Painters Hall Cafe on urbanspoon.com

Check out this incredible review on urbanspoon. Sounds staged but it's 100% real I swear.
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/276/1627426/restaurant/Painters-Hall-Cafe-Salem

"October 31, 2011
It's in the heart  of...........
by Chuck  Bradley (797  reviews) 

Pringle Creek Community, a  fledgling green development on the old Fairview Home property off Strong RD  SE. The ancient and towering smoke stack from a bygone day looms above the  building where the painters, who maintained the many buildings on the then  state owned facility, worked and stored their equipment and supplies. The  décor is an eclectic mix and includes large tables for big groups or intimate  tables and conversation groupings with easy chairs, couches and coffee tables.  The walls are festooned with "fine art prints" by Wayne J. Parker and an  interesting fish sculpture created from keys and key-ring disks. The table at  which my bride and I sat was fashioned from a section of Oak hardwood floor,  no doubt salvaged from one of the old buildings since deconstructed on the  property.
The restaurant has access to two huge depression era green houses  that the developers have restored. Their goal is to provide all the fruit and  vegetable ingredients they use from indoor and outdoor gardens on site.
Our  server, Holly, was new and very eager and helpful.
It boasts "Natural &  Organic Food & Drinks in a LEED-Platinum, net-zero energy Café". The menu  is currently in seasonal transition and is rather limited but very healthy and  good. My bride chose a half Whole Wheat Pita Chicken Salad Sandwich and a cup  of Lintel Soup. Both were excellent. Her cup of Soup was almost as large as my  bowl of Minestrone. I had a whole Caprese; fresh Mozzarella, fresh Tomato and  Basil on Cascade Baking Company French Bread and drizzled with Balsamic  Vinegar and Spices and a fresh Pear and Mixed Greens Salad with Onion, Walnuts  and Feta Cheese. Yum!
The Sandwich prices are: $5 for a whole or a half  with a cup of Soup. Soup is $5 for a bowl or $3 for a cup. Salads are $3.  Fresh brewed Coffee was $1.
Painters Hall Café offers high quality food and  service for an extraordinarily low price. We don't think you can go wrong  here."

Paco's photos

Paco took a photo of these two little Tree Swallows near the creek this morning. So many birds all around right now -- last week I saw no fewer than 30 Robins all together, between the Pacific Yew and the Fir Grove.

Happy Halloween!

Super Remy and Ninja E get ready to take on the world!

Urban Farmer Certification Class Tour

Last weekend Urban Farmer participants toured several classmates' wonderful home garden spaces, checking out the organic gardening principles discussed in class.

Kristi's organized and bountiful tomato operation.

Susan's gorgeous peppers (above) and beautiful sunflower/bean trellis (below).

Megan and Andrew's pumpkins!

Salem Green + Solar Fair 2011

Are you interested in increasing the value of your current home? Would you like to learn what green-building leaders in the region have done with their homes? Want to talk with experts and owners about design, products, and strategies to help get you there?

Join us Saturday, October 1st for:
Salem Green + Solar Fair 2011
Brought to you by Salem AIA, Pringle Creek Community, Marion County Public Works Environmental Services, and Solar Oregon

The focus of this year’s fair is on increasing the value of your home through green renovation & remodeling! Join 14 other cities across Oregon for this annual event!

We will begin with a presentation by President and Founder of Green Hammer Construction, Stephen Aiguier, who has remodeled and built several high-performance LEED Platinum and Passive House certified homes. Stephen will profile his most recent green home renovations, energy strategies, products, design considerations, and ways to increase existing home value for the long-term. 

Following Stephen’s presentation

MIG Farm Dinner!

Jackie and I went to the Minto Island Growers Farm Dinner last week and it was awesome! David Rosales and crew created a delicious all-veg multi-course dinner at the MIG Farm Stand, served family-style. Such a great group of people at all the tables, mostly CSA members, very elegant and classy, and a ton of fun. Can we do this every weekend? Awesome job Chris and Elizabeth! And to Sally for putting it together! Thank you for bringing an event like this to Salem. We hope there will be more! PS: if you would like to join the MIG CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Program, visit their website. Painters Hall is one of their south Salem drop sites!

