Grantors

Tualatin Valley Soil & Water Conservation Dist. (CONE)

Through the CONE Grant from Tualatin Valley Soil & Water Conservation District, we offer hands-on, place-based outdoor education classes that connect participants directly to local soil and water systems. Classes are taught in outdoor learning environments where students engage in experiential activities such as soil observation, watershed exploration, native plant identification, and regenerative land practices. Instruction emphasizes learning by doing, encouraging curiosity, ecological stewardship, and a deeper understanding of how healthy soils and clean water support resilient ecosystems and communities. By grounding education in real landscapes and seasonal cycles, these classes foster practical skills, environmental literacy, and long-term conservation values.

Tualatin Watershed Improvement Grant (TWIG):

With support from the Tualatin Watershed Improvement Grant (TWIG), we implemented a small-scale, community-centered project that directly improves watershed health while engaging participants in hands-on conservation work. Grant funds supported tools, and activities such as native planting, soil improvement, and on-site learning opportunities that demonstrate practical stewardship of land and water resources. By pairing tangible ecological improvements with accessible education and volunteer engagement, this project strengthens local connections to the Tualatin River watershed and builds shared responsibility for its long-term health.

Tualatin River Environmental Enhancement Grant (TREE)

Funding from the Tualatin River Environmental Enhancement (TREE) Grant enabled us to carry out a larger-scale, long-term conservation efforts with measurable benefits to soil health, water quality, and habitat resilience. Through this grant, we are restoring and enhancing natural systems using best practices in erosion control, native vegetation establishment, and ecological land management. Our water catchment project that will occur over the next 3 years emphasizes sustainable cisterns with durable outcomes and public benefit, while incorporating education, partnerships, and stewardship activities that ensure the work continues to support a healthy and functioning watershed well beyond the grant period.

Metro CEP Grant

Funding from the Metro Community Enhancement Program (CEP) made it possible for us to design and build a dedicated outdoor classroom that serves as the foundation for our conservation education and community programming. The space was intentionally created to support hands-on, place-based learning, providing a welcoming environment where participants can gather, observe, and engage directly with the surrounding landscape. By investing in durable, accessible infrastructure, the CEP grant has expanded our capacity to offer year-round outdoor classes, host community learning experiences, and foster meaningful connections between people, land, and watershed systems.

Universities

Oregon State University – Barley World

The Oregon State University Barley Project team of dedicated enthusiasts generate fundamental barley knowledge that stimulates economic development with novel barley varieties, share genetic resources, and encourage its use and consumption.

Washington State University – Bread Lab

This Washington State University Extension houses The Bread Lab and The Grain Gathering Conference, and conducts extensive research in the diversity of locally-grown grains.

Pacific University Students

We offer in-person class visits, along with internships, civic engagement, and volunteer opportunities for Pacific University Students.

Community Partners

Eden Acres

Eden Acres is a learning community exploring sustainability education practices through interactive development.

Earth ovens

Earth Ovens community earth art projects, learning by doing and making things.

Rewild Portland

Rewild Portland promotes cultural and environmental resilience through the education of earth-based arts, traditions, and technology.

Red Hammer Forge

Utilitarian garden tools hand-forged the old-fashioned way.

School & Community Organizations

Forest Grove School District

It has never been more important for all students to have outdoor hands-on activities.

Culinary Breeding Network

The Culinary Breeding Network mission is to build communities of plant breeders, seed growers, farmers, produce buyers, chefs and other stakeholders to improve quality in vegetables, fruits and grains.

Friends of Family Farmers

The voice for Oregon family farmers and ranchers who responsibly steward their land and feed our communities. Promoting sensible policies, programs, and regulations to protect and expand their ability to run successful land-based enterprises that provide safe and nutritious food.

Slow Food | Ark of Taste

SF: We participate in our local Slow Food Portland chapter and are inspired by Slow Food International biennial events: Salone de Gusto and Terra Madre — held in Turin, Italy.

AoT

The Ark of Taste is a living catalog of delicious and distinctive foods facing extinction. By identifying and championing these foods, we are keeping them in production and on our plates.

Baking Guilds

PDX Whole Grain Bakers Guild

A local guild of professional and home bakers bound by a shared devotion to working with Northwest-grown whole-grain flours. Members share resources, tips, and support – with broader conversations about ingredients used and why they matter.

Bread Bakers Guild of America

A national network of professional artisan bakers, an education resource for substantive, accurate information on the craft of making bread.

Seed Sovereignty

Lexicon of Sustainability

As curators, “We share stories that explain sustainability.” Educating, engaging, and activating people to help create a safer American food system.

Navdanya

Navdanya is a network of seed keepers and organic producers spread across 17 states in India. One of the founders is Vandana Shiva, a well-known author and environmental activist.

Tuality Plains Seed Library

This is an effort to tell the story of culture’s relationship to seeds that traces back to indigenous cultures.