Jonathan, volunteer
Giving Gardens, Beaverton
Oct. 13, 2012
Stand Together Week means the Timbers are bigger than just a sports organization. They're a community organization. They seem to take that responsibility serious and when they have time to give, they do that.
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Heather Jones, volunteer
Giving Gardens, Beaverton
Oct. 13, 2012
I love that the Timbers give back to the community as much as they do. I don't always get opportunities to do this kind of stuff so when I saw there was a whole week of stuff I could choose to do I could just pick a day off and go for it.
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WATCH: Stand Together Week: Day 6
Robert Erickson, Zenger Farm Crew
Zenger Farm, Portland
Oct. 13, 2012
What does it mean to have all these volunteers out here today?
It’s a great help. Being a non-profit, we really rely on volunteer help especially when we have an organization like the Portland Timbers or Hands on Portland bringing a group out here and we know that we’re going to have a lot of people. A lot of times, we don’t know how many people are going to show up on a work party. But when we know we’re going to have this number of people, then we can figure out what that number of people can do well. That can be a real great service to us as an organization.
What does Zenger Farm do and how do the volunteers make a difference by coming out?
Zenger Farm is a non-profit educational farm. We practice organic growing methods and teach organic growing methods. We bring about 5,000 students a year to the farm in field trips. All of those students get exposure to organic growing and urban farming.
Similarly, with all this volunteer help at work parties on Fridays and Saturdays, we wouldn’t be able to get done the things that we get done. Today, we were preparing garlic for planting for next week. If we didn’t do that, then the garlic wouldn’t get planted next week, it might go in the ground too late and we might have a poor crop in the spring.
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Mia Bartlett, Chief Farming Officer
Supa Fresh Youth Farm
Oct. 13, 2012
What did we do out here today?
Today we prepared the farm for the winter so we got rid of the tomatoes, the squash plants, the peppers and pulled all the weeds and basically got the beds ready so that we can either amend them for the winter or put crops in right now.
What were Sebastian Rincon and Kalif Alhassan up to?
Sebastian and Kalif were helping us with pulling beans off of the bean poles, busy taking things out of the farm with wheelbarrows, compost pile, they were even a little brave around where the garden snakes hang out. So yeah, they we were really super helpful.
What does this project and Stand Together mean to you as an organization?
It’s been so awesome to have a group like this come help us do one of the toughest jobs of the season which is ripping everything out and cleaning everything. It’s the least fun job, usually, and everyone has been so willing and amazing. It’s been a huge help for us.
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Sebastian Rincon, Timbers forward
Supa Fresh Youth Farm
Oct. 13, 2012
With the season being so much about soccer, this must be a little bit of a change of pace for you.
It’s a really nice experience to do something other than soccer and to try to help the community which is a really fun experience.
What exactly have you been doing here so far?
We’ve been picking up tomatoes and this other plant that I’m not really familiar with but it’s really fun. I’ve never done this before but it’s really nice. I would like to do it again.
Mia told me you found some hazards in the weeds.
Yeah, I found some spiders and a whole bunch of bugs that I’m not really happy with (laughs) but it’s fun just being here and as I told you, experiencing a different thing.
What’s Kalif’s strong suit so far?
The wheelbarrow. That’s his main thing. He’s just carrying weeds outside and then bringing it back in.
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Logan Lauvray, Green Space Initiative Manager
Friends of Trees
Oct. 13, 2012
I’m with Friends of Trees and we’re out here today in Happy Valley and we are planting over 400 trees and shrubs with the Portland Timbers as part of the Stand Together with Hands on Portland. The Timbers have been a wonderful partner with us and have helped us plant hundreds of more trees throughout the Portland metro region. We’re looking forward to having a great planting day.
What’s the overall plan for today?
This particular project is in Clackamas along a tributary to Rock Creek and we are partnering with SOLV and Clackamas River Basin to improve the Rock Creek watershed. We come out with volunteer crew leaders who help guide the volunteers on the proper safe way to plant the trees.
Why is it important to be a part of Stand Together Week?
First and foremost are the volunteer numbers themselves. We had a great turnout with the Timbers’ partnership today so we really appreciate all the extra hands on deck today because we’ve got a pretty steep hillside above us so having those extra hands is essential. It’s also great to help raise awareness of this watershed and the impacts to it.
What are some of the types of trees and shrubs that are being planted today?
This particular area, we’ve got a lot of mature red alder and big leaf maple and so we’re planting the Western red cedar and the hemlock to begin the natural regeneration that would have been occurring here in the area. Historically this would have been, primarily in this particular area, a Western red cedar and Western hemlock forest.
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Chris Taylor, Timbers defender
Friends of Trees
Oct. 13, 2012
What was the most rewarding part of the day?
To see my beautiful tree standing tall. Straight. Looking good. (Laughs.)
Why is Stand Together Week important for the club and the community?
It allows us as players to get connected with the community more so. We’re all so busy with training each and every single day and on our days off, most of the time, you’re resting your legs. So in order for us to connect with the community, to connect with fans and volunteers across the city, this has been a good experience for Ian Hogg and I out here planting trees. I know everyone else has enjoyed themselves around as well.
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Ian Hogg, Timbers defender
Friends of Trees
Oct. 13, 2012
What is the most rewarding part of the day?
I think it’s just seeing everyone out here working together for a good cause. Chris Taylor and I jumped at the chance to get out here and get our hands dirty and do some hard work. It’s good to see everyone out here—young and old—working together for their community and planting some native trees.
