Scrumpy Farest

(farm+forest)

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Sandy, Oregon

October, 2025

A 39-acre forest farm on the shoulders of Mt. Hood growing powerful foods, flourishing ecosystems, and thriving communities

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Context

• about 35 miles east of Portland Oregon (population of 2.3 million in the metro area) near the community of Sandy, Oregon (population 13,000) 
• on the western slope of Mount Hood; western edge of Mt. Hood National Forest
• just off of the Hwy 26, a Portland to Mt. Hood thoroughfare
• Western Cascades ecoregion; douglas fir forest ecosystem matrix

We recognize that the land we steward lies in the ancestral territories of the Clackamas, Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, and Confederated Tribes of the Siletz peoples.

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Our tenure on this land has come at native peoples’ immeasurable expense. We are indebted to them and seek paths to justice for to these communities.

Contents

1- Farm Story

A Look Back

Current Farm and Community

2 - Hopes and Plans for the Future

Near-Term Goals

Currently Seeking

3 - Natural Resources and Land Base

Topography and Climate

Precipitation and Soils

Current Land Use and Infrastructure

4 - Further Information

Currently Seeking Landmates/Partners

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A Look Back

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• 1915-2010 - Jadrny Family: homesteaders, cane fruits, pastured animals
• 2010 - purchased by Paula and Steve Gagnon
• 2010-2015:
• Farm clean-up; building demolition and reconstruction; water and electric overhaul
• Forest restoration/thinning, invasive species control
• Irrigation water rights application
• 2015-2018:
• fencing and irrigation system installation
• orchard and berry plantings started

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• 2019-2021: farm pause and reset - losing Steve

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The Scrumpy Future I (Paula) Envision:

• Scrumpy is a holistically regenerative ecosystem, growing nutritious foods, biodiversity, soil health, water, nutrient and mineral cycles across 39 acres of field, orchard, garden, forest, meadow and wetlands.
• Scrumpy’s primary enterprises include raising pastured animals, berries, fruits and nuts, and low-impact agritourism (campsites and event spaces).
• Scrumpy provides sanctuary, inspiration, sustenance and reconnection for those who live on and visit the farest.
• Scrumpy is home to up to 8 residents in 3-4 independent households.
• On-site farmers/residents operate complimentary, synergistic farm enterprises, either as independent or cooperative businesses

Current Farm Community

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• Paula: farm owner and chief weed puller; ecologist and conservation planner. In years past, I led teams developing restoration and conservation plans for rivers, watersheds, and natural areas. Now I aim to cultivate a regenerative farm ecosystem with friends and collaborators. While still living/based in Portland, I spend as much time on the farm as possible. My three kids (two away at college) are occasional farm workers, particularly adept at wood chipping, planting trees, mulching beds, and playing farm ninja.
• Alyson and Ibrahim: keep the animals alive and thriving, the plants growing and the hipcampers tended. Along with their two kids, they make a lot happen.
• Nick: farm operations, maintenance, and management guru. He keeps the farm running in innumerable ways.
• Kichka: superwoman of the orchard, forest trail maintenance, and other farm magic.
• Thom: long-term farm elder living on-site only during the summer months and lending a helping hand when baby chicks need tending, and welding needs to be done.

Near-Term Goals:

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• continue to enrich forest, wetland, pasture, orchard and ecosystem health, diversity, and function
• expand food forest guilds with more food, fodder, forage, flowers, pharmaceuticals and native plants;
• expand pastured animals production systems
• expand and improve the camping/visitor experiences
• establish a collaborative of small independent regenerative farm businesses that share resources and spaces at the farm

On-Site Housing:

Housing is primarily for individuals who operate a farm-based enterprise on a long-term basis.

Residential Options include:

• House (1 bath, 1000 ft2)
• Cabin (1 bath, 375 ft2)
• Off-Grid Tiny House (160 ft2)
• Yurt /Tiny House Hook-up
• Campsite (plus shared kitchen+bath) - summer only

Farm Infrastructure

• 13-acre 7.5’ tall fence for farming: annual, perennial, and animal production
• Water rights for 12.5 acres; buried irrigation pipe and risers throughout the fenced area
• Storage/equipment barns
• Fully equipped shop (wood working + machine shop)
• Two greenhouses (each approximately 15’x25’)
• Equipment: 24 HP kubota tractor, with mower, tiller, spreader, post-hole PTO attachments)
• Field+Garden Tools:

Natural Resources

and Land Base

Topography, Climate, Precipitation and Drainage

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• Gently rolling; elevation ranges from 1650 (NW sector) to 1800 feet (SE sector)
• Pacific Northwest maritime climate (USDA zone 7b/8a)
• 45N/122W Latitude/Longitude
• Approximately 150 frost-free days/year
• Last Frost: approx May 15
• First Frost: approx Oct 15�
• Approximately 78 inches of rain annually
• Generally no measurable precipitation from late July through early September
• Surface drainage across two watersheds: north half of the property drains to the Sandy River; south half drains to the Clackamas River

Soils

• cobble/clay/loam:
• deep, well-drained, and easily worked,
• high organic matter content (12-15%)
• pH of 5.5
• good fungal and bacterial diversity but low abundance and activity
• nutrient poor -- low NPK, magnesium and calcium

Current Land Use and Infrastructure

Entire property: 39 acres

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7.5’ Tall fence (yellow line) surrounds the 13-acre primary agriculture/production area.

