Visit over fifteen backyard farms and gardens on Bend’s 2nd Annual Backyard Farm Tour, Saturday, August 25 & Sunday August 26 from 10am to 3pm. A variety of farms will participate each day, ranging from large commercial-level operations to small-scale, optimized backyard gardens on this leisurely self-guided tour.
All gardens will feature a majority of food producing plants, many utilize greenhouses or other garden covers and some have bees, chickens, or other animals. Farm owners will be available to answer questions about their gardens and the plants and techniques used to grow them. The tour is divided up over two days with some farms available only on Saturday, some only on Sunday and several will be open both days.
The Backyard Farm Tour is co-sponsored by Celebrate the Season and NeighborImpact, and all proceeds will benefit NeighborImpact’s Food Bank. The Backyard Farm Tour arose out of a desire to share a variety of farming and gardening techniques with those interested in becoming more self-sufficient. Central Oregon is a notoriously difficult place to successfully grow vegetables but many persistent growers have learned tips and tricks over the years.
“Our hope is to inspire more people to try growing their own fresh produce. Not only will this help offset the cost of eating healthy, but it also cultivates an atmosphere for sharing, whether with neighbors or those in need, and helps ease the burden off the local emergency food system” says Sandy Klein, Food Resource Specialist for NeighborImpact. In 2011, NeighborImpact received donations of over 4,000 pounds of fresh produce grown locally in Central Oregon.
For more information on the tour, contact Celebrate the Season at 541-CHICKEN or e mail cts@bendbroadband.com or Sandy Klein at sandyk@neighborimpact.org
Tour Booklets are $10 per car load and available at the following locations:
Celebrate the Season @ 61515 American Loop, Bend
Bits & Pieces Custom Framing @ 2115 NE Hwy 20 in Bend
Earth’s Art Tumalo Garden Market @ 19879 8
Backporch Coffee Roasters @ 1052 Northwest Newport Avenue #103 Bend
Country Feed and Pet Supply @ 61386 Parrell Road Bend
About NeighborImpact
Since 1985, NeighborImpact has been a leader in developing solutions and bringing resources to Crook, Jefferson and Deschutes County. It offers a diversity of services meeting basic human needs for food and shelter, while enriching people’s lives by providing access to increased education, skills, and hope for the future. NeighborImpact is a private nonprofit organization that receives federal, state and local funding; foundation grants; and donations from individuals and businesses in our community. To learn more about NeighborImpact please visit www.neighborimpact.org.
