Written by Erin Maidlow, Executive Director of Umpqua Valley Farm to School
Uphill Farm sits on a sloping hill just outside of downtown Myrtle Creek on a small but mighty plot of land owned by a first generation farming family. The hill is where they got the name, Uphill Farm, after countless days spent working hamstrings while walking uphill. Farmer Bobbi Wilson says the name also comes from turning life’s challenges into opportunities as her family consisting of her mother, sister, and four nieces and nephews all work together on the farm.
Bobbi fell in love with the physical and mental aspect of farming, working both her body and her mind as she created crop plans, budgets, and worked through soil and plant needs while working on organic vegetable farms as a WWOOFer. Originally from Corvallis and surrounded by farms, she didn’t have any farmers in her immediate family but knew for many years that she wanted to have her own farm one day. When the opportunity arose to move closer to her family in Myrtle Creek and gain a piece of land to farm, she jumped at the chance.
Uphill Farm takes great care of the land and recognizes the effects of climate change on the future of farming. Conserving soil and water are critical aspects of the farm which is why half of the land is not irrigated. Bobbi dry farms several crops such as tomatoes, melon, corn, squash, and beans, and chooses drought tolerant crops which are adapted to our hot, dry summers. Dry farming is an ancient, Indigenous farming practice that has been used by tribes like the Hopi in Arizona and others in more arid parts of the globe for centuries. It is gaining momentum in Oregon as we recognize the need to shift our food system away from being so dependent on pumping groundwater. The land, like a lot of land in the west, does not have access to consistent water which is why they’ve chosen to do their best with the resources available. Bobbi uses cover crops and crop rotations to retain more water in the soil and provide the maximum amount of nutrients back into the land. Learning how to farm in a way that will become more necessary in the future has been a focal point for Uphill Farm.
Consumers can find Uphill Farm at Umpqua Valley Farmers Market and Josephine County Farm Collective with a variety of vegetables and strawberries. From unique varieties of leafy greens, radishes, and peppers to peas, rutabagas, and potatoes, which is a favorite crop for Bobbi, who finds satisfaction in digging them out of the ground. In 2023, Uphill Farm also provided produce boxes for 40 families through the DC Produce Project which brings fresh produce to rural schools in Douglas County.
Uphill Farm’s plans for the future include maximizing production on their small farm while using limited resources to conserve natural resources for future generations. Bobbi says she’d like to explore more regenerative agriculture like adding poultry, and adding more products to her market lineup. Collaboration is the key to success, and Uphill Farm intends to create positive impacts in the community through partnerships with other farmers while improving our local food system as a whole. Visit Uphill Farm at Umpqua Valley Farmers Market each Saturday or check out their Instagram page for more information: @uphillfarm