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Anyone Have a Ukrainian Dictionary?
September 13, 2007

In June, Terroir sponsored a successful opening fundraiser for MercyCorps Northwest’s Refugee New Agriculture Project. The Refugee New Agriculture Project “assists refugees and immigrants incubate and build small scale farm-based enterprises within the six county metropolitan area of Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash. With three years’ experience working closely with the local farming community, MercyCorps Northwest (MCNW) provides New Agriculture participants with the necessary tools, skills and connections to become entrepreneurial farmers within the local food sector.”

Around that same time, a Ukrainian immigrant, Alexander Velikoretskikh (his surname means “great river”), approached MCNW in search of land and resources to start his own small farm in Portland. After surveying various agricultural properties with the assistance of MercyCorps, Alexander selected a small but fertile urban plot located in southeast Portland. Through the Refugee New Agriculture Project, MCNW provided Alexander with seeds, tools, irrigation supplies, and agricultural support to enable him to sow crops in time for a late summer/fall harvest.

Last month I got a phone call from Drew Katz, head of NCNW’s Refugee New Agriculture Project. Drew asked me if he and a farmer can stop by with some product so I can take a look and see what I think. Another local farmer. “Of course! Come on by.”

About a half an hour later Drew walked in with Alex of Great River Farm and three of his nine kids with baskets of Armenian cucumbers, Laconato kale, radishes, beets with tops and baby carrots with gorgeous carrot fronds. Great looking and tasting vegetables? Check. Fair market pricing (with a little help from me and my other established farmers) going directly to the farmer? Check. Local farmer starting a new life? Check. Community oriented? Check.

One problem. MercyCorps’ translator was out of town and besides the three Russian phrases that I remember from my maternal grandmother (no is nyet, yes is da and pass the vodka is s da VAATS DAATS VAWD ka--which didn’t help that much, go figure), we were like two aliens trying to communicate. My brain kept thinking, he doesn’t understand English, so try speaking Spanish. That didn’t help either. Between his youngest daughter knowing a bit of English and Alex and I working things out with nonverbal communication, we closed the deal.

Now, about four weeks later, Alex calls on Tuesday mornings and in very broken English tries to tell me what he has. I usually say, yes, come on by. Over coffee, we work out pricing, quantities and what he might have next week.

Call it a real sense of satisfaction in seeing our commitment come full circle--from our donation and money to seed to product. Now, all I need is a Ukrainian-English culinary/farmer dictionary and to learn how to say “No more romaine” in Ukrainian.

And the journey continues.

Cheers!

Stu

Comments or questions? E-mail Chef Stu at StuStein@rimag.com.

Posted by Stu Stein on September 13, 2007 | Comments (1)