Who we are
Wild Roots is a small, ecologically-oriented market farm, owned and operated by farmers Mary Colombo and Brian Shipman, growing over 200+ varieties of high-quality vegetables and herbs for our community in the Portland area. When it comes down to it, we got into farming because we love food. We love everything about it: the ways it teaches us through story and tradition, the ways it brings us together, the ways it weaves together the fabric of community. While we really enjoy growing tasty veggies, ultimately, what gets us through many tiring days of farming is the community around us. We farm because we want to help our community reconnect with food.
Like our name, our farm can be a bit wild, unruly, and unconventional at times, but, like roots, we are dedicated to diving deep into the soil to redistribute the nutrients that can nourish and sustain our community. By observing the resiliency of the natural world around us, we are reminded everyday of what community can look like when we come together; what it can look like to constantly find opportunities for growth and rebirth and to compost harmful systems in order to allow new ones to come forth.
Our farm is located near the confluence of the Sandy and Columbia rivers on the ancestral lands of the Chinookian people. We offer gratitude to the Indigenous land stewards who have long tended and cared for the soils, waters, plant life, and other living species that reside on the lands we farm. We acknowledge that our presence on this land is the result of complex historic and enduring impacts of white supremacy and land theft and, because of this, we have a great responsibility to their living descendents and future generations through listening, learning, and showing up via direct action and advocacy. Indigenous people are here and still connected to this land.
Our farm is located near the confluence of the Sandy and Columbia rivers on the ancestral lands of the Chinookian people. We offer gratitude to the Indigenous land stewards who have long tended and cared for the soils, waters, plant life, and other living species that reside on the lands we farm. We acknowledge that our presence on this land is the result of complex historic and enduring impacts of white supremacy and land theft and, because of this, we have a great responsibility to their living descendents and future generations through listening, learning, and showing up via direct action and advocacy. Indigenous people are here and still connected to this land.