Hello Friends.

This is a VERY last minute email out to try and save a farm that we care deeply about.

I was at the market on Wednesday as I always am, and stopped by Bittersweet farms to pick up a beautiful bag of nasturtium blossoms. I was talking with Jenifer, the farm manager,  and realized I had not seen the friendly smiling face of farmer Bill in a few weeks. When I asked her about it, tears welled up- and she let me know that he had passed away recently. She also told me that Bill had been hospitalized for a while, and during that time, quickly racked up over a million dollars in bills. The collection agency is now saying that they will take the farm as collateral against those bills. Tears welled up in my eyes too, as I truly feel that local farming, and people loving what they do everyday- is the only way to save this planet and create a peaceful and harmonious existence.

We have been lucky at Beast to carve out such an existence and a living, doing what we love everyday. Before Bill died, he had written a small piece on Organic Farming. Bittersweet was the 8th farm to be certified organic in the Nation! Please read what Bill had to say about his love for the land and the process, and then join us on Tuesday night as we celebrate the foods he grew, and try and raise enough ernest money to show the debt collectors that we are serious about saving the farm.

“Like so many self-capitalized organic growers, I have found that adversity can be the guide to survival.  I started my venture in the spring of 1984, deciding to pursue making a go of it at small-scale farming.  The result of this pursuit was an acre of garlic planted along with about 180 hours of hand weeding – and the fairy tale feeling was seriously challenged.  Despite the hardships the garlic turned out beautifully.  For years people remembered this first labor of love….The years have just past away and the industry has changed. I see the organic movement pass into the large corporate business, my hope that the classic organic farmer of the early year can compete with the new trend. But I will keep on farming because every day I learn something new and share a piece of myself and what I have tried to do with like mined people trying to make this earth a better place to live.”  -Bill Gibson

Dinner at 6:30 pm. One Seating Only. 6 course Meal & wine pairings $150 starting price (please bring more if you can!)- 100% of proceeds go to the farm. Price is All inclusive of Food, Wine & Gratuity. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. PLEASE CALL 503.841.6968 for availability

Thank you so much to the following who donated product to help us produce this last minute event: Triage Wines, Tails and Trotters Pork, Newman’s Fish, Steve’s cheese. And our Lovely Staff (all donating their time), My Sous-Chef Mika, Cook Emily, and our Servers Daniel and Lisa. Menu below: (wines to be announced tomorrow, all paired and donated by Triage)