East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District

10/06/2026

Don't miss this! Register for this upcoming Soil Test Workshop today!

Join us on Tuesday, October 13th. Dinner will be provided. We'll gathering and dine at 5:30 and the workshop from 6pm-8pm

Zenger Farm: 11741 SE Foster Rd, Portland, OR 97266

This workshop is for farmers who may be new to soil testing or who are interested in learning more about available soil testing resources. Bring your questions!

This event is FREE but registration is required to reserve your spot! https://www.oregonclimateag.org/events

FREE Soil Health Field Training for farmers and professionals!

Wednesday, October 14th
9:00AM-4:30PM
NE Oregon Public Transit Building, 2204 E Penn Ave, La Grande, OR 97850
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Dr. Shannon Cappellazzi will facilitate a workshop for agriculture professionals interested in building skills in soil sampling for soil health monitoring.

Up to 6 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be available to participants through the American Society of Agronomy. Registration is required.

Register by October 7th!
https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/QV8ZZBZm8CVm6F6KQna0pw

09/29/2026

Our fall workshops are officially posted! We have tons of great learning opportunities coming up in October. Including:⁠
⁠
Oct 4: Rain Gardens 101⁠
Oct 7: Landscaping for Wildlife⁠
Oct 14: Converting Lawn Into Planting Space⁠
Oct 18: Urban Invasive Weeds⁠
Oct 22: Native Plants⁠
Oct 24: Creating an Edible Landscape⁠
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The full list for the whole season and registration links are live on our website. We hope you're excited about our new workshop topics, too!

https://emswcd.org/events/yard-garden-workshops/

09/18/2026

Calling all interested in launching their farm business - join us for an interactive tour of Headwaters Farm! Meet staff, ask questions, and see everything Headwaters has to offer. Our applications for this program open October 1, you won't want to miss this opportunity!

September 28 at 6 PM. Spanish interpretation available.

More info about Headwaters: https://emswcd.org/farmers-growers/headwaters-farm-business-incubator/

09/16/2026

From the field! Our intern Aqdas joined environmental scientist Roy Iwai to do some macroinvertebrate sampling in Johnson Creek. Collecting little invertebrate friends is a great way to monitor stream health and water quality 🐛

09/15/2026

September 15 marks the beginning of Latine/x & Hispanic Heritage Month! We celebrate the rich contributions of the Latine/x community within our neighborhoods, organizational partners, and small businesses & farms this month and every month.

09/11/2026

¡Escucha a Maxi, de Mr Farms , contar un poco sobre su experiencia con la incubadora de empresas Headwaters! Las solicitudes se abren el 1 de octubre; encontrarás más información: https://emswcd.org/farmers-growers/headwaters-farm-business-incubator/

Hear Maxi of Mr Farms share a bit about her experience with the Headwaters Business Incubator! Applications open October 1, more info: https://emswcd.org/farmers-growers/headwaters-farm-business-incubator/

09/10/2026

Save the date! Headwaters Farm Incubator applications open October 1 and close on November 30. If you're looking to kick off your farm business, we can help!

Learn more here: https://emswcd.org/farmers-growers/headwaters-farm-business-incubator/

09/03/2026

This past year, the solar panels on EMSWCD’s Headwaters barn and equipment shed surpassed 550MWh (megawatt-hours) of solar energy produced since it was installed in 2020. That’s a LOT of juice! At around 88MWh a year, this covers about 90% of the electricity we use across all farm facilities. To put it in a different light, here are some approximate equivalents for that yearly amount of power:

50 average American households

15,000 hours running a hair dryer

1,750,000 miles driven by an electric vehicle (67 times around the equator!)

43,230,000 cell phone charges

EMSWCD’s investment in solar energy works in tandem with other environmental infrastructure investments made at Headwaters. These improvements include a streamside buffer around Johnson Creek, fish passage improvements, pollinator habitats, and efforts to foster heathy soils. Altogether, these features tell a powerful story of how agriculture can be a positive force in protecting our natural environment.

08/28/2026

08/28/2026

⭐️Intern Spotlight!⭐️⁠

Jireh joined EMSWCD in June 2026 to support the District’s community engagement and outreach efforts. She was drawn to this internship because she has seen how increasing urban development can leave less space for nature and wildlife to thrive.

Jireh is especially interested in finding ways to improve land use in urban areas and is excited to be part of work that helps create healthier, more resilient communities for both people and wildlife.

She discovered this opportunity through Avenues to College at New Avenues for Youth, a nonprofit that supports young people who have experienced foster care. Outside of work, Jireh enjoys making pottery and spending time with her three feline companions. One day, she hopes to live in a home surrounded by all kinds of animals.

Jireh's internship is a partnership with POIC's (Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center) Roots of Change program, an internship program that provides young people with job skills for environmental stewardship and green economy careers.