We get many things that we use in our daily lives from “the Land” – the food we eat, fiber for our clothes, and raw material for heat, homes, buildings, and roads. We’re surrounded by element-based things extracted or grown from the soil and fashioned into shapes we find useful or pleasing enough to consume. We’re also getting good at re-using the elements in that fiber, that liquid, that meltable plastic, so we don’t have to use virgin material, thereby reducing costs and impacts on the environment in the process. In fact, our bodies are some of the best recycling machines around. We eat foods that begin as soil, like…
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Bat Fatalities at Wind Turbines
Investigating the Causes & Consequences Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world It represents an important step toward reducing dependence on nonrenewable sources of power. However, widespread deployment of industrial wind turbines has unprecedented adverse effects on certain species of bats that roost in trees and migrate. Bats are beneficial consumers of agricultural insect pests, and migratory species of bats provide free pest-suppression services across ecosystems and international borders. Although the underlying causes of bat fatalities at wind turbines remain unknown, potential clues can be found in the patterns of fatalities. TSH scientists, in collaboration with other U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) science centers as well as…
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Global Earth Repair Summit
October 21 – 24, 2022 An Invitation to participate in a global, local event Come together in person, as communities, as local restoration pods to plant trees and do restoration work. Meet Restorationists from far and wide: to network, share information, and do action planning for global, scaled-up efforts. Be part of a growing, global movement to re-green Earth! For more info: www.globalearthrepairfoundation.org Contact Michael Pilarski: friendsofthetrees@yahoo.com
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Pendleton Opens New Store in Salem
1313 Mill Street SE Suite 110, Salem, OR Hours 10 am to 4 pm Tuesday through Saturday Pendleton Woolen Mills has a new store inside the Willamette Heritage Center (WHC) in Salem, Oregon. The store offers woolen blankets, apparel, accessories, and gifts, along with fabric cuts and exclusive mill materials for crafting with wool. This location is a ‘coming home’ for Pendleton Woolen Mill’s descendants of Thomas Lister Kay, where his namesake mill was founded 133 years earlier. Founded in 1863 and located in Portland, Oregon, Pendleton weaves iconic designs in two of America’s remaining woolen mills in Pendleton, Oregon, and Washougal, Washington. With six generations of family ownership, Pendleton…
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Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides Offers Consultation Services
Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP) recently released a new consultation service to help community members manage weeds and pests without pesticides. Schedule a one-on-one meeting with their staff to learn how to deal with gardening pests without relying on chemicals that can harm people and the environment. Many common pesticide products impact beneficial bug species and contribute to water pollution. NCAP can help you find safe solutions. This service is offered at a sliding scale, and no one will be turned away for lack of funds. For more info: www.pesticide.org/consultation
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Vancouver’s First Pride Block Party
June 11th, 1 pm to 7 pm Downtown Vancouver from Main to Washington Dandelion Teahouse & Apothecary is thrilled to be partnering with Summer of Pride Clark County to bring you Vancouver’s first Pride block party! This free, all-ages event will span 7th street downtown Vancouver, from Main to Washington on June 11th, 1 pm to 7 pm. We’ll be featuring live local music, performances by the local drag community, activities for all ages, a “Wear Your Pride” community fashion show (with voting and prizes!), local organizations and vendors, and more! Dandelion also hosts various monthly events, including craft workshops, open mics, yoga on Wednesday evenings, Tea Tasting Parties on…
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Nut-tritious Foods Rebranded in Mason Jars
Dedicated to being Vegan, Non-GMO, sold in reusable mason jars. The mission at Nut-Tritious Foods is to provide delicious, nutrient-dense nut and seed butters to be used as a daily ingredient for healthy eating in our homes and communities. Fresh roasting brings out a fantastic flavor that customers have loved for years. They are differentiated through their choices not to include salt, palm oils, fillers, or sweeteners (except the chocolate) and their dedication to being vegan and non-GMO. This year, they have rebranded the products into 12oz recyclable/reusable mason jars. Nut-tritiuos Foods is currently at 12 markets and several farmer’s markets such as Lake Oswego, Portland State, Beaverton, Vancouver, Camas,…
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28th Annual Concerts in the Park
Crown Park, 120 NE 17th Ave, Camas, WA, Every Thursday in July, 6:30pm to 8:30pm This free concert series offers family-friendly performances in a variety of musical styles. The first summer concert will be CJ Mickens on July 7, featuring his Pop/ Urban/ Contemporary style. Louis Pain, with his Soul-Jazz groove, follows on July 14. Then, on July 21, Kevin Selfe & The Tornadoes bring his Blues music to the stage. Then, Shades of Huey will wrap up the series on July 28 with the cover songs of Huey Lewis and the News! Food concessions will be on site. Meals can also be purchased across the street at Top Burger…
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Ecosystem Restoration Course
June 7-17, 2022 Atlan Community, 37 Nestor Peak Road White Salmon, WA Taught by Michael “Skeeter” Pilarski, Marisha Auerbach, and Special Guest Teachers A hands-on, in-person course, blending ecosystem restoration, permaculture, regenerative agriculture, and ethno-ecology. Will take last-minute sign-ups Work trade and partial scholarships are available! Healthy ecosystems provide clean air, clean water, ecological services, habitat, and food for wildlife as well as yields to support humanity. As we face increased natural disasters, a global pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and social instability, now is the time to enhance our abilities to come together to practice ecosystem restoration. This course is for land-stewards, land managers, landscapers, and anyone concerned about ecosystem health as…
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Thinking Upstream
“Hey, what’s that in the river?! It looks like…. It can’t be…Yes… yes, it’s a BABY! Oh my gosh, here comes another one! What on earth is happening?!? Where are those babies coming from?!” The people on the river banks jump in to rescue the babies floating downstream. They are able to reach them and save the babies from drowning. Then the next day, there are four babies struggling in the river! More folks jump in and save those babies. This process continues each consecutive day until finally, one of the people on the riverbank turns and runs upstream. “Where are you going?” shout the others. “I’m going to see…