Dinner guests applaud Chris, Elizabeth, and David

Some of Minto Island Growers organic farm operations in the background

Intimate and fun, and perfect weather

Urban Farmer wanted!

Pringle Creek Community is seeking a part-time Urban Farmer to maintain and expand our urban farming operations and related educational programming in the neighborhood. This includes a large intensive garden with 6,000 square feet of glass Conservatory, as well as 2 acres of organic orchards, blueberries, and community gardens, and additional acreage.

The position's primary responsibility will be to produce food for Painters Hall Café and farm stand sales through manual fieldwork, crop cultivation, planning, production, harvesting, and selling of produce. Other duties and responsibilities include: maintaining gardens, orchards, and Conservatory for productivity, yield, beauty, and interest; maintaining and repairing Conservatory and irrigation infrastructure; exploring potential community beekeeping and urban chicken keeping program; engaging volunteers and community partners in farm production activities; providing farm-related educational tours and activities; and assisting neighborhood organic landscape maintenance program.

Required qualifications: gardening or farming experience, preferably 2 years or more in organic or chemical-free agriculture; ability to work independently and as part of a team to achieve goals successfully; knowledge of (or willingness to learn) Conservatory operations, maintenance, repair, and basic carpentry. Preferred qualifications: experience teaching youth in a farm setting; demonstrated interest in issues related to food security and sustainable agriculture; ability to work creatively on a low budget; passion for sustainability and for challenging yet rewarding work in an outdoor setting.

Accepting applications until September 9th, 2011. We may not be able to respond to all candidate applications.

Please send resume and cover letter to James by email.

Update: thanks everyone, we found someone awesome! Nicole McDavid is now our Urban Farmer and is taking care of the Glasshouses and gardens. Stop by to say hi! and come try her produce in Painters Hall Cafe.

Favorite Salem secret (again)

Kelsey Wilson was just featured in the Statesman Journal Young Professional spotlight, and said her "favorite Salem secret" is "Pringle Creek Community. It's the perfect place to ride bikes, have a picnic or go for a walk."
Thanks Kelsey! You aren't the only one who loves this place. Julia McFerron told the Statesman Journal that Pringle Creek was her "Favorite Salem Secret" last year too, and we have a lot of friends that come here just to enjoy the 12 acres of natural open space and well-designed streets -- like living in a park. It's beautiful, as you can see from these photos taken in front of the Root Cellar, gardens, and creek by Katie Brown Photography.
Thanks Kelsey! We're glad you like coming here!

Today's Young Professional: Kelsey Wilson
August 21, 2011
Name: Kelsey Wilson
Age: 29
Residence: Salem
What I do at work: Public Affairs Manager at Vox Public Relations Public Affairs. I am responsible for

Lunchtime!

Painters Hall Cafe is an awesome place to have lunch -- have you discovered it yet?


To see the menu (which includes organic blueberry gelato, espresso drinks, and great food), visit http://paintershallcafe.blogspot.com  seriously the best gaspacho this side of Seville...

The best place in Salem to sit outside, have lunch in the shade, and listen to the birds sing.

Organic greens, incredible bread, home baked chicken, fresh fruit, balsamic dressing.... all this for $5

Painters Hall mentioned in Statesman article on WOU

We received a brief mention in today's Statesman Journal, as Painters Hall was the first LEED Platinum building in Salem. Congratulations to Western Oregon University! Link to Statesman Journal article
WOU hall becomes first Polk LEED Platinum building
Justin Much
Statesman Journal
August 4, 2011

The newly anointed nexus on the Western Oregon University campus just officially earned its green stripes.
Ackerman Hall, which opened in September, achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification through the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
The Hall’s builders aimed for the Platinum rating from the onset, while its architect, Kurt Haapala, also prized the building’s