the green spot

Edible Gardens

Fri, 03 May 2013 17:12:31 -0400

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.

Sustainable Business Leaders of Central Oregon: How to sell an energy project to the Finance Manager

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:25:19 -0400

Sustainable Business Leaders of Central Oregon: How to sell an energy project to the Finance Manager:

lshaas:

To make the case for energy efficiency and alternative energy, create a compelling story beyond the numbers—regardless of the form of analysis, was the conclusion of a discussion group at the Sustainable Business Leader’s meeting of March 8th. For example, with rapidly changing building codes,…

Donating a Solar System to Partners In Care Hospice House

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 15:10:47 -0500

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.

Karen Kassy - named the 2012 Individual Sustainability Champion...

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:44:19 -0400

Karen Kassy - named the 2012 Individual Sustainability Champion by The Environmental Center.

Sustainability Champions

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 19:48:25 -0400

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:

earth911: Read about the Trek Bicycle Recycling...

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 17:55:19 -0400

earth911:

Read about the Trek Bicycle Recycling Program

hypomanicmind:

UpCycle Nation… ReCycled Bike Table

Photo

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:45:37 -0400

Headlines That Sound Wrong

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 18:37:54 -0400

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

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 19:27:22 -0400

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

Photo

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 13:57:42 -0400

Green Business CAN save the...

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:21:08 -0400

Green Business CAN save the world.

publicradiointernational:

Bill Gates’ charitable organization, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is investing $370 million in the development of toilets that can improve sanitation around the world.

Gates attended the Reinvent the Toilet fair in Seattle, where he looked at designs that included a toilet that used microwave energy to turn poo into electricity, another that turned excrement into charcoal, and a third that used urine for flushing.

A total of 28 designs were shown off at the fair. A $100,000 prize was awarded to a team from the California Institute of Technology. Their design: A solar-powered toilet that generated hydrogen gas and electricity. More.

(Photo: Bill Gates with a researcher from the University of Toronto at the Reinvent the Toilet Fair in Seattle on August 14, 2012. By the Gates Foundation/Flickr.)

Jay Coalson at Bend's Sustainable Business Group

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 14:58:50 -0400

Jay Coalson, named one of “10 sustainable business ecosystem leaders to watch,” to speak at Central Oregon’s first meeting of the Sustainable Business Group,on August 8th, 2012 from 9-10 am at The Environmental Center (16 NW Kansas Ave, Bend, OR)

Laurel Haas from American Licorice will follow Jay’s presentation with a case study on American Licorice’s journey to zero waste at their plants in California and Indiana as well their office in Bend, Oregon.

The Environmental Center, a non-profit organization working to embed sustainability into daily life in Central Oregon, is teaming up with EarthShare Oregon (ESOR), an organization managing a workplace giving program to support conservation and healthy communities, and American Licorice, a consumer packaged goods manufacturer headquartered in Bend, Oregon, to form a network of business professionals, non-profits, and government leaders concerned with social responsibility, to identify opportunities and collaborate on local projects to enhance sustainability in the business community and to share sustainable best practices.

The first meeting of the group will take place on August 8th, from 9AM to 10AM at the Environmental Center on 16 NW Kansas Avenue in Bend, Oregon. The discussion will feature Jay Coalson, the Executive Director of the Zero Waste Alliance, who will speak about engaging the community to create zero waste economy, followed by Laurel Haas who will present a case study on American Licorice’s journey to zero waste. The meeting will conclude with a roundtable discussion where participants will have an opportunity to discuss topics they would like to see the group explore.

Mr. Coalson has over 20 years of management and strategic planning experience. He most recently founded and spent ten years as the President and CEO of Green Building Services, a leading international sustainable development consulting firm. Mr. Coalson is the current Executive Director at Zero Waste Alliance, a Portland-based nonprofit working with industry and communities to create a prosperous and inclusive future without waste. Mr. Coalson is also a partner and Director of Sustainability at G² Energy, a financing and development firm specializing in distributed energy generation projects. Mr. Coalson is a board member at Portland Sustainability Institute (PoSI) and at Sustainable Northwest. Ms. Haas has over 20 years of marketing experience at organizations such as Nielsen, Brach’s Confections, and American Licorice. She recently took on the role of Corporate Social Responsibility Manager and completed an MBA specializing in sustainability at Walden University. She is a member of the Commute Options Working Group, Net Impact, and the California Resources Recovery Association. According to Haas, “Businesses are not only concerned about their impact but are seeking to enhance resources they depend on. Many are adopting a socially responsible model that integrates sustainability into operations and increase engagement with their communities where their associates and customers live and work. By connecting businesses in Central Oregon, we can gain even more impact from our efforts and also create paths to greater sustainability in Central Oregon”.

