Manure delivery sparks interest in urban minifarm

PORTLAND, Ore. - When a woman hauled hundreds of pounds of cow manure and dumped it in her southeast Portland yard, neighbors shook their heads.

But all that manure is now making sense.

Kaarin Thompson says it is her goal to teach people that farming is not just for people who live in the country. She is getting a lot of interest from future farmers – not to mention a few thieves.

There are no farm animals at her house, just plants such as lettuce crops and early tomatoes growing under some power lines and next to a sewer.

"We jokingly call our backyard 'the back 40,' which is probably about 40 feet," she said.

That is also where she dumped the dung – 14 and a half yards of cow manure that she spread over her yard.

She worried the manure might upset the neighbors, but some told KATU News it didn't bother them.

Eventually Thompson wants to grow all of her food in southeast Portland. For now, she still goes to the grocery store to buy much of it.

All that food is attracting bugs and thieves. Neighbor Marychris Mass said bicyclists have taken her and Kaarin's fruit.

"Just ask me, just ask me first," she said. "I'd probably give you permission to pick them, but it's just not free."

Thompson said that if the thieves learn something about farming and eventually grow their own crops, then her mission has been accomplished.

In the meantime, Thompson has written up advice for those wanting to grow their own crops in the city.