Mayor Opens City Hall Victory Garden

Thank God for a great photo opportunity…

“This garden is to show and inspire Portlanders that it’s possible to grow produce in relatively small spaces,” said Adams. “Anything we can do, other Portlanders can do, too.”

David Barmon from Fiddlehead landscaping donated thousands of dollars of services to build the garden.

“There are a lot of logistical concerns in a space like this,” he said. “Obviously there’s not much light because there’s a lot of tall buildings around. Then there’s questions about who’s going to maintain it.”

“We started talking about this before Michelle Obama,” said Steve Cohen from the bureau of planning and sustainability’s food policy program. “I was suggesting this when the mayor was a city commissioner and obviously they said, oh yes, Sam would love that idea. And he does.”

“We don’t recommend these outfits for gardening,” joked the mayor, as he plunged his hands into the soil.

“This is so Portland,” remarked one onlooker.

“We are close to leading the nation in unemployment and hunger,” said Fish. “This is one way we can get out a positive message that growing food can help.”

Fish encouraged people to volunteer at Loaves and Fishes centers, or to donate food there.