Falling into our community

For Kat and Jim, buying Topaz Farm just outside Portland marked an unexpected shift to farm life, shaped by the land, a growing family operation, and a community that helped them find their footing.

Today, Topaz Farm brings together regenerative, no-spray agriculture, u-pick produce, and farm events, while maintaining connections with other local farms. Cover crops, crop rotation, and composting support the farm’s approach to building healthy soil, while the farm market connects visitors with produce, flowers, and goods from neighboring growers.

Fall brings pumpkins, winding corn mazes, apple cider donuts, and caramel apples. Throughout the year, workshops, live music, u-pick berries and flowers, and Farm to Plate dinners offer other ways to experience the farm. Led by chefs Christian and Janelle Ephrem, the dinners feature locally grown ingredients, with menus shaped by what’s ready in the fields.

As newcomers to farming, Kat and Jim relied on the local agricultural community for advice, equipment, and support as they learned the business. That spirit of collaboration continues to shape the farm, connecting its day-to-day work with the people who have helped it grow.

What began as a retirement decision has become an ongoing commitment to care for a place, work with the seasons, and build something meaningful over time. At Topaz Farm, the story is as much about the people and practices behind it as it is about what grows in the fields.

For more information on fall activities and to plan your visit, head to topazfarm.com.