LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

[January 25th, 2006] TRY ON TRUTH

Thrice you mischaracterized Tryon Life Community Farm ("Buying the Farm," WW, Dec. 28, 2005; Murmurs, Jan. 11, 2006; "Grading the Mayor," Jan. 18, 2005). Let's get clear.

TLCF demonstrates how grassroots communities can effect meaningful change through broad-based collaboration. Last year, TLCF developed a 501(c)(3) sustainability education center on seven acres of forest and farmland near sensitive steelhead-bearing Tryon Creek in Southwest Portland. Its programs inspired dozens of partnering schools and organizations. Rich, poor; brown, pale; old, young; mainstream, alternative: TLCF appealed diversely. All under imminent threat of bulldozers.

How? Neighbors and volunteers rejected "inevitable" big-money development, choosing a healthier urban growth model interweaving human communities, food production, and native ecosystems. They donated thousands of hours to something they believed in, and Portland was ready.

TLCF miraculously raised $1,000,000. As time ran out, thousands visited, wrote, gave. Together, we succeeded: Last week, the land transferred into Oregon Sustainable Agriculture Land Trust.

But WW missed the story, focusing instead on a "commune" (sic), misstating, "residents...buy their 7-acre parcel."

TLCF shares the farm with a residential community. But residents didn't buy the land; they have no personal equity in it. Residents pay $4,000 a month and volunteer with TLCF to live there.

The real story: This success exemplifies why Portland leads in livability, sustainability and civic engagement. One good idea, two visionary banks, three innovative governments, and thousands of committed individuals protected ecologically critical land, creating a public resource for generations.

Nearly everyone seems to get that, except you and Lars Larson.

John Brush, Tryon Life Community Farm
Southwest Boones Ferry Road

Editor's note: Residents did not buy the property; they raised the money that enabled the farm to be transferred to the land trust. WW regrets the error. For more, see the Q&A on page 11.

This Old House

Add WW itself to the "Losers" column for bad-mouthing the historic-property tax credit program ["Home, Sweet Home," Jan. 11, 2006].

In your attempt to deride a few wealthy people, you are ripping a program that has helped many small communities and regular people save historic homes and business properties. Just last month, our little volunteer historic-landmarks committee was talking to the property owner who is working on one of the oldest houses in Oregon and talking up this incentive program. This owner is a regular guy, not rich, not a Portlander.

Unfortunately, as goes Portland, so goes much of the rest of the state in political whims about historic property. So thanks a bunch.

Judy Gerrard
Dayton