How a garden and farmers market aims to connect one of Oregon's most ethnically diverse communities
Dan Newth is a member of Street Roots’ MoJo program. MoJo is composed of vendors interested in journaling life on the streets and writing about issues important to our community.
The People’s Market at Rockwood started breaking ground in March; grownups and children, hands in the soil, reconnecting with the Earth.
The market opened June 19 — Juneteenth — at the Sunrise Center at 18901 E. Burnside St. in Portland. Located in the Rockwood neighborhood, one of the most ethnically and racially diverse areas in Oregon, the farmer’s market offers space to dozens of Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) vendors, about half of which sell produce. Vendors will operate in the outdoor space on Thursday afternoons from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. until Oct. 28.
“The modern way of life has lost touch with the earth, our roots and our culture — making our communities fray,” Germaine Flentray, market cofounder, said. “This project is to rebuild those connections, community pride and show those who doubt what we can achieve.”
Grants from groups like the city of Gresham, Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Rockwood Food Systems Collaborative enabled project leaders to pay community members working to actualize the vision of the market.
The market, billed as an “incubator” on the market website, centers Black and Indigenous vendors.
In honor of their heritage, first-generation African Americans mentored other community members on how to grow authentic African vegetables. A rented acre was tilled, seeded, weeded and harvested under the guidance of ARISE and Shine, a Gresham nonprofit. ARISE is an acronym for African Refugee and Immigrant Services Empowerment.
“When you have a family gathering the first thing you plan for is the food,” Leo Ndondwa, president of ARISE and Shine, said. “Feeding family, or the larger community, is nurturing and communicates caring. It is how we bond. This project is about more than filling bellies. We didn’t want to lose our cultural heritage, and shared connection from knowing our history, in the next generation.”
In keeping with the mission of providing space for community members to connect, the market is hosting a Sept. 16 festival, as well as an Oct. 2 garden festival where the food was grown at 13949 SE. Stark St. in Portland.
"This project is about more than filling bellies. We didn’t want to lose our cultural heritage, and shared connection from knowing our history, in the next generation.”
The market utilized grant funding to make the market more versatile, including installing a Multnomah County Health Department-approved commercial kitchen.
“This community grew as the garden grew,” Flentray said. “(It) gained strength with shared meals and is becoming sustainable economically as this People’s Market thrives. We are planning to expand next year into the soon to open Market Hall here in Gresham.”
Those involved with the market say it has indeed thrived to this point.
“The People’s Market has had better than expected sales,” Ndondwa said.
The economic opportunities were born from necessity for vendors and community members, as was the focus on healthy, affordable food. The efforts to open the movement began in the spring of 2020, as community members lost jobs due to COVID-19 restrictions and became dependant on USDA food boxes.
“USDA food boxes didn’t have fresh produce and the Rockwood area is in the middle of a food desert,” Ndondwa said. “The corner stores are full of snack food; high in sugar, salt and fats while low in nutrition. Diets of these food-like items lead to Type 2 diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure.”
Community members rallied to provide food boxes with fresh fruits and vegetables. The following spring 2021 arrived with deeper intentions to heal the community.
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