Hey Leftbankers,

Please join me in welcoming our new neighbors - Focus the Nation - who have just moved into Suite 212.  Their mission statement is “Empowering a Generation to Power a Nation” and, in their own words:

Focus the Nation is a national non-profit headquartered in Portland, Oregon. It was founded in 1999 by professor and economist, Eban Goodstein. We believe in the science of climate change and the opportunity it presents to rebuild American communities and US leadership at the local and international level.

We are driven by a fierce commitment to empower young people with the leadership, educational and civic engagement opportunities that will accelerate our transformation to a more just and prosperous clean energy future.

For more information on the kinds of the things Focus the Nation stands for please check out their website here.

Like many small non-profits, Portland Farmers Market wouldn’t be the gem of an organization that it is without the passionate energy of dedicated volunteers. We have the good fortune of working with a core group of forty people who help with everything from staffing the information booth at the Saturday PSU Market to assisting with cooking classes for children during the summer months. As we prepare to open for our 19th season, we want to give a special shout out to these fine folks, many of whom have been with us for several years of service. We are extremely grateful for these fun-loving, enthusiastic volunteers who are committed to spreading the good food gospel. We couldn’t do it without you!

Would you like to join our volunteer ranks this year? If so, please email amber@portlandfarmersmarket.org for more information about current opportunities.

See you at the market!

How many people can say they eat for a living? Here at Portland Farmers Market, we have the good fortune of doing just that during product jury time. Every year as part of the application process, a select group of potential processed food vendors are invited to bring in their goods for evaluation by a panel of PFM staff and Market Advisory Council members. Products are assessed based on a number of factors. Although passing the taste test is the most important criteria, the jury panel also takes a hard look at ingredient sourcing, aesthetics and packaging, balance of products in the marketplace, and alignment with PFM’s mission

This season, we received a record number of extraordinary applicants. The jury had the honor of sampling 20 entries representing everything from baked goods to wine to chutney. After several hours of eating and drinking, the jury panel was faced with some very tough decisions. Even though we had to decline many qualified vendors based on space availability and market needs, the sheer diversity of entries tells us this will be a banner year for artisan foods in Portland.

Among the businesses that will be joining PFM for the 2010 season are Oregon Kombucha, Sassafras Catering, and Leftbank’s own Upright Brewing Company. Congratulations, Alex & Co.!

Hello everyone.  I’m Nino, the editor and co-founder of EarthTechling, an online consumer publication about green technology located in the Hive. I’ve been here since the beginning of September.  We are growing pretty fast and I’m turning to you, the Leftbank Project community, to help us out with some fresh story ideas.

We cover all matter of green technology topics including, but not limited to, green gadgets, wind farms, solar power, wave energy, electric vehicles, hybrids, green architecture and so forth.  You probably get the idea.  What I’m looking for are ideas that your business, or you personally, are involved in or aware of which might be interesting for my readers.  If the story idea pans out, I’ll give you credit on my site as the origin point.  Locally based ideas, such as Portland’s biogas project, are fine as I’ll use that to address as an example of something which can be done on a national level.

Please shoot me your ideas to my email address.  Thank you for your help on this.  Cheers!

Come join us for the release of our newest beer on Friday the 26th - an Oyster Stout! We’ll have one of only a few kegs on draft as well as bottles of this full-bodied and creamy stout available to take home. It was brewed in collaboration with fellow oyster lover Jason McAdam of upcoming Alchemy Brewing. We made the beer using over ten gallons of oyster juice fresh from the Oregon coast and eight dozen DeCourcy oysters from B.C. For the release raw oysters  will be available along with some free snacks as well between 4:30 and 9 pm which also marks the beginning of our new Friday tasting room hours. Hope to catch you there!

Join us every last Friday of the month  in suite 202 for good company, conversation, and community!

Please RSVP to attend here.

We hope to see you there!

The applications are in for the upcoming Portland Farmers Market season and we are ecstatic to report receiving over 600 entries for our six market locations! We are most excited to report submissions from more than 25 new (to PFM) farms. That means there’s a good chance you will get to meet some new faces at the market this year. Stay tuned for hints on new vendors and products you can expect to see!

Mark your calendar now to greet the first day of spring with fellow food lovers on opening day at our flagship Saturday at PSU market. The market will be open 8:30am – 2:00pm every Saturday through December 18. (9:00am – 2:00pm in November & December.)

As long as you have that calendar open, please take note of opening dates and hours for our other markets. Find your favorite and join us to welcome the farmers back to the heart of the city. Or better yet, plan a trip to each location and discover the unique flavor every market has to offer.

Sunday at King Elementary School (NE 7th & NE Wygant)
May 2 – October 31
10:00am – 2:00pm

Monday at Pioneer Courthouse Square (SW 6th & SW Yamhill)
June 21 – October 25
10:00am – 2:00pm

Wednesday at Shemanski Park (SW Park & SW Salmon)
May 5 – October 27
10:00am – 2:00pm

Thursday at Hinson Church (SE 20th & SE Salmon)
May 6 – September 30
3:00pm – 7:00pm

Thursday at NW 23 (NW 23rd & NW Savier)
June 3 – September 30
3:00pm – 7:00pm

See you at the market!

From Leftbank’s inception, it was understood that the Project needed room for events.  Events have unique capacity to inspire, unite, and broaden our reach.  Of course we want that here. 

The same principles that define Leftbank Project have shaped the development of Leftbank Annex.  Check it out!

As some of you may already know, Bill Bradbury is hosting a question and answer session with Governor Howard Dean this Wednesday, February 10th.  Below is an excerpt from Bill Bradbury’s website.  For more information and to RSVP to the event click here.

“Join Bill Bradbury, THE Democratic Candidate for Governor, in welcoming Governor Howard Dean to Oregon to energize Oregon through a dynamic grassroots campaign for Governor. Leading Presidential candidate in 2004, Dr. Howard Dean took a stand for Democratic values and gave voice to Progressives Democrats across the nation. As Chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009, Governor Dean revitalized the Democratic Party and ushered in a new era of grassroots politics. He is credited with pioneering the 50 State Strategy that reclaimed Capitol Hill and the White House for Democrats.

Take a Stand with Howard Dean and Bill Bradbury on February 10 to fight for Progressive Leadership in Oregon.”

Another chapter of the Leftbank story is written tonight as the FMYI crew premieres their first ever brand video in the ballroom.  In the midst of a fine Happy Hour spread, they’ll screen “A New day,” featuring scenes and change agents from Portland.  If you can’t join us, catch the streaming broadcast at 5:30 PST.

Immediately following, Bill Bradbury will host a celebration of “Born in Oregon” businesses and share his plans to cultivate innovative, home-grown businesses

Snacks and lovely, local brews will fuel the party.