[April 30th, 2008]

Ariadne Garden

Named for the maiden and wife of Greek mythology, this interesting urban site is a double lot in Northeast that was donated to a land trust as a food garden in perpetuity after two houses on the property burned. It supplies neighbors and volunteers, as well as selling some produce to passersby in season. Visit during open hours, 10 am to 1 pm Tuesdays and Saturdays, to learn about compost tea and the beneficial beetle bank. East side of Northeast 11th Avenue just north of Fremont Street. 284-7116. osalt.org/ariadne_garden.html. (SS)

Historic Luscher Farm

Oregon Tilth’s 6,500-square-foot demonstration garden shows the luscious results of organic techniques on veggies and fruit. 135 Rosemont Road, West Linn. Oregon Tilth, 378-0690, tilth.org/Research/OEC/sites.html. (SS)

Soil, Amendments and Fertilizers

Concentrates

We’re talking local: Portland’s mecca for organic and other soil amendments has been in the same block, near the Southeast end of the Ross Island Bridge, since 1938. The aged, 22,000-square-foot warehouse has everything from greensand to chicken grit to bat guano. As the local food-growing trend gains ground, Concentrates owner Bill Sparks says his business has jumped 25 percent this year. Pick up your compost with a bike trailer and take advantage of a 10 percent “human-power discount.” Weekly price list. 2613 SE 8th Ave., 234-7501, concentrates.blogspot.com. (SS)

Eric Kosher Fertilizer

If you see a Portland garden just busting with health and ask the owners where they got their dirt, the answer may be Eric Kosher. The affable one-man, one single-axle dump truck operation delivers two to 12 yards of his own compost or soil mix with compost and sand. Two yards of compost is $107, plus $12 for each extra yard. His business is up, too: “In a recession, my business usually picks up,” Kosher says. “People gotta eat and they have more time to garden.” 652-1120. (SS)

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