Our blog is your go-to resource.
The Environmental Center is your friendly neighborhood sustainability hub.
Our blog tells the stories of the people and organizations, the programs, tools and technologies, that make sustainability real every day. You’ll find the inspiration and resources you need to put sustainability into action in your life, at home or at work.
Be sure to check out our community calendar for upcoming events, and get to know our Partner Groups. Need a space for an event? Our door is open for learning, collaborating, and a whole lot more.
Recent Posts
The Hub
Partner Spotlight: Friends of Malheur Refuge
October 22, 2020
(Header photo credit: Dan Streiffert) The Environmental Center is excited to announce a new Partner Group, Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) whose HQ is in Burns, Oregon. I got to speak with the Director, Janelle Wicks, to learn more about their work across Harney County and how Central Oregonians can participate in their […]
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Celebrate Farm to School on October 26 with Local Carrots
October 15, 2020
Farm to School Chicken Noodle Soup Available on October 26, 2020 Collaboration between local native farm and Bend-La Pine School District Celebrate National Farm to School Month! Farm to School Month is a 31 day celebration of the farm to school efforts that are being made nationwide. Designated in Congress in 2010, this makes 2020 […]
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First #WelcomingWeek Art Walk in our Garden
October 12, 2020
On Friday, September 25th The Environmental Center partnered with City of Bend to host the first ever Welcoming Art Walk in celebration of Welcoming Week. Despite the cold, rainy weather, several community members, families and children showed up to support BIPoC artists. We featured the artwork of Jefferson Greene, artist and storyteller of the Confederated […]
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Vote Yes on Measure 9-135, Bend’s Transportation Bond
For two years, City staff, consultants and a 22-member Citywide Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC) worked on a long-range plan for Bend’s transportation future. With your help, we worked hard to make sure this plan emphasized moving people rather than just moving cars by prioritizing safety, walking, biking and transit improvements. Now, we need your help […]
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3 Tips for a Low Waste Halloween
October 8, 2020
Halloween! Such a fun fantastical holiday when you can really be whoever you want to be: Storm from the X-Men? Willy Wonka? Or popular and scary Freddy Krueger? Well, even scarier might be the incredible amount of plastic waste generated during this holiday. One study estimated that the UK tossed over 2,000 tons of new […]
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Accessory Dwelling Units: A Sustainable Housing Solution
September 24, 2020
Guest post from Mary Hearn, ADU Enthusiast & Advocate Learn more about the ADU Lab here. Allowing homeowners to add accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to their property is one of the most promising infill development strategies we have for increasing our supply of housing within the existing fabric of our community. Many communities across the […]
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5 quick tips: how to reduce waste during construction
September 23, 2020
The EPA estimates that 548 million tons of construction and demolition (C/D) debris (concrete, asphalt, steel, wood products, drywall, brick and clay tile, etc) was generated in the U.S. in 2015 alone — more than twice the amount of generated municipal solid waste. The reduction, reuse, and recycling of C/D can be accomplished through deconstruction […]
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With EPS, energy performance is in the details
September 22, 2020
Guest post from Energy Trust of Oregon See the benefits of energy-efficient homes at this year’s virtual Central Oregon Green Tour. Energy experts and homeowners will give you the insider’s scoop and lead video tours of EPSTM rated homes built for quality, comfort and efficiency. Brought to you by Energy Trust of Oregon, EPS is […]
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Rethink Waste Opens Application for Community Waste Reduction Grants
September 21, 2020
The Environmental Center’s Rethink Waste Project is to provide $500 – $2000 grant awards to individuals, businesses, or organizations in Deschutes County to help with materials, infrastructure, or time that contribute to waste reduction in the community. Work should plan for continued success beyond the grant period. The project must have measurable results. For example, […]
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Caroline Danielson Joins the Team!
September 10, 2020
We’re excited to introduce you to our new FoodCorps Service Member, Caroline Danielson. Caroline is The Environmental Center’s third FoodCorps Service Member and will serve a one-year term in Central Oregon. We are so excited to be able to serve even more schools and students in the coming school year, even amidst the challenges of […]
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