“Central Oregon is a phenomenal place, rich in both natural and social resources. As our community continues to make national and regional news for our endless outdoor activities, craft breweries, and high quality of life, we could be leading the way in the sustainable city movement”, says Sweet Pea Cole, Sustainability Advocate at the Environmental Center. “With an inspiring culture of innovation, entrepreneurism, and leadership, our community should be Green Town, USA”.

About The Environmental Center

The Environmental Center’s mission is to embed sustainability into daily life in Central Oregon. We translate sustainability into practical action in order to create a healthy future for people and the planet.

Our programs incorporate education and advocacy to advance our vision of a sustainable Central Oregon. They include: zero waste of materials, energy and water; advocating for a regional public transit system; youth education; advocating for and supporting sustainability initiatives by local governments and businesses, and operating a community campus that demonstrates sustainability in action.

Find us on the web at www.envirocenter.org or at our public facility at 16 NW Kansas Avenue in downtown Bend, Oregon.

About EarthShare Oregon

EarthShare is Oregon’s only environmental federation for workplace fundraising. EarthShare Oregon (ESOR) is a federation of 70 leading local and national non-profit conservation groups that provides a convenient way for Oregonians to support conservation and healthy communities. Through EarthShare workplace campaigns, conservation groups reach new audiences and supporters in nearly 100 public and private organizations in Oregon. Since our founding in 1989, we have raised over $10.5 million for conservation. EarthShare Oregon’s member groups working in Central Oregon include 1000 Friends of Oregon, Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics, Native Plant Society of Oregon, Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides, Northwest Earth Institute, Oregon Natural Desert Association, Oregon Wild, Renewable Northwest Project, The Environmental Center, The Nature Conservancy in Oregon, and The Wetlands Conservancy.

About American Licorice Company
An industry leader in the manufacturing and marketing of confections, the American Licorice Company is one of the original licorice manufacturers in the US confections industry. Since its establishment in 1914, American Licorice has brought happiness to consumers with their Red Vines®, Snaps®, Sour Punch®, Super Ropes®, Extinguisher® and Natural Vines® confections. Additional information is available online at americanlicorice.com.

What does 'Green' mean when you're shopping?

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 16:18:22 -0400

Recycle Bank’s Guide for Greener Shopping:

If you try your best to shop green, you may have noticed that your shopping list gets a bit more complicated with every new environmental buzzword that comes along; scan the shelves at any store, and you’ll find lots of products promoting eco-friendly features. Almost every product has a green or greener counterpart, but it can be hard to know which is which unless you know the lingo on the packaging.

Before you head to the store, try to familiarize yourself with the most common environmental terms and certifications; and think about ways you might be able to make more efficient purchases. Just a little bit of know-how will help you sift through products and guide you to making greener purchases. Here are a few words, labels, and ideas, so you can be a confident green shopper — and get shopping!

Below are some great tips. For all the details, see the full article here.

Natural
This is a tricky one — there is no single, government-regulated definition for “natural”.

Biodegradable
A product is biodegradable if it can decompose into a natural element in a relatively short time period, when exposed to sunlight.

Recyclable
Many items are recyclable, it’s just important to check how the item is recyclable or what part of the item is recyclable. It could be the product that is recyclable, or maybe the packaging.

USDA Organic Seal
The USDA Organic seal certifies that the product contained within the packaging is made of at least 95% organic ingredients or materials.

Fair Trade Certified Label
The Fair Trade Certified label identifies products that meet criteria set by TransFair USA, like transparency, community development, and environmental sustainability through improved soil fertility and limited use of potentially harmful agrochemicals, so that you can rest assured that the product is free of genetically modified organisms [GMOs], farmed in a way that improves soil fertility, and made with limited use of potentially harmful agrochemicals.

