Some of you have been asking when the next Back 40 event will take place. We were in the process of connecting with some of our Back 40 leaders from last year to talk about exactly that, when we received some unwelcome news:
PGE is in the process of replacing the elevated power lines along Highway 26 with buried cables. We had heard that this was a possibility, but had understood that this work would happen on the ODOT side of the fence and would not have an impact on our property.
It turns out that either we misunderstood the plan, or the plan was changed. Regardless, the land where the Back 40 fruiting hedge, pathway and raised beds are located is one of the locations along Sunset Highway where they plan to dig a tunnel for the underground power lines. That land, as many of you know, is easement property, which means that PGE has the legal right to use it for this kind of project.
It is unclear to us what the full extent of the impact will be, although it could include tunneling, digging and staging large pieces of equipment. The people doing the work have asked that we halt all activity in that area until their work is completed. Their plan is to begin this project in May and complete it sometime around mid to late summer.
So, for now - disappointed as we are - we are suspending any further Back 40 activities until further notice.
