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<br /> .` k.' . e c;''y"s (LEFT)DANIEL BROCKETT AND CASANDRA HURD TAKE A POSE FROM
<br /> • - � •r � AMERICAN HISTORY.(ABOVE)STUDENTS SPREAD LEAF MULCH AROUND
<br /> ' i .as, THE FENCE PERIMETERS.
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<br /> { ', 1r;;;# h,j .v sus b t ilAi, Neighborhood opposition to the dump alternative education program began im-
<br /> ,.a 2? a :`,...q,,,,,,,,',...;::,,: `' ',4''''',!.:.1...':' eventually led to the removal of the dirt,but provements on the site with the construc-
<br /> aft '.' " ;} o-•6 ,.',VM*".`;',,,,,rt . ' the site remained in limbo until November tion of compost piles.This fall,the students •
<br /> , m two °° '~W of 2000.At that time,.a diverse group of from CAT as well as from Looking Glass's
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<br /> t,t Pa' f" n ' c•, ' urban farmers,educators,city staff and Lane Metro Youth Corps have been in-
<br /> i'',, , s 5',t i, a community members began creating the stalling fencing and sowing a cover crop for
<br /> , '. ,-: plan that would grow into the official pro- the winter."It's been a lot of work—dig-
<br /> .p
<br /> ig-
<br /> ' s ." r,...> posal for the nonprofit Skinner City Farm. ging fence posts,pouring concrete,stuff like
<br /> . .11 ,• After many public meetings,questionnaires that," says CAT student and volunteer
<br /> and grassroots outreach programs,the.pro- Brock Becker.Volunteers have been the
<br /> „ posal was accepted as part of the city's backbone of the project from the begin-
<br /> s 0' , e 1 ' / 1 „ . 1 Skinner Butte Master Plan. ning,and their commitment is beginning to
<br /> This'historic area now seemed like it pay off with the realization that a commu-
<br /> could be more than a dumping ground. Wiry dream is taking shape."The project is .
<br /> Urban partnership helps restore land for Skinner City Farm. When asked •
<br /> about how the community built on trust,"Anastasia Sandow reminds
<br /> managed to pull together with a plan to re- us,"a trust we have built between the city
<br /> EDITOR'S NOTE:See footnote for authors.This article was produced at the Center for move the pile,most people point to Jan government and the community at large."
<br /> Appropriate Transport by the Chainlinks program which introduces young people to the VanderTuin,director of the Center For Skinner City Farm has just completed its
<br /> theories and practices of mass media and communications.Writing,visual design,photog-. Appropriate Transport(CAT),located two first season of work on the site.The cover
<br /> raphy and computer skills are all used together to create individualized student portfolios blocks from where the farm is taking shape. crop put in during October is the beginning
<br /> while also producing work for Oregon Cycling Magazine. "This two-acre site was sort of a blem- of a revitalization of the soil that will culmi-
<br /> ish on a park that borders the beauty of the nate in community garden plots.In the
<br /> I...2-03 river and the butte,"VanderTuin says."We coming months,project participants will be
<br /> Just within sight of where Eugene chantment,"as Eugene Skinner described felt that there was a huge opportunity for planning and planting trees,shrubs,bushes •
<br /> Skinner stood and surveyed the lines that ' in a letter,are still apparent.Today,a rough restoration,"he continues,referring to the and a living fence.Spring will see work
<br /> would eventually become 1st Avenue and interpretation of what Skinner's original board members and numerous volunteers begin on a worm composting system.In the
<br /> Willamette Street in Eugene,a new project cabin may have looked like stands only a who have kept the project moving. fall of 2003,a youth farm will be estab-
<br /> is attempting to preserve a part of the city's block from where Skinner City Farm is tak- This past spring,funds for beginning the lished to teach young people traditional
<br /> past while connecting with its present. , i „,„.,,,,,,•,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,te s. a,„,_..a „ a." ,«<,mr< ,.,, ..,_. , ,,,,..,,, agricultural skills,history and science as
<br /> Skinner City Farm is the result of planning well as practical lessons in civics and com-
<br /> by a group of Eugeneans with a unique pro- In thefall of 2003,a youth farm will be established munity living.
