Refugee Farming in the Greater Portland Area

Portland Grower’s Alliance and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): In partnership with Grow Portland, we provide marketing support for new and refugee farmers. This effort is designed to help growers reach profitable direct market outlets like farmers markets and restaurants.  The Growers Alliance CSA allows community members to share in the harvest with weekly pickups of fresh vegetables. Join the Portland Grower’s Alliance 2013 CSA to support and benefit from the Mercy Corps Northwest refugee farming program.

Damascus Training Site: Larry Thompson of Thompson Farm donates land, tillage and mentoring to make this initiative successful. Our new farmers work their own plots of land ranging in size from one-half to one acre. Mercy Corps Northwest and Thompson Farm are jointly investing in the infrastructure and equipment needed to develop the site.

Nepalese Gardens—Southeast Portland: NAAP is working with recent refugees from the countries of Nepal and Bhutan to develop urban market gardens.  These productive and profitable gardens are grown on reclaimed, overgrown land that is donated by private owners or vacant City of Portland lots. MCNW is the first nonprofit to secure land through Portland’s “Diggable Cities Project,” an effort to utilize vacant public land.