THE TRYON Life Community (TLC) Farm is a land project based on sustainability and permaculture with around 20 people living there on-site. It is located off of Boones Ferry Road and is nestled against Tryon Creek State Park — from Lewis & Clark, a 45-minute walk or a 10-minute drive. The land was saved from being turned into a housing development by its initial 15 members in 2005.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, TLC Farm had a strong relationship with LC. Students would volunteer at the farm, babysit residents’ children, and many would attend the full moon sauna — relationships which the pandemic unfortunately severed. Now, the TLC Farm is looking to regrow that connection.
There are two main houses on the farm, along with alternative housing made from upcycled RVs and small lodges made from natural resources. Tryon Life Community Farm was the first place in Portland to create a public composting toilet, built in just 10 days in 2006. Rainwater caught from the slanted roof is used for handwashing, and after the feces is processed, the compost is then used to fertilize the 109 fruit trees throughout the farm. The sauna is made from cob, a mixture of clay, sand and straw, and it is fueled by wood scraps via a fuel stove. A yurt serves as a multipurpose space used for workshops, parties, meetings and movie nights. The large outdoor kitchen uses a wood-fueled cob oven. The kitchen also serves as the main classroom of the Willow Creek Forest School, an all-outdoors preschool, and as a space for the summer camp that TLC Farm runs.
The farm has a variety of fresh produce to harvest and animals to work with (and to pet). 10,000 mason bees, a goat herd, a chicken flock and two farm cats — Ani and Rats — all call the commune home. As for fruit, the farm grows apples, European and Asian pears, European and Asian plums, medlar, figs and kiwi berry. For herbs, the farm has echinacea, hops, calendula, elecampane and mullen. Finally, the farm cultivates annuals like tomatoes, tomatillos, green beans, cucumber, arugula, squash, onion
and garlic.
Many events are open to the public, such as the monthly work party and potluck, which happens every last Saturday of the month. There are also usually a few other public work parties not on a monthly schedule. Soon TLC Farm will be launching a book club called “Becoming People of Place.” Participants will discuss what it means to be non-Indigenous while simultaneously paying proper respects to the Kalapuya Tribe and Chinook Tribe, to whom the land belongs.
One way the farm includes Indigenous traditions in its operations is through sweat lodges. Sweat lodges are small tent-like structures with a fire in the middle that are typically used for purification rituals. The farm is also a fiscal sponsor of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, an organization dedicated to helping indigenous people that are being affected by violence and poverty as well as raising awareness of ongoing issues regarding murdered Indigenous women. The founder of MMIW USA, Deborah Maytubee Denton-Shipman, once lived at TLC Farm.
Overall, Tryon Life Community Farm is an environmentally-conscious haven away from the hustle and bustle of campus life, not to mention a great place to volunteer and connect more with nature while getting fresh fruits and vegetables along the way. TLC Farm does school tours and agricultural development projects, so volunteers are always accepted with open arms. Anyone interested in getting involved can contact engagement@tryonfarm.org.
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