Farmer Gord is part of ORO, an observational permaculture farm near Deer Island, Oregon. Call Gord to ask about obtaining a safe, secure, local food source.
503-840-0873

Farming Methods

I'm never sure what to write for this section, and this is the first update in 3 years on this page... It's a bit random for now, but that's the nature of the farm right now. Basically, since I'm trying to produce food to prepare in the way our ancestors did, I'm feeling the need to try to grow it in their manner. I have the advantage of a few hundred years additional knowledge plus globalization, but what I've discovered is that I have to go back about 400 years in Western culture - before the industrial revolution hit farming - in order to find the methods and skills I'm looking for. The work of Stuart Peachy in England and the Green Valley project he's been a part of are tremendously inspiring. To combine those older methods and skills with the knowledge and goals of modern permaculture in a way that pleases and honors the Creator is my current project.

Not certified organic, because of the following reasons:
- the term is owned by the USDA, even though they didn't invent it
- it costs money to be certified, which means we all end up paying more for our food
- organic doesn't fully encompass how I farm and I don't wish to be lumped in with the mega farms which are "certified"

I use a small, 13HP 2-wheeled tractor for all gardening work which can't be reasonably done by hand by one man


 










       

What is Observational Permaculture?

Sepp Holzer has seems to have not entirely accepted "permaculture" as the appropriate label for what he does, and has only reluctantly used the term. In reading his writings and reflecting upon them, I have come to use the term "observational permaculture" to describe his way. And even if Sepp would not be satisfied with this term or might call it inaccurate, it is appropriate for my work.

Observational permaculture seeks only to listen and observe nature and her ways. It is to observe the way God has created things and to fall in line with God's ways. I cannot improve on what God has given, I can only use and direct, within the boundaries which God has set. We must think in terms of God's time, not human time. This is why those who use chemical fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides will ultimately fail in their endeavor: short term gain, while not following the way nature works will result in ultimate failure. Farming is a long term project.

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