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
Meet Janet, Our New Business Manager!
January 17, 2023
Welcome, Janet! We are excited to have Janet Llerandi Gonzalez (they/them) join the Environmental Center as our new Business Manager! In this role, they will be responsible for the important operations that keep our organization running smoothly, from office administration to bookkeeping to managing the facility rentals! Previous to joining TEC, Janet worked in various […]
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We’re Celebrating 10 Years of Repair Café!
January 13, 2023
In 2013, we hosted the first Repair Cafés here in Central Oregon. Have you ever been to one of our Repair Cafés? Repair Cafés are held all around the world, and connect people with broken stuff to people who like to fix stuff. Repairing with other people saves natural resources, prevents waste, and cultivates community. […]
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Winter Break Activities for Kids and Families
December 19, 2022
Photo credit: US Fish & Wildlife Central Oregon is a winter wonderland, full of things to do to keep you and your family outdoors no matter the elements! While hanging by the fire pit is an obvious great choice, our Youth Education team put together a few more ideas to enjoy this season. We hope […]
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Stories from the Garden: Fall 2022
Although the garden is currently under a blanket of snow, Denise and Adrienne (along with volunteers, parents, teachers, and students) had plenty of great garden shenanigans this fall! Read on to learn about and share our gratitude for the small moments that make our garden programs so special: Three Sisters Garden Bed The winter squash […]
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How to Make a Public Comment
December 1, 2022
Photo taken in 2016: Russ Donnelly, Mike Riley, Skylar Grayson, Nikki Roemmer at City Council Communicating with your elected officials is such an important part of the change-making process. They need to hear from you, their constituents, to know what you value and how you think our communities should be improved. Read on to learn […]
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5 Things to do This Thanksgiving to Honor Indigenous Heritage
November 21, 2022
It’s the week of Thanksgiving… …which has many of us wondering how, and if, we should still be participating in the holiday as it was presented to many of us (generally white Americans) as children. Collectively, we are becoming more knowledgeable now about the historical accuracy of the birth of Thanksgiving, as described by writer […]
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NEW! Borrow Reusable Dishware for Low-Waste Events
November 16, 2022
It was a whirlwind, but your daughter’s birthday went smoother than expected, considering the fact that she’s 7 and so were most of the guests. She had a lot of friends, who all had lots of fun and lots of cake. Good for her, you think. Then, you see the mountain of plastic forks […]
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Our First School Garden Bike Tour
October 26, 2022
It was a sunny Saturday in October… Earlier this month, a group of 10 folks biked to three youth garden projects on a beautiful autumn day. Here’s some highlights for those not able to join us! We kicked off our ride at the Dennis Maloney Community Justice Center, one of Deschutes County’s Juvenile Community Justice […]
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Welcome Al, Our New Development Coordinator!
October 25, 2022
Al Kolenda (she/her) just joined our team as the Development Coordinator! In this role, Al will be supporting fundraising activities and building relationships with our members at The Environmental Center. Al lives in Redmond and is an avid kayaker, motorcyclist, and fluent French-speaker. She started her position in September and has already been a wonderful […]
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“Green Drinks” Celebrates Latinx Heritage Month With Upcycled Piñatas!
October 10, 2022
2022 has been exciting, as we have been able to get back to gathering in-person for our various events: Earth Day, the Green Tour, Power Hour, and one of our favorites — the Green Drinks series! Green Drinks is an international concept that brings people together to learn about sustainability efforts. Here in Central Oregon, […]
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