Friends tour Tryon Life Community Farm

Tryon Life Community Farm tour

On Saturday, May 26th, volunteers with the Friends of Tryon Creek were treated to an engaging and inspiring tour of Tryon Life Community Farm (TLC).

TLC occupies seven acres of land with rolling meadows, gardens, wooded cliffs, homes and naturally-built structures that is adjacent to Tryon Creek State Natural Area. Families work together and live together in an intentional community called Cedar Moon. Residents volunteer ten hours a week assisting with projects (such as building and events) and six hours a week contributing support to the community (cooking, gardening, etc).

TLC's mission, to "grow community learning while preserving common green space, restoring native ecosystems, and demonstrating sustainable urban density living", is a perfect compliment for the Friends of Tryon Creek, who share our passion for environmental education, and the preservation and conservation of nature, with the goal of instilling that value in others. As neighbors of TLC, touring the property with Friends' volunteers, was informative and rewarding. 

The Friends extend our sincere thanks to TLC (their ovens make the tastiest wood-fired pizzas on the planet!) and appreciate their hospitality and vision. We encourage the public to support Tryon Life Community Farm in their efforts to create a Sustainable Community Building that will house events for both TLC members and interested members of the public. For more information please visit: http://tryonfarm.org/share/

Stories from the forest

Spring robin at Tryon Creek

Today is an absolutely beautiful spring day at Tryon Creek, perfect for a hike in the woods. It is impossible not to notice how peaceful and glowing green everything is. The songs of what seem like a million different varieties of birds mingle with peals of laughter from the groups of young school children who are visiting the park and learning about the forest.

There is a surging feeling in one's heart and mind on a day like this, a sense of the sacredness of all living things.

Perhaps that feeling arises from our interconnectedness (lest one think that a mole and a robin exist in wholly separate spheres): a few moments ago robins were spotted flocking to a patch of moist dirt in the park where a mole was burrowing, and as the mole tunneled along the earth moved and rose to form a mound. Earthworms made their way to the surface much to the delight of the robins, who were snapping up the worms as fast they could. It is quite a thing to see the earth move from unseen forces, and to see countless earthworms escaping to the surface only to find themselves lunch for the waiting robins who likely brought some home share with their babies.

The natural world truly delights.

Spring rolls along at Tryon Creek

As trillium age, the flowers turn from white to dark pink as seen in the range of color in this patch.

 Spring has been in the air at Tryon Creek State Natural Area for some time. As the weather continues to warm, the growing green flora in the park takes on a vibrant life of its own with a color and variety that is altogether different from the chill winter months. The air smells of things blooming and birdsong is heard everywhere.

Fiddlehead sword ferns surrounded by waterleaf, one of Tryon Creek's most prevalent groundcover

This picture was taken by a 9-year-old park visitor who, after many tries, was finally able to capture a still shot of a "robin redbreast"

Lazy day at the creek

This tree has been loved by many a child

Tryon Creek is an ideal refuge from the hustle and bustle of daily urban life. As one strolls along Tryon Creek's miles of trails and listens to the tumbling of the creek, there is little doubt that the forest's tranquility and serenity serve as a tonic for the human spirit.

Muddy Boots Family Nature Club finds home at Tryon Creek

Muddy Boots Family Nature Club hits the trail at Tryon Creek

The Friends of Tryon Creek are excited that the Muddy Boots Family Nature Club, started in 2010 by Jess Hoylman and Angela Fojtik, is now a part of the Friends' family.

In February 2011, Jess and Angela partnered with the Friends of Tryon Creek to provide the Muddy Boots Family Nature Club with a full day of activities at Tryon Creek State Natural Area. The partnership was a great success, so it was natural that the Friends' were entrusted with the nature club's administration earlier this year, as Jess and Angela moved on to other endeavors.

Connecting children and adults with nature is the Friends' bread and butter, and is a great fit for Jess and Angela's original goal for Muddy Boots, "to connect families with one another so they can get outside together". The Friends put these concepts into practice this past Saturday, April 28th, 2012, when we hosted the "Muddy Boots Family Trail Day" kick-off event featuring a day of fun family-oriented activities on the trail:

Derek Mellinger, the Friends' Education Intern, instructs Muddy Boots families on the Chinook salmon

Muddy Boots' families get a chance to pet a beaver

Families explore the park's flora and fauna

In the months ahead, families in the Portland metro region can look forward to many more opportunities to connect with nature with the Muddy Boots Family Nature Club. The Friends plan to provide activities and hikes in Tryon Creek State Natural Area and in other wild spaces in and around Portland and Lake Oswego so stay tuned.

For more information please visit: www.muddybootspdx.org
(Photo credit: Carol Gilden)