Edible Gardens

Chris Hart-Henderson, of Heart Springs Landscape Design LLC designs easy-care landscapes, including edible perennials.  These landscapes provide abundant fruit and long lasting beauty. By using water conserving designs and drought tolerant plants, Chris’s landscapes are easy on the environment.     

In addition to fruiting trees and shrubs, vines like Hops and Arctic Kiwi, groundcovers like Strawberries and Creeping Oregon Grape, and herbs like Thyme, Oregano, Mint, and Lavender are ideal plants for a high desert edible landscape.

You can find these plants and an abundance of trees (Apple, Pear, Pie Cherry, Italian Plum, Serviceberry, Red Chokecherry, Fruiting Mulberry) and shrubs (Blue Elderberry, Rugosa Rosa, Quince, Currant, Gooseberry, Honeyberry, Raspberry and Blueberries) at Chris’s Nursery: Heart Springs Nursery.

Heart Springs Landscape Design is a Green Spot business.   

Donating a Solar System to Partners In Care Hospice House

When Hospice helped Kelli Hewitt’s 103-year-old great aunt Millie in her end-of-life process, Kelli and her partner Mike wanted to give something back. They decided that helping the non-profit to reduce operations costs would be a long-lasting gift. The Hewitt’s local solar company, E2 Solar, will donate and install a 2K solar system for the organization.  Click here for more of the story. 

Sustainability Champions

We all need heros, right? Someone to look up to. Someone to show us the way or remind us that we are capable of great things. That’s why The Environmental  Center created the Sustainability Awards. 

“Shining a spotlight on current successes is so important, creating a reality that is rooted in truth, not just aspiration.”

The 2012 Sustainability Awards were announced by The Environmental Center at a celebration at the Cascade Culinary Institute’s Elevation Restaurant.  

We presented six awards and you can find out more about each:

• Individual:  Karen Kassy
• Small Business:  SolAire Homebuilders
• Large Business:  Deschutes Brewery
• Organization:  Cascade Culinary Institute
• Special Award—Vision:  Bend Living Cities Design Team (Steven Ames, Rachel Stemach, Stacey Stemach)
• Special Award—Commitment to the Cause: Debra Burke

Headlines That Sound Wrong

Yesterday’s news, like many days, made me shake my head, take heavy sighs, wonder aloud, and kvetch with co-workers. I guess that’s nothing new, right?  But there were two stories that just stuck in my craw.  They didn’t sound right.

Why Organic Food May Not Be Healthier For You

The first headline that elicited comments from me like “But… What about??? And another thing…” was NPR’s story about the nutritional benefits of organic foods compared to conventional foods based on a new report from the Annuls of Internal Medicine. It felt like the report was missing the point of Organics… something so complex was being reduced to the amount of vitamin C in my organic peach?  Fortunately, a co-worker forwarded me Michael Pollan’s response. It’s a short interview; worth the few minutes it took to read.

“The whole point of organic food is that it’s more environmentally sustainable.” 

Banning Plastic Grocery Bags: Environmental Savior or Wasteful Eco-Fad?

Later in the afternoon, this little gem came through my email: 

Banning Plastic Grocery Bags: Environmental Savior or Wasteful Eco-Fad?

I heard a groan from the same co-worker’s desk as she and I read the article simultaneously. Sure, these are complex issues and we shouldn’t just assume that we know the all the answers. So I did a quick search and very quickly started finding links like this one: 

Bag Ban Naysayer Washington Policy Center Not What it Seems

Are we supposed to question everything we hear and read?

Yes. If it sounds wrong, check it out.  If it sounds spot-on, look for more fuel for your fire. Before you take a stance on an issue, before you make up your mind one way or the other on any issue, educate yourself. 

Updates from Green Drinks - Bend, OR

We had another lively Green Drinks this month at Neil Kelly Remodeling - friends reconnected, colleagues chatted about their projects, and a few new folks introduced themselves to our sustainability community.

With so many great things happening, we wanted to share a few updates from our Green Drinks News Board:

Go Solar Workshop

Wednesday, September 5

5:30 - 6:30 at The Environmental Center at 16 NW Kansas Ave.

more info: GoSolarCentralOregon.org

Getaway for Good

An online auction of vacation getaways benefiting The Environmental Center.

September 8 - 19th

more info: envirocenter.org

Know Mexico

The Deschutes Public Library is presenting a series of programs in September that explore the history, music, food, and culture of Mexico. From making tamales to exploring the myths and realities of Spanish conquest, get to “Know Mexico” at these free events throughout September at the branch libraries. 

more info: DeschutesLibrary.org

Green and Solar Home Tour

Saturday, October 6

Presented by the High Desert Branch of Cascadia Green Building Council

more info: GreenandSolarHomeTour.com

Sustainability Awards

October 18

5:00-7:00 pm

tickets on sale September 17!

more info: envirocenter.org

GREENR

With your Deshutes Public Library card, you can connect to GREENR (Global Reference on the Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources).

More info: DeschutesLibrary.org

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