Stumptown

Back in the Pacific Northwest to see family and friends. On my way to Toutle, I stopped into Portland and wandered the streets in the Pearl District and NW Ave.

Pearl District

Cynthia with a Mike Russo


Peet's Coffee

Powell's Books

two packs a day and too progressive for my own good.

Hey! Tumay came to see me today from NYC. Aha.

2007 Rat Race Paragliding Competition

Got into Ruch Oregon and managed to catch the last bit of the 5th annual Rat Race Paragliding Competition. Rat Race 2007 is a seven day event with an emphasis on education and training in GPS use and competition strategies. The race format is Cross Country/Race to Goal. Check out the event at MPH Sports

Gearing up for launch.

In the queue.

Launch pad

Greg Babush, instructor

Mical Hammel

Couldn't resist a photo with Kari Castle member of the 2007 U.S. Paragliding Team.
Get to know Kari at her website.

Mike Haley, Rat Race Coordinator

The race for goal.

The Gaggle

The cummies that will bring everyone back next year.

Roots of Change Session Two- day 2

During the second day of our workshop with Roots of Change we began building concensus around problems regarding the current food system and building strategies for change based on the values and interests of the range of stakholders that play an active role within the system. The Center for Land-Based Learning has become our genus loci to remind us of the many stakeholders that play an important role in building a vision of a sustainable food system in California.

Our facilitator Joseph McIntyre led us through problem solving discussions and action planning throughout the session.

We broke into small groups for our discussions with each group member representing a sector of the food system.

To help us in our work we received a visit from several ROC Council members Larry Yee Director, UC Cooperative Extension-Ventura County; Advisor, the Hansen Trust...

...and Jim Cockran the Director of Swanton Berry Farms in Davenport.


Director of Roots of Change Michael Dimmock, Larry Yee and Tom Tomich, director of UC Davis Agricultural Sustainability Institute.

Roots of Change Session Two

Today I met with the Roots of Change (ROC) fellows in Winters Ca. at the Center of Land-Based Learning for our second round of strategic planning workshops geared towards formulating a sustainable food systems vision and a change agenda for California by 2030. In attendence were representatives involved in all aspects of the food value chain from producers to policy makers.
Learn more about this effort whcih is part of the Vivid Picture Project funded by
Roots of Change.

We spent the day participating in group work and discussion.

In the evening, we were all invited to Craig McNamara's home in Winters and mingled amid his walnut orchards and tasted the areas locally grown organic wine, produce and meats.

Premium organic white

Craig McNamara our host

A Moveable Feast

A lovely time in the walnut grove.

Welcome to Natalia's Blog- June '07

Let's begin with memories of Barkley Sound, Victoria Is. in 2004. Nice way to begin this blog as I'm about to embark on my 2 week vacation back to the PNW to see family and friends, and of course, to kayak camp along the beautiful isles of BC.

On my travels I hope to get back to Winthrop Wa. where my stepdad Jim and his wife Becky have their cabin. The best single-track mountain biking can be found in Sun Mountain just behind me here beyond this beautiful meadow near Pipestone Canyon.

Then I hope to get back to my best friends in Washington to spend a little R & R time at Whidbey Is.- my stepdad Jim, good friend of 24 years Jon, and my austrialian shepard border coli mix Holly.

All awaits!


The visit wouldnt be complete without a trip to Haystack Rock along the Oregon coast.


crescent rocks to the wind.

Then back to the farm, Toutle, Roan and Holly, Lia and her family and mom.

Roan and mom

Hope to get back into Portland on the waterfront again for the fourth of july this year and spend the festivities on Uncle Roger's boat, if all goes as planned :)


Plan to do some paragliding in Toutle and Whidbey while in Wa.- and if the weather allows.





On to making more memories .... :)