Tamales Festival at Portland Mercado February 25-27

I’m going to tell you something that’s a little embarrassing—last month was the very first time I ever visited the Portland Mercado. I’ve lived in Portland for a number of years now, and it took me all this time to make it there. So, please—don’t make my mistake. Go soon—and why not for the upcoming Tamales Festival?

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Participate in Chocolate for Congo in Portland in February 2022

I only recent became aware of the campaign, Chocolate for Congo, a month-long benefit for Action Kivu and Eastern Congo Initiative. These are two organizations that work to repair the harm done by years of violence and neglect in Eastern Congo by investing in the women, children and communities in the region. You can read about the Kivu conflict on Wikipedia for more background.

The benefit works like this: you enjoy chocolate at restaurants and bakeries in Portland throughout February and $1 from each dessert will benefit these organizations. You still have about half a month to participate!

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Check Out the CSA Share Fair in February

Image credit: PNWCSA

The Pacific Northwest Community Supported Agriculture Coalition (PNWCSA) is holding their 7th annual CSA Share Fair later this month. If you are at all interested in CSAs or are “CSA-curious,” this is the event for you. A CSA is an excellent, tried and true way for you to access fresh, local produce (and other products) while directly supporting farmers and other food producers closer to home.

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Buy Native Plants, Support the Rocky Butte Farmers Market

The Rocky Butte Farmers Market—which, as you may know, is going to operate weekly in 2022—is doing a fundraiser in support of the market’s expansion and its mission to be a community-centered market. They will be partnering with Sparrowhawk Native Plants for a plant sale and portion of the proceeds from the sale will benefit the Market. Sparrowhawk offers a whole variety of beautiful plants—sun loving, woodland, shade plants, groundcovers, and more—for your gardens. This is a great way to populate your garden with gorgeous natives and support the Market at the same time.

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Lunar New Year 2022 in the Portland Metro

Happy Year of the Tiger!

The Year of the Tiger is almost upon us. Lunar New Year lands on Tuesday, February 1 and ends January 21, 2023. This particular year of the Tiger is a Water Tiger year. I am no expert on the Chinese zodiac, so I can’t speak authoritatively about what “Year of the Tiger” means on a deeper level, so check out what the folks at The Woks of Life have to say. Here in the Portland area there are plenty of ways to celebrate with parades, crafts, dancing—and food.

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