Our mission

Save Helvetia is a coalition of neighbors, friends, and concerned citizens who are working to preserve Helvetia and its neighboring agricultural lands north of Highway 26.

Our mission is to advance policies, leaders, and actions that protect Helvetia’s treasured resources.  Activities which fall within our mission include:

• Advocating for rural reserves
• Challenging urban growth boundary expansions
• Advising governmental bodies about interchange improvements/new road construction
• Clarifying soil fill practices

Save Helvetia is registered as a 501(c)(4) organization.  It has a Board and a Steering Committee that coordinate its actions.

The following persons are Board members:

• Cherry Amabisca (President) – (503) 647-5334
• Robert Bailey (Secretary)
• Allen Amabisca (Treasurer)

The following persons are Steering Committee members:

• Brian Beinlich
• Elizabeth Furse
• Faun Hosey
• Lyn Jacobs, La Finquita del Buho
• James Just, Pumpkin Ridge Gardens
• Greg Mecklem, Pacific Crest Alpacas
• Linda Peters
• John Platt, Helvetia Winery

If you would like to know more about our group, please contact us.  We also invite you to join our online discussion group.

About Helvetia

Helvetia is a small unincorporated community in Washington County, Oregon, and is located north of Hillsboro along U.S. Route 26 northwest of Portland.  It was named by Swiss immigrants to Oregon in the 19th century.  "Helvetia" means "Switzerland" in Latin.

The Helvetia area is home to such notable features as the Helvetia church and cemetery, the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks & Minerals, Helvetia Vineyards and Winery, and the Helvetia Tavern.  Many people know of the Helvetia area because of the television series featuring the Roloffs and their farm.  Helvetia also hosts many annual events, such as the Helvetia Half Marathon, the lavender festival, and the Swiss Festival. 

A wide variety of agricutural operations operate in the area, including both small and large produce and grain farms, orchards, dairy farms, alpaca farms, and equine-related operations such as riding arenas and stables.  A notable type of farm is the subscription farm (also known as a CSA, which stands for Community-Supported Agriculture).  Below is a brief video featuring one of the several CSAs in the Helvetia area, La Finquita del Buho:

(Video courtesy of OLCV)

Many other businesses make their home in Helvetia and surrounding areas, serving the agricultural community and providing services and amenities for nearby urban residents.

Much more information about Helvetia may be found in the Save Helvetia testimony presented at the August 20th public hearing.

You may also learn more about Helvetia from the Helvetia Community Association.  Among other things, the Association sponsors the annual Helvetia Culture Fest and offers many Helvetia-themed merchandise items that help fund the Association and its activities.