[bethariel]

For any mama's currently residing in Salem ... my dh and I have lived in PDX for 6 years. Because of his job, we're considering moving to Salem to cut his commute. We have a 4 m.o. babe, no friends in Salem, and no idea of the community down there! Can you give me your opinions? Are there natural food markets, farmers markets, community gardens, etc? How are the schools/day care situation? Any advice or information you can give would be awesome. Thanks for your time!

 

[~Megan~]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>bethariel</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7947793"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Can you give me your opinions? Are there natural food markets, farmers markets, community gardens, etc?</div>
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There is one health food store, one herb store plus of course all the Fred Meyers with their organic foods section.<br>
There is a Saturday Market in the summer and one that is smaller but runs all year indoors. There is also a small Wednesday Market in the spring-fall.<br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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There are some charter schools and two Montessoris that I know of. We are going to homeschool (at least i think so at this point) so I don't have a lot of school info.<br><br>
We have a pretty good group of moms down here, many on MDC too!

 

[pamamidwife]

There have been a couple of good threads on this very subject.<br><br>
Truth is, it's no Portland. It's no Eugene. But in my opinion, community is what you make it. It's small enough to really know people, but not so small that you run through everyone quickly. The progressive community is tight and our health food store is independently owned!<br><br>
We do have an awesome group of moms that meet and have a yahoogroup - there's also a NINO (Nine In, Nine Out) group in Silverton/Aumsville (close by). We're also getting a LLL chapter soon! There are some CSA (community supported agriculture) groups here and in surrounding communities. There are also a few homeschool groups.<br><br>
If you have any questions, feel free to ask. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[MommaLyon]

I just moved to salem too and believe me it is no portland. However, everyone i have met in the progressive community has been really nice. There is one health food store and it is independently owned I really do not know a whole lot of people here and am looking forward to meeting more people from these forums. And let me say it is about DAMN time that they get a LLL here!! Unbelievable!! But like someone said community is what you make it. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink">

 

[pamamidwife]

Yeah, I hear ya - we had a LLL group but they eventually disbanded. Never mind the fact that Salem Hospital has a HUGE showing of people for their "breastfeeding group" (essentially a get-your-baby-nekkid-weigh-them, then nurse and weigh them again routine). <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"> It's very sad. Part of it has to do with attitudes.<br><br>
We ARE the second largest city in the state! There are many great things about being here - and being in the middle between Eugene and Portland suits me well most days.

 

[bethariel]

thanks all! as our home-search continues, I may contact you guys to ask specific questions. I would dearly miss portland, but having dh commute over 2 hrs a day is not wonderful. and i'm lucky to be a SAHM, so i have plenty of time (and motivation) to get out and meet folks! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> Also, home prices in salem are way more reasonable than PDX ... it's so sad that we can't afford to even THINK about buying a home in any neighborhood that doesn't have meth houses on every block. blech. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/irked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="irked">:

 

[Phoenix_Rising]

commutes suck (my big toe) <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1"><br>
i agree wholeheartedly with pamamidwife that community is what you make of it/what you make for yourself. those times i feel isolated i know that it is completely of my own doing, it is not where i live.<br>
lifesource is our local health food store - there is another in corvallis that we frequent called first alternative (i work halfway between salem & corvallis).<br>
farmers markets (i think) start up again in may. there are ones in both salem (downtown-ish) and silverton.<br>
community gardens - nothing that i know of<br>
schools/day care - my DP is a SAHM and we are planning on home schooling, so i really can't help you there - sorry.<br>
and commuting is icky. i drive 1.5 hours for my commute.