Published in Winter 2024
By: Evie Smith, OSU Small Farms Program
Farm For Our Lives is a small, diversified farm just on the Lincoln County side of Alsea, Oregon. Korrie and Robert Hooper are taking their farm into its third farming season in Alsea. The majority of their farm is dedicated to growing mixed vegetables, flowers, and fruit, which they sell at the Florence Farmers Market and through their Waldportbased CSA. This year they also started raising pigs, which they plan to sell as locker meat.
What is something that you’d like your community to know about your farm?
Farm For Our Lives has a community focus. The ‘our’ in Farm for Our Lives doesn’t just refer to Korrie and Rob– they’re farming for the lives of everyone who comes in contact with their farm. They farm organically, and have a goal of providing affordable, healthy food for their neighbors. ‘We want to make our farm everyone’s farm,’ Korrie shared. Their vision is to eventually hold events on their farm so that their community can see where their food is grown and enjoy time together on the land.
What do you like most about farming?
Korrie and Rob enjoy working together on the farm. Korrie was a corporate accountant and Rob a bartender until they started farming. They worked opposite shifts, and saw very little of each other. ‘It took us 21 years to find a job that we could do together,’ shared Korrie. Now, they enjoy being together and being able to problem-solve and brainstorm as a team.
What’s your favorite thing about farming on the Oregon Coast?
The Hoopers like farming in their microclimate on the coast. They farmed in Dufur, OR in the rain shadow of Mt. Hood previously. The mild temperatures, high rainfall, and afternoon marine layer are a welcome change!
What’s next for your farm?
Farm For Our Lives is growing in a lot of ways! One of Rob and Korrie’s big projects right now is expanding their market. They’re looking for new places to sell, and they plan to expand their CSA to serve more customers as well.
If other farmers want to connect with you, what should they talk with you about?
You can talk to Korrie and Rob about anything farming- and food-related! They love hearing stories, and they’re always happy to share information and advice based on their experiences farming. Specifically, you should talk to Korrie about flowers. ‘Flowers have my heart,’ she shared. Talk to Rob about livestock. Farm For Our Lives has recently added pigs on the farm. They’re selling them as locker meat right now, and plan to make pork an add-on for their CSA in the future. Managing the pigs is one of Rob’s favorite jobs on the farm. Since he’s new to raising livestock, he’s always looking for more information about how to improve his management practices. ‘I’d like to learn from others’ experiences,’ he shared.
Get in touch!
If you’d like to connect with Korrie and Rob, you can send them an email ([email protected]), follow them on Facebook, follow them on instagram (@farmforourlives) or drop by the Florence Farmers Market on Tuesday evenings.