Telios Farm

Telios Farm sits on the sacred ancestral lands of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde – the Umpqua, Mollala, Rogue River, Kalapuya, and Chasta peoples – and the unceded lands of the Chinook, as well as other Peoples who lived nearby, harvesting the abundance of the Columbia River region and the Willamette Valley for thousands of years before people of European descent came to this territory. Transparency is essential to creating and nurturing life-giving communities. So, we acknowledge the history of violence, displacement, migration, and settlement and policies of assimilation that bring us to this moment. We pay respects to the elders of the First Peoples, past and present. We also acknowledge the indigenous peoples who live here now and continue caring for the Earth with us and with other current inhabitants. Together, we will honor this sacred land for as long as we draw breath.

We are creating Telios Farm together, Rebecca, my love. What an adventure this has been so far, what an evolution! We spoke of what this could be before we even stepped foot on this sacred land. When we began dating again in 2012, we imagined a home like this as we walked through our Portland and Gresham neighborhoods. I was living in a rented basement bedroom in a house with five strangers. You were living in an apartment. I had never owned a home before, and you had just lost a farm. At times, I didn't fully believe that I could ever own a home, much less a farm. You were certain that's what you wanted. And you believed.

Here we are....

While we are creating this together, you are our leader. First, your vision propels us forward into Beauty. Second, you are the hardest working person I've ever known. I'm so proud of you, so happy to be your number 1 support person, whether in offering ideas or digging holes or moving chicken poop.

A gathering place for family and community

Our love of people, particularly family, friends, and students, this has been the foundation upon which Telios Farm has been and will continue to be created. You and your vision have been the driving force behind this home for community, a place where people want to gather, where they want to be. With the people we love, we've experienced immeasurable love, through many seasons of human life and the seasons of the Earth. Here, on Telios Farm, with you, I so often feel contentment and joy....