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
The Dirt on School Gardens: Spring 2019
May 16, 2019
Our dream of a ‘garden for every school’ is becoming reality! Here are some recent highlights as kick off another season: We approved garden grant requests for $10,000 to nine school garden projects in Bend, Sisters, Sunriver, and Prineville. These funds are helping schools implement garden-based learning in ways that meet their own unique needs and […]
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4 Spring Cleaning Tips That Can Save You Energy Too
May 3, 2019
Clean your refrigerator coils. Before your fridge starts to work extra hard in the heat of summer, give it a leg up by cleaning the condenser coils that are underneath your fridge. We are known for lots of dirt and pet hair here in Central Oregon which can build up on the coils. When they […]
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Test Drive an Electric Vehicle April 20-May 5
April 25, 2019
Now is a great time to test drive an electric vehicle in Central Oregon! For every EV you test drive between April 20 – May 5, 2019, you’ll be rewarded with one entry to our raffle…. One lucky winner will get to choose a prize: A Nest Thermostat E or $150 Downtown Dollars. [Note: This was […]
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Outdoor School Days Spring Internship
April 10, 2019
*Update 4/29: This position has been filled. The intern will play a vital active role in providing outdoor school programming for elementary and middle school this spring. The intern will work directly with the Outdoor School Coordinator to deliver the education program. Program delivery includes: presenting lessons, providing student management, and educating students about natural […]
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A Colorful Celebration of the Natural World
April 2, 2019
The Environmental Center will celebrate Earth Day by hosting its annual Earth Day Fair and Parade on Saturday, April 20, 2019. This free community event is a celebration of sustainable living and our natural world. “The Earth Day Fair and Parade is a fun opportunity to celebrate sustainability in action right here at home,” said […]
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2019 Garden Grants Award Winners
March 20, 2019
The Environmental Center is proud to announce the winners of their annual Garden Grant Program. Through community, business, and foundation support, we approved requests for $10,000 to nine school garden projects in Bend, Sisters, Sunriver, and Prineville. Schools receiving award funds include: Crooked River Elementary School, Seed to Table Educational Farm for Sisters Elementary School […]
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Green Spotlight: Tyler Wilson
March 11, 2019
Tyler is a sustainability educator at The Environmental Center, helping to deliver our growing EarthSmart program to even more schools. He teaches at Bear Creek Elementary, Pine Ridge Elementary, and Jewell Elementary. Tyler’s creativity and education background are a great asset to our youth ed team; he’s even provided our lessons with some refreshing updates! […]
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Green Spotlight: Kersey Marion
February 11, 2019
With donor support, The Environmental Center accomplishes a lot with a relatively small team of staff, Board of Directors, and several amazing volunteers and interns. And we consider ourselves very lucky that Kersey Marion has committed so much time and energy to make our work possible! Kersey has helped out in several programs and continues […]
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Action Alert: Think Global, Act Local
February 1, 2019
A letter from our Executive Director, Mike Riley. A simple but powerful idea guides our work here at The Environmental Center: Local action can make a world of difference. I’m reminded of its importance as we enter the new year and a new season of decision-making by our elected leaders. Climate change is the environmental […]
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Why Less Matters
January 28, 2019
Explore how the stuff we buy, use and get rid of everyday, is impacting our world. From furniture to food, our purchasing decisions and behaviors are where we have the most impact, both positively and negatively. We all know the 3 R’s: Reduce Reuse and Recycle, but while most people focus on the 3rd R, […]
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