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Outside of the tall fence:

• Buildings/Housing - 4 acres
• Forest and Wetland/Pond - 20 acres

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Within the tall fence:

• Woodland Pastures - 8 acres
• Orchard and Berries - 3.5 acres
• Nursery and Garden Beds - 1 acre

Building/

Housing Area

(4 acres)

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Current:

• tiny homes and community spaces
• shop, barns and storage units

Desired Future:

• rehabilitate and maintain existing structures
• expand greenhouse capacity

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Forest, Wetland, Springs and Pond

(20 acres)

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Current Situation

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• managed to promote native biodiversity and ecological processes

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• east side: 20-year-old forest; dense canopy, open understory; thinning ongoing

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• south side: mixture of upland forest, and seasonal wetland, spring+stream ecosystem

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Desired Future:

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• ecologically thriving later succession forest with diverse native mid- and understory; 8-10 campsites

Silvopasture

(10 acres)

Current Situation:

• old raspberry fields and pasture
• scattered volunteer native trees (bitter cherry, cascara, alder, fir) and about 12 2-year maples and oregon white oaks
• grasses/bracken ferns
• summer intensive rotational grazing: pigs, sheep and chicken

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Desired Future:

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• Doug fir, oak and maple silvopasture savanna with diverse native forage supporting intensively rotated pastured animals
• a native species hedge (for forage, wildlife habitat, fencing) along the south border

Orchard/Food Forest

(3.5 acres)

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Current Situation:

• 60+ 5- year old apple trees of 15+ varieties
• ½ acre cane berry field
• 12 nut trees: chestnut, walnut, oak, hickory
• 60 blueberry plants forming a blueberry hedge along south border

Desired Future:

• multi-species woody fruit and nut guilds (food forest) intermixed with native understory and rotationally grazed pastured animals

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Garden Beds

(1 acre+)

Current Situation:

• 1/2 acre annual garden beds (with room to add more)

Desired Future:

• no-till bed systems for annual herb, vegetable and flower production, and perennial tree/shrub/native propagation

Further Information: Soils, Climate, Wildlife, Wind and Fire

Drainage Patterns

Approximate Location of Sandy/Clackamas Watershed Divide

Winter/Spring Wetland Area

Perennial Pond

Well

(Blue arrows indicate direction of drainage)

Existing Surface Topography

• Map shows topography across the whole property (5 m elevation lines)

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• the NW corner of the property is at approximately 1500’

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• the SE corner of the property is at approximately 1700’

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• North Half (Sandy Drainage)

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• South Half (Clackamas Drainage)

Existing Water Supply Systems

• Water rights to irrigate the 12- acre field/pasture were acquired in 2015.

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• New well pump installed in 2015

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• Well depth is -60’. Static water level is -30’.

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• Pumping rate is approximately 15 gallons per minute.

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• 1500’ feet of buried irrigation line and 10 spigots feed the orchard and field/silvopasture zone

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Ridges and Swales in former raspberry field

Buried water lines (in red)

Source: http://www.usclimatedata.com/climate/sandy/oregon/united-states/usor0604/2016/1

Wildlife corridor

Winter Sun 10 Degrees

Fire

frost

frost

Sectors

Winter Winds

Summer Sun 67 Degrees

Summer Winds

Wildlife corridor

Sectors – Wind and Fire

• Winds infrequent and usually mild; property seems to lie in a protected area. Occasional winter wind storms.
• Natural fire frequency in Western Cascades is >300 years. But frequency is increasing due to climate change and long-term patterns of longer, drier summers.

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Sectors - Wildlife

Predators:

• Cougar
• Coyotes
• Screech Owls
• Red Tailed Hawks �(mating pair)
• Bats
• Frogs
• Salamanders

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Herbivores:

• Elk (seasonal)
• Deer
• Rabbits
• Field Rats
• Gopher
• Mice
• Voles

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Omnivores

• Robins
• Swallows
• Blue Jays
• Crows
• Raven
• Woodpeckers

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Neighbors have told us:

• Black Bear

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