PAGE X MAY 2016 Spreading the Love with Timber Jim BY LARRY McCLURE Jim’s trail of hard knocks began the only time Red Sweater Project, founded by Lake Oswego “Spread the Love” is the mantra for Tualatin his father failed to wear a lifejacket… it proved native Ashley Holmer, has created a school for resident Jim Serrill who lives those words in fatal. Later, Jim’s first marriage ended in divorce indigenous Africans (Maasai, among other native everything he does. But it could have been and a daughter that grew up far away on the tribes) in Tanzania, where Jim will be assisting another story for this professional tree trimmer east coast. Tree climbing accidents over the years in revitalizing depleted soil and teaching the whose life has been riddled with family tragedies resulted in serious injuries. Jim taught safety children to grow their own food in a sustainable and cancer. After realizing anger and negative training and CPR for many years, but that wasn’t way. The school project began 10 years ago attitudes could be turned to positive good, enough to save his youngest daughter Hannah who after Ashley and her twin sister, both local soccer Jim now recommends being prepared and was reclined in her car seat and slipped through stars and trained coaches, volunteered for a year meeting personal challenges head on. In the the safety belt that broke her neck in an instantly- as soccer coaches to boys and girls in at a rural process, he inspires others to do the same. fatal head-on crash. Jim has fought to control school. She was appalled by the lack of education diabetes and has overcome for adolescent girls, who are typically offered up Known to Portland Timbers two struggles with cancer. for marriage in exchange in livestock. Ashley is soccer fans as Timber Jim, who The sum of those battles was making education her life’s work and feels it is Hilltop Community Garden manager Jim shared a originally climbed a spar pole enough to require an early the key to unlocking opportunities for girls all plot with granddaughter Keiana. and chain-sawed a slab off a retirement from clearing over the world. Ashley started by engaging the huge log after each goal, Jim power lines. Jim and his wife local villagers and government leaders, who were Drive by Hilltop Community Garden this has redirected his energy to Diane raised three daughters impressed with a female who could play at such summer and you may see Jim tending his own plot giving a helping hand. Jim and have called Tualatin competitive levels. Thanks to donors worldwide or talking to neighborhood kids about pollinators has legions of friends in the home for 25 years. Jim and ten years later, a growing campus is serving that guarantee a good harvest. If he’s not there, Timbers Army and in Tualatin Diane’s granddaughter Keiana hundreds of tribal children who often walk several he may be kayaking on the Tualatin River (with who are willing to join him in (daughter of Hannah) lives miles to school. Ashley remembered Timber Jim lifejacket) or helping someone else who may be community service. His life with her grandparents. “She is from her own soccer days in Portland and on trips facing difficult times themselves. But at Timbers story prompted an invitation a ray of sunshine,” says Jim. back home to Lake Oswego. Holmer enlisted home game days he’ll be singing with the Timbers to make a TEDx PDX talk last him to determine how community gardening Army and proudly watching his protégé Timber month at Keller Auditorium. Jim spearheaded the very might work there. The Timbers Army has Joey who slices the log for each goal now and is In Jim’s presentation he opened successful Hilltop Community since provided shoes, support and the Portland also on the Hilltop Community Garden team. his chest and revealed what Garden three years ago after Timbers FC gave uniforms for students at the is in his heart. Displayed looking for a way to focus school. See: www.redsweaterproject.org. on stage was Portland’s his pent-up energy into first Major League Soccer something positive. Driving Jim’s focus is on doing well for others as a National Championship Timber Jim was named Portland Timbers by an empty field on Tualatin way to heal himself. This has opened more doors Larry and his wife Ellie have Cup. Jim was also awarded mascot in 1978 until health issues forced his United Methodist Church of opportunity and community service. His lived in Tualatin for 44 years where a 2015 Championship Ring retirement in 2008. property on Martinazzi Ave love of history landed him a spot on the board they raised 3 children and follow for his many years as the Director of Love and almost daily, he stopped and asked, “Can we of directors for Tualatin Historical Society where 7 grandchildren on Facebook. Celebration for the Portland Timbers. His TEDx get a community garden started?” Volunteers he also enjoys helping PDX Talk can be heard on YouTube revealing stepped forward to help and raised the needed 4th graders with a life filled with trials and triumphs alike. funds. The second growing season in 2015 netted gardening on their over 3600 pounds of fresh produce donated to the Pioneer Days field Tualatin Schoolhouse Food Pantry. Additionally, trip to the Tualatin 28 families grew vegetables for their own use. Heritage Center Just this month another 2500 square feet of each spring. His vegetable production space was added when Brian passion for growing Clopton Excavation donated six truckloads of healthy foods was a soil and heavy equipment to fill where an unused natural fit at Winona building once stood. Grimm’s Fuel provided Grange where he two truck loads of compost to amend the soil. is in demand from other Oregon. It was the combination of soccer and granges interested Maasai Tribal students in Tanzania, wearing their new soccer uniforms from Timbers gardening that is leading Timber Jim to the in promoting Army, will be learning about growing their own gardens when Jim visits the campus African nation of Tanzania next month. The community gardening. next month to recommend how to begin..