‘Learning Garden’ holds first ‘Farm-to-Fork’ dinner

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, August 28, 2018

A dinner to raise funds for and awareness about the Portland State University (PSU) Learning Gardens Laboratory (LGL), on S.E. 60th Avenue in the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood, took place on Saturday, August 11, outdoors, in the middle of the garden space across the street from Lane Middle School.

A brief squall brought quick bands of showers that moistened the garden party, but didn’t dampen the spirits of attendees — especially when the sun again came out.

“This is our first — hopefully, annual — ‘Farm-to-Fork Fundraiser’. It’s a mix of storytelling, garden tours, beer and wine pairings, a great dinner, and a lot of great community building,” smiled PSU LGL Faculty Coordinator Sybil Kelley, as guests entered the evening gala.

“We’ve been tossing around the idea of holding an event like this for years, but never felt we had the capacity to make it happen,” Kelley told THE BEE. “But thanks to the help of our campus foodservice Executive Chef Matt Steele of ‘PSU Eats’, our dinner tonight has become a reality!”

When guests arrived, they were escorted on a guided tour through the garden, stopping at points to learn a facet of the LGL program from its students, and to enjoy an hors d’oeuvre and beverage.

“At LGL, we provide garden-based education, teaching sustainable agriculture practices in several community-based education programs,” explained Kelley about the overall program.

While they don’t discriminate against other areas of the city, the LGL program mostly draws from Inner Southeast Portland. “The Brentwood-Darlington Neighborhood Association is a strong partner, as well as Multnomah County Master Gardeners: and many of our staff actually live in the neighborhood,” Kelley observed.

During the extensive tour, guests worked up an appetite for dinner that included a fresh-from-their-garden salad. The entrée was Navarin D’agneau, with fresh vegetables, or Garden Green Bean Ragout.

“All proceeds raised at the ‘Farm to Fork Fundraiser’ will support programming and development of the Learning Gardens Laboratory, including innovative garden-based education projects with Lane Middle School and with Portland State University Capstone students,” Kelley said.