I would like to share more pictures of the Beltane celebration! Nancy was kind enough to share some of the earlier classes pictures with us, and I have more single shots that show just how confusing the dance can be (expressions are priceless!)
Noon class making adorable floral chains:
Setting it up:
Filtering the sun tea:
Time to eat!:
Just look at that spread!
Just a bunch of happy (and slightly blinded by the sun) garden gals over here!
Thanks a bunch for sharing the pictures Nancy!
Here are some more pictures from the later afternoon class performing the maypole dance:
The concentration, the fun!
hehehe!
Everyone’s hair is so pretty!
That’s all folks! For more pictures and videos be sure to check out our Instagram @UrbanFarmFriend!
Beltane celebration! I want to do a little write up about it, but it simply will not compare to Lauren’s version of the tale. Just let it be known we took a break from our normal activities to celebrate May Day. We had a potluck and danced around the maypole. Here are the lovely pictures (and a maypole timelapse video) that show the warmth from everyones smiling faces!
The dance is slightly complicated to perform, there are 36 ribbons- two groups of 18 students, going opposite directions, weaving in and out of one another! Here is a video to demonstrate the fun and dance (I know the orientation is off, dill with it):
Before we danced, Lauren told us the story of the sun god and goddess. Tom talked to us about the importance of the seasons and planting. Learning and celebrating at the same time!
In addition to the love we put into growing plants and enriching the soil– The Urban Farm fosters safe and welcoming relationships.
After the story we had to untangle the ribbons!
Almost there!
And manage to not get tangled in the ribbon yourself! ;]
Then it was time to begin the maypole dance:
But first it’s instagram time!
Such a pretty pattern
Since we don’t have a boom-box, meet our fabulous percussion and lead vocal section: (I head a rumor there was a wicked cool harmonica player floating around but never spotted them)
And in case you were wondering about the adorable baby, meet Theo, son of group leaders Keegan and Jenny Caughlin:
It got a little complicated and hilarious toward the end!
(yes these are slightly out of order)
When it got to the end, the next task was to braid the ribbons, and then braid those ribbons together:
Now it was time for us to celebrate by breaking bread with one another!
Check out this freshly popped popcorn Kasey donated from Lonesome Whistle Farm! Thank you so much!
Spring flowers were abundant!
Cheyenne holding red petaled sunflower starts (and some cool kid in the reflection of her glasses):
Dan and group relaxing in the shade of the orchard:
Shelly holding the centerpiece of the potluck, bravo! It looks heavy and delicious!:
I’ve got even more pictures of the dancers holding the ribbon as they weave in and out of one another, but now I must go to Sam Bonds and check out my Urban Farm friend and classmate Matt’s band :]
Today I went around and just took pictures of both classes and both locations, the Columbia street and the UO one. I’ll elaborate more on that later, but first I want to post these pictures!
Morning Class at UO Urban Farm:
Lauren’s group examining the bee’s:
Harper’s group setting up tomato cages:
Shelly’s group is all like ‘lettuce party over here’:
Morning Class at Columbia St. Urban Farm:
Some group dialogs about classroom projects and real-world events before beginning the days work:
Kasey’s group is Taking Care of Brassicas:
Using a machete helps to ensure they get chopped up into decent sizes for the compost pile! The more surface area the greater the exchange rate between microorganisms during decomposition which in turn leads to a faster rate of decomposition within the entire compost pile. Life!
Kasey is holding a sprayer full of compost tea!:
Goofing around:
Dan’s group getting ready to plant some Solanaceae:
Keegan’s group talking about reworking ‘the boneyard’:
Afternoon Class at UO Urban Farm:
The afternoon class ran out of sunshine and got rain instead, but fear not! they continued their journey and had a great turnout!
Dan’s group checking out their turnip & carrot bed:
Kasey’s group putting up tomato cages:
We learned that to improve water resources the tomatoes were going to be planted in little trenches- to help with watering come summer time when there are less ‘hands on deck’ in the Urban Farm.
Leeks!:
All of this happened within a normal day of classes at the Urban Farm!
We harvested about 18 pounds of food security today, radical! You can check out the up-to-date harvest log here.
University of Portland Food for Thought Conference, April 14-16, 2011.
Food for Thought begins April 14 with a multi-media discussion about meat production with Bon Appetit CEO Fedele Bauccio, a member of the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production. The lecture will be followed by a hormone-free, antibiotic-free meat tasting.
Friday, April 15, the University of Portland will host a Food Film Festival.
Saturday, April 16, features four plenary sessions about food production, sustainability, and social justice with a mix of lectures, discussions, and panels. The day concludes with a keynote address by Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food, The Omnivore’s Dilemma,The Botany of Desire, and Second Nature. Michael will be introduced by Congressman Earl Blumenauer.
Conference registration for Food for Thought is free, and opens February 1. Tickets for Michael Pollan’s keynote speech are $20 for general admission and $25 for reserved seats; they are free for conference hosts and sponsors, University of Portland faculty and staff, and students of any college or university. Tickets go on sale February 1. Registration for free tickets also begins February 1.
Check out this great event coming to the University of Oregon! The Food Justice Conference is from February 19-21 and will host great speakers like Dr. Vandana Shiva. Here is an excerpt from their site about the event:
“Food Justice explores the history and future of our food system with a focus on three themes: community, equity and sustainability. The goals of this conference are to:
Share research from across disciplines
Build opportunities for collaboration among scholars, policymakers, practitioners and activists
Connect Eugene’s food and agriculture community to national and international groups
Investigate the relationship between regional food movements and social media
Consider the roles of women, indigenous groups and youth in farming and food culture”
