It’s been a while since this unique outer East Portland nonprofit, dedicated to ending hunger, has been able to meet in person. Now that they can, here’s what they’re planning, this growing season …
At the Annual Meeting this spring, Adam Kohl solicited ideas from the diverse community served by Outgrowing Hunger.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
A distinctive nonprofit organization — started in 2011 as an answer to the founder’s prayer, which came to him in a dream – is East Portland’s “Outgrowing Hunger”.
Its founder, and now Executive Director, is Adam Kohl.
East Portland News has followed this organization since it broke ground on its first garden in the Rosewood area – back on May 8, 2012. CLICK HERE to see this story.
Through generous donations of tillable land, supplies, and the work of many urban farmers who immigrated here from diverse lands, the organization has continued to grow.
A point of discussion is put to a vote by the gathered group.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization hadn’t met face-to-face in two years – until March 19th, when they gathered in what formerly was a former Mexican restaurant, which now serves as a nonprofit hub called “Sunrise Center”, just east of the city line in Gresham.
At the meeting, Kohl checked in with the groups seated around the parameter of the room. There, he and board members solicited feedback on their program, and opened the floor to new ideas. One such proposal, for example, was to establish a weekly farmers market.
After the meeting, Kohl updated East Portland News on the organization’s progress.
Still gardening in outer East Portland
Although their office is located in Gresham, Kohl reminded that many of their garden spaces were still located where the organization started – in outer East Portland.
“Our vision has remained the same over the years – it’s that we are helping to form a socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable local food system, which benefits grower and consumer alike,” Kohl began. “And, this is a system that’s not dependent on any one internal or external cornerstone to continue and thrive.”
Outgrowing Hunger visionary Adam Kohl solicits ideas from participants.
Growing from one garden to 13 locations
Asked about specifics, Kohl responded, “We’re now in 13 locations, and farming a total of 23 acres with 450 direct enrollees; we provide for 1,070 food box recipients, providing more than 40,000 lbs. of food grown in our projects – distributed via our food box program, just in 2021.”
And, in addition to thye familiar produce varieties, he pointed out that their participants also grow many culturally-specific specialty crops – such as African Eggplant, Black Nightshade, and Amarant Greens.
Kohl commented that their real success is that Outgrowing Hunger’s work has been absorbed into a broad-based movement. “Thanks to partner organizations, like Arise & Shine and Play Grow Learn, as well as institutions like Oregon Food Bank, and with community-based leadership from most of the ethnicities in our projects, this work will continue regardless of our organization!
“That said, I believe we can serve a very valuable role in supporting, connecting, and building bridges between public, private, nonprofit, and institutional stakeholders to accelerate this movement to its full potential.”
Going around the room, Adam Kohl counts votes for proposed members of their Board of Directors.
In 2022, Outgrowing Hunger is looking forward to resuming and expanding more in-person engagements and public events, including farmers markets and the new Downtown Rockwood Market Hall.
“Right now, our biggest need is land!” Kohl made it known. “We can make immediate use of anything from a quarter acre to 40 acres – with good sunlight, and a water source – anywhere between Sauvie Island and Sandy, Oregon. We can even afford to rent agricultural land at a fair price.
“For hands-on involvement, people are welcome to register for a garden plot or attend the public gardening sessions hosted by Play Grow Learn at SE 140th Avenue and Stark Street,” Kohl said.
Meet the 2022 Outgrowing Hunger Board of Directors: [Front] Anne-Marie Urukundo, Karuna Rai, Harka Rai, Ricardo Miranda, Vung Khan Huai, Lauri Alsup, [back] Kyle Curtis, Deidre Schuetz, Maxi Hernandez, and Leo Ndondwa.
Find out more about Outgrowing Hunger at their website: CLICK HERE.
© 2022 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
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