<br /> posal for city planners:to create a historicalt0 teach young people traditional agricultural skills,i i As a community resource,Skinner City
<br /> community farm in the heart of the city. Farm is poised to benefit the entire city with
<br /> While returning a little-used(and at one history and science as well as practical lessons in its programs."This is a metropolitan park.
<br /> point controversial)chunk of city parkland •
<br /> CIVICS and COn11TIUnity 11VinThe goal of Skinner City Farm is to invite
<br /> to usefulness,the project combines alterna- g. • more communitymembers to use and
<br /> tive education,agriculture,practical civics ram �. kyti„ enjoy this beautiful site," says volunteer
<br /> and historical analysis into a lesson in what Stacey Janssen. , ■ •
<br /> community involvement can accomplish. ing shape on a formerly vacant lot at project were secured through the city of Students involved in this story include Cassandra
<br /> Most people acquainted with city his- Cheshire Avenue and Lawrence Street. Eugene's Neighborhood Matching Grant. Hurd.16;Chr s Withrow,14;Corey Sherwood,l7
<br /> Rosey Wise-Welsh,14 and Kirk McDowell-Shafer,
<br /> tory know that Mary and Eugene Skinner The inspiration to transform the site lit- program,an important-source of money 17.Photo composition by Daniel Bracken,14.
<br /> built their homestead in the western erally came from a pile of dirt—actually,a for community-initiated neighborhood im- CAT staff Karl Benedek and Kurt Jensen advised
<br /> shadow of the butte that now bears their small mountain.In 1997,this historic site rovements. in Mayof 2002, students the group.oFor more icformation about the project
<br /> P or to volunteer,contact Skinner City Farm at 344. •
<br /> name.Today,the land is part of Skinner found itself covered with several tons of from Northwest Youth Corps and CATs 1229 or scfrBefn.org rTo see the plans on the web,
<br /> Butte Park,100 acres of public parkland in earth excavated by Chambers • deck our www e/n org/scf
<br /> lean of theowntown Eugenesa Itis a Robijewel in
<br /> nkhe and Chameleon coon from the Streeta near`Broadwae Ya 1 x� rn k ,,,,,,,' kfi t ,a, ; � , r . :itia ,t
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<br /> City of Eugene Parks Planner and Skinner Broadway Place development is today."It ,i l'y r` :h�, '�,,,; 1.,a � r 1 `r�" �a
<br /> City Farm supporter.
<br /> what a was ugly, and
<br /> maging," maintains -
<br /> rare treasure Eugene boasts in having such Anastasia Sandow,aa Skinner City Farm totter sta',� vs q' :t ilf '.w. `�v' ) ,;.p e to ; "'-.`'e'w ort thte".
<br /> a pastoral presence so close to the down- board member who became involved with Neighborhood\latci ini,Grants prograin ` •
<br /> town business districts,the Skinner Butte the project early on."The dirt came from The program is a way for small groups to raise money for'neighborhood physical im-
<br /> area is fortunate in that its natural charac- the middle of the city,so there war no jirovements'and co munity"=building-activities:Projects can be as intensive and involved as
<br /> ter has not changed much throughout the telling what was in there,"she says."The the Skinner City F:-n;project,which proposes to convert a portion of Skinner Butte park
<br /> city's history. public was not involved'in the process to into a com is:;-y warden and educational center,-oras s• imple as a proposal to pay for a piup-
<br /> Looking at the area now,one may have decide where to dump the massive pile," per troupe performance at a'local school'
<br /> to mentally remove some power lines, Sandow continues,"so as a community we Groups can find more information'and applications on the city of Eugene's"website at
<br /> roads and building silhouettes, but the, came together to create an alternative func- www.ci eubene oi,u>Qcesnotis canbe'directed to BethBrtdge-.,L 682+5'..i`
<br /> qualities that made this place a"land of en- tion for the site." 1:5 ' " r v '''';',',"''''Q.1“1'0` ' r '-;'1'''''''.444.'1.
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<br /> EUGENE WEEKLY JANUARY2 2003 9
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