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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
Speak Up for Investments in Walking and Biking in Bend!
November 23, 2021
The Transportation Bond Oversight Committee (TBOC) recently finalized its prioritized project plan for the first five years of investments from the Transportation GO Bond that voters approved last year. TBOC will present its plan to the Bend City Council on December 1st and then Council will vote on it on December 15th. This is where […]
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Welcome Grace, our newest AmeriCorps member
November 16, 2021
We are excited to have Grace Andrews joining our team to expand our capacity to dig into some important and timely energy conversations in our region. Grace is an AmeriCorps member with Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE), a program that increases capacity for communities across Oregon to tackle community-based projects. Grace graduated from Colby […]
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Garden for Every School Program Announces Local Garden Grants Available
November 12, 2021
The Environmental Center’s Garden for Every School Program announces their annual garden grants are available. The goal of the small grant program is to provide local funding for public and private Pre K – 12 schools in Central Oregon to build or support a school garden. Gardens can be indoors, or an outdoor classroom, depending […]
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A Virtual Twist on Repair Café
November 9, 2021
The Environmental Center’s Rethink Waste Project coordinates with an amazing group of volunteer fixers to host Repair Cafés every few months. These free events connect people with broken stuff to people who like to fix stuff – they’re all about repairing things together. Stuff like, jewelry, small appliances and electronics, outdoor gear, clothing, and more. […]
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Soil Health for School Gardens Workshop Recap and Resources
November 8, 2021
Soil Health for School Garden Workshop Recap Last month we held an in-person Garden Educator Network event in Redmond, our first in person network event in 2 years. This workshop was a collaboration, and funded in part through a grant from the National Association of Conservation Districts. Many school gardens were untended during the 2020 […]
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2021 Sustainability Awards Winners Announced
November 4, 2021
The Environmental Center announced the 2021 Sustainability Award winners during a live-streamed celebration from Open Space Event Studios on Thursday, November 4. The Environmental Center presented three Sustainability Awards to: Well Rooted Farms Kôr Community Land Trust Bend Bikes Read more about them below. Award recipients were selected by a community review committee. Nominees were […]
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Garden Project at East Bend Boys and Girls Club
November 1, 2021
While the Garden for Every School team has been partnering with the Downtown Boys & Girls Club for the last decade, this summer was the first time we worked with staff and students at their small East Bend Club to help install a small learning garden on site. As this space has in ground irrigation, […]
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Tips for Keeping Post-Halloween Pumpkins Out of the Landfill
Want to hear something scary? Each year, over a billion pounds of pumpkins are sentenced to landfills across the US. Check out these tips for keeping pumpkins out of the Knott Landfill here in Deschutes County. 1. Are the pumpkins or Jack O’lanterns starting to go bad? Are they too spooky for consumption? Compost them! […]
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Electric Buses And Equity: Six Principles For Combining Them
October 27, 2021
Electrification of bus fleets is moving forward at a fast clip around the nation, as is transportation electrification worldwide. We want to look at how and why equity and electrifying our buses can be a both/and, rather than either/or goals that compete with each other in hard times. 1.) Much electric bus funding is tied to […]
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Going solar is easier than ever!
October 21, 2021
Have you ever thought about switching to solar energy, but dismissed it as too difficult or expensive? Do you want to add a solar array to your roof, but have no idea where to start? Or are you feeling left out of the solar craze because you don’t own a home? Well, read on! Now […]
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