ENERGY STAR Label
Products with the ENERGY STAR label meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy — any product that meets these guidelines contributes to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, energy usage, and often, your bills.

You can also try something new…

Here are a few ideas you might consider before you complete your shopping list:

Cleaning with Food

Scrubbing with Reusables

Nearly-Indefinite Energy Efficiency

Scents From Nature

Eating in Bulk

How Green is your Eco-Lable? How do we sort through the claims when we buy fish?

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 13:00:47 -0400

How Green is your Eco-Lable? How do we sort through the claims when we buy fish?

We think being good for the environment and being good for the...

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 14:58:42 -0400

We think being good for the environment and being good for the economy are not mutually exclusive.

Photo

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 15:08:05 -0400

People Powered: A Good Way to Get to Business

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 16:27:00 -0400

An excerpt from “Business of the Environment” by Kyla Merwin Cheney

Businesses need their employees to get to work on time. If those employees are healthy, reliable and productive, that’s not so bad either. Common to these factors is a little invention that came out in the early 1900’s called the gas-powered automobile. Cars:we need them. We love them. We rely upon them. We pave streets and lots of land to park them. In the work-a-day world they get us where we need to be, when we need to be there. And they get us back home.

What may surprise business owners, however, is that the key to healthy, reliable and productive employees is found not in the automobile, but rather in the absence of the automobile. Not surprisingly, cars bring with them a whole host of related problems and unintended consequences. What if they break down; how will you get to work? Where do you put them when employee parking starts to impede on customer parking? What about employees who don’t have a car?

Parking issues, combined with issues of health, safety and morale, have caused many employers to look for sound, balanced transportation plans for their employees and customers. [Ideally, a business transportation plan includes] teleworking (working from home), carpool matching, bicycle parking, employee incentive programs, and/or Park-and-Ride lots. [Establishing a balanced plan] helps get employees to work, and that, in turn, helps employers get their jobs done more economically. Other benefits to employers include: reduced parking demands, stronger recruiting power, enhancement of community and employee relations, and increased employee productivity.

To read this article in its entirety, please visit Commute Option’s site at http://www.commuteoptions.org/

*photo via http://www.thesartorialist.com

earth911: Reusing food packaging before tossing it in the trash...

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 16:34:43 -0400

earth911:

Reusing food packaging before tossing it in the trash or recycling bin is a great way to save money and cut back on household waste. Those glass jars, plastic containers and tin cans have loads of useful applications, from food storage to party decor. But did you know reusing some food packaging picks could be harmful to your family’s health?

Before reusing your packaging leftovers, consult Earth911′s reuse safety guide – chock full of ways, whys and hows for repurposing your throw-aways.

sp00nful:

Salad in a Jar

Trying to find Green Businesses in Central Oregon?

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 16:41:55 -0400

Trying to find Green Businesses in Central Oregon?

Live local, buy local -- What does that mean to you?

Thu, 31 May 2012 13:44:54 -0400

by Shannon Hinderberger aka: “Working Mom Goes Green”

Shannon is a working mom in Bend, taking a stand against yucky stuff in her food, cosmetics, etc. and gradually turning her family towards more eco-friendly, natural choices. She’s learning and she blogs about her journey towards going green at www.workingmomgoesgreen.com.

A few months ago, a “Live Local. Buy Local” sticker appeared in my goodie bag at a local marketing conference I attended. I decided to slap it on the back of my Jeep because I felt I was doing just that — living local, buying local. Boy did that sticker give me a smack of reality.

The first instance of reality came while I was in the drive thru line for a national coffee chain. October and November bring out my favorite treat, pumpkin spiced lattes. I began to feel silly heading there 2x/week when I had a coffee shop in my work building that could make the same thing, cheaper. The reality, the taste wasn’t the same but I was supporting local.

Next, groceries. I do most of my grocery shopping at a well-know and beloved grocery chain because their dairy products don’t contain hormones and their processed food line promises no artificial preservatives or flavorings. I also shop at formerly Oregon-owned grocery store, then I remembered they are now owned by a national company. Oops.

What do I do local? Apparently, not enough and that sticker made me realize that. I don’t drink a latte everyday but when I do, I’m really trying to hit locally owned shops. There is so much more I need to work on and I do keep in mind the mission of my blog … going green gradually.

What do you buy locally? And what do you need to work on? I’d love to know.