT plans to:

  • Begin to expand the Urban Farm Collective to neighborhoods beyond UFC’s base in NE Portland.  The gardening and food sharing model UFC has pioneered has proven innovative, energetic and successful.
  • Continue our soil-food-web education program, in the spirit of Kim McDodge, a well-loved long-time OSALT volunteer who passed away recently.  A healthy and diverse web of soil micro-organisms are at the heart of our best gardening and farming practices.
  • Extend our work planting chestnuts and other nut trees on OSALT farms and gardens.  In Oregon, many nut trees can produce highly nutritious food, year after year and decade after decade, with very little care.
  • Work with willing owners who are interested in seeing their lands permanently protected for community gardens and farms.
  • Grow our Legacy Endowment Fund for long-term, permanent financial stability.

 
To continue OSALT’s work we need to raise $3,500 to cover our 2013 budget. With no paid staff, all donations go directly to support OSALT’s programs. A donation from you will go a long way to help us meet our financial obligations for the coming year.
 
Your help will ensure that we will be able to add additional properties in trust and all OSALT properties will offer agricultural education promoting nutritious food, healthy people and vibrant communities.
 
Please make your tax-deductible gift today.
 
With warm regards,
The Board and Trustees of OSALT
Mindy Clark, Liz Belz-Templeman, Todd Birzer, Matt Bibeau, Jon Dragt, Janette Kaden, Ari Rosner and Ruth Spetter
 
To support OSALT’s 2013 work, make a check payable to "OSALT" and mail to:
 
OSALT
3519 NE 15th Ave
Suite 502,
Portland, OR 97212