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Food at Stake? Nick Christensen The Hillsboro Argus February 2, 2010 Every week in the summer, community farmers deliver fresh produce to thousands of homes across the Portland metro area. Those who get the food, shareholders, pay a couple hundred dollars a year directly to a farm, which then brings the best of that week’s harvest to the shareholders.	read more
Land Ho Why does a Democratic lawmaker want to reward a Wall Street buyout firm and subvert Oregon’s land-use laws? Nigel Jaquiss Willamette Week January 27, 2010 A powerful state lawmaker is pushing a bill for the February special legislative session that would bail out a New York-leveraged buyout firm by allowing an end run around Oregon’s land-use laws. At issue is a proposed but not yet published bill called the “Agriculture Reinvestment Act.” The measure would allow Medford-based Harry & David and another company to get 1,000 acres of prime Jackson County orchard land included in local urban growth boundaries, where it could then be sold for commercial or residential development.	read more
Farmers, Environmentalists Press Metro for More Rural Reserve Acres Eric Mortenson The Oregonian January 12, 2010 As the Portland region tries to designate long-term growth areas, a surprising coalition of farming and conservation groups suggests far less land is needed for development than has been proposed. A group that included 1000 Friends of Oregon and the Washington County Farm Bureau says only about 15,000 acres should be set aside for future urban development in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties. Another 6,000 could be added later if needed, they said.	read more
A Lesson in the Common Ground Beneath Their Feet. Carla Axtman Blue Oregon September 12, 2010 Yesterday, a coalition of groups that generally find themselves at odds came together to propose an alternative map for urban and rural reserves in Washington, Multnomah and Clackamas Counties.	read more
Coalition of Farming, Conservation Groups Provide Alternative Vision for Region's Growth FOR RELEASE January 11, 2010 An unprecedented coalition of conservation and farming organizations today provided their proposal for protection of farming and natural resource land in the Portland metropolitan region. The groups released their own map as an alternative to a map being used to determine urban and rural reserves by Metro and Washington, Clackamas and Multnomah counties. “Farmers and conservation groups have often disagreed in the past,” said Washington County Farm Bureau President Dave Vanasche, “but on this issue we strongly agree: urban sprawl destroys valuable farmland, streams, and wildlife habitat. Our proposal achieves a balance of protection for agriculture and natural resources while providing for common sense future growth in the region.” UPDATE: Video of news conference available. Click here for more information on urban and rural reserves and the list of supporters.	read more

Save Portland Metro-region's Farmland and Natural Resources!

Speak up for farmland and natural resource protection by contacting your elected officials about urban and rural reserves. Click here to see the growing coalition of supporters of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Urban and Rural Reserves Map. See comparisons of the Core 4 and coalition map here.

Find out more on our Reserves page.

35 Innovators Under the Age of 35

Stay tuned as we unveil 35 Innovators under the age of 35 on February 15th, who are working to make Oregon a place we are proud to call home.

McCall Legacy Dinner

Mark your calendar to celebrate the 35th anniversary of 1000 Friends of Oregon this year in style on March 20th at Montgomery Park. Whether you purchase a table or a ticket you can save 15% between now and February 15th. Early bird special ticket price is $85 per seat or purchase a table of 10 for $850. To purchase Tickets now please click here.