The Environmental Center

Gardening for Native Pollinators
2024-02-18 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Moonfire and Sun Garden Center, 61944 27th St, Bend, OR, 97702, United States
Pollinator Pathways and Moonfire and Sun Garden Center have teamed up to present a free class on gardening for pollinators.
Registration is required and space is limited. Register by calling 541-638-6155
Moonfire and Sun Garden Center: 61944 27th St. Bend, OR 97702

The Real Dirt on Soil!
2024-02-21 19:00 - 20:30 | Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend, OR, 97701, United States
It’s ALL about soil! Soil is a critical part of the natural world that is perhaps the least understood. That’s why the Deschutes Land Trust and Oregon State University professor James Cassidy are teaming up to share the real dirt on soil! Join to gain a better understanding of soil and its fundamental importance to our lives. Learn what every human should know about the world of soils, including all about nutrients, how soil stores water and nutrients, and the ways soil gives life to the world we know and love. This presentation is free and ticket sales open one month prior to the event.
Nature Nights are free, but a ticket is required. Please register online: deschuteslandtrust.org

Happy Hour in the Garden
2024-03-05 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-03-19 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-04-02 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-04-16 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-05-07 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-05-21 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-06-04 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-06-18 16:00 - 18:00 | The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend, OR, 97703
Join us in our Kansas Avenue Learning Garden for our ongoing volunteer work party series. In 2022, volunteers contributed over 200 hours to help keep our learning garden maintained over the growing season. We couldn’t do it without you!
This event is open to all ages and gardening abilities! No experience or tools required. Beer and non-alcoholic beverages are provided for all who volunteer. Each event includes seasonal ongoing tasks as well as special projects as needed throughout the growing season. Volunteers are welcome to pop in for an hour or stay the whole time. No need to RSVP or commit ahead of time. (Pro tip – put the following dates in your phone calendar now – then when it pops up you can decide if it works out for you or not!)
In 2024, Happy Hour in the Garden will once again run twice a month from March through October on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays from 4-6pm. This schedule throughout the extent of the growing season offers meaningful volunteer experiences for all who come, and deeper care for the garden when it needs it.

Farm to Warm Springs Fundraiser
2024-03-07 17:00 - 20:00 | Aspen Hall, 18920 NW Shevlin Park, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join Around the Bend Farms for an evening filled with great local food, entertainment, and fun! We are raising funds for our current farming project, where we will be growing and providing vegetables for Warm Springs. Event attendees will enjoy a beautiful setting, nestled in the Cascades foothills adjacent to Shevlin Park. Guests will enjoy great local food, participate in auctions of local products and services, and enjoy the social and creative atmosphere. You will surely be pleased by our locally sourced, artisan food made by Central Oregon’s finest bakers and chefs. This is an event you don’t want to miss!
Ticket admission includes a full tasting menu and one beverage. GET TICKETS HERE!
LOCAL TASTING MENU with wild salmon, bison meatballs, a rainbow of roasted vegetables, leafy green salad, locally made sourdough bread, and foraged cobbler for dessert.
Do you have any food allergies that we should accommodate? Please send an email to Makena at makena@aroundthebendfarms.org with this information.

Bye Lawn, High Desert! How Turf Rebates Can Help
2024-03-09 09:00 - 10:15, 2024-03-12 18:00 - 19:15, 2024-03-20 18:00 - 19:15 | Online Event
Are you looking to update your landscape and save water? The City of Bend Water Conservation program is offering a Turf Removal Rebate to convert thirsty lawns into low water use landscapes. The result is a gorgeous High Desert landscape that provides a colorful, biodiverse, pollinator-friendly, and waterwise alternative to traditional lawns!
In this webinar, hosted by the City of Bend, Oregon you will learn how to:

Plan and Prepare for your Lawn Conversion
Remove Turf Without the Use of Chemicals
Use Highly Efficient Irrigation
Successfully Apply for the Turf Removal Rebate

Hosting Native Bees Webinar
2024-03-13 10:00 - 13:00 | Online Event
Sponsored by OSU’s 10 minute university, this free webinar will help you understand native bees and host them in your garden. Register here!

School of Ranch - Seed Start Basics
2024-03-19 17:30 - 20:30 | Redmond, Oregon
It all starts with a seed! At this hands-on workshop you’ll learn the “when”, “where”, “why” and “how” of seed starting. You’ll leave knowing how to successfully prepare for and start plants from seeds, as well as how to care for your seedlings from germination to transplanting. Each participant will go home with a personally planted seed tray to get them started! Bonus: Potluck Dinner!
3 hour workshop – $40.
Held in the Redmond area (address provided upon registration)
REGISTER HERE!

A Cut Above: Pruning basics for the High Desert (Prineville)
2024-03-22 09:30 - 12:00 | Crook County Extension Services, 498 Southeast Lynn Boulevard, Prineville, 97754, United States
Join us for a class that will teach you basic pruning skills for trees and shrubs including basic fruit tree pruning. Class will include an outdoor component so dress accordingly. Bring your hand pruners or some will be available on site. Amy Jo Detweiler, professor for OSU Extension Service’s Central Oregon Horticulture program will be offering two pruning workshops this month.
Space is limited for these classes, so register now!
REGISTER HERE

A Cut Above: Pruning basics for the High Desert (Redmond)
2024-03-27 09:00 - 12:00 | OSU Extension Office, 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond, OR, 97756, United States

Know Gardens: Stories in the Garden at The Environmental Center
2024-04-05 10:30 - 11:30 | The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend, OR, 97703
Enjoy a story time and explore the wonders of gardening!
Space is limited. Registration is required. This event is suggested for children ages Kindergarten and younger, and all children must be accompanied by a caregiver.
Children and families are invited to explore the Kansas Avenue Learning Garden at The Environmental Center. The event will begin with a nature-based story time, provided by Deschutes Public Library, followed by a chance for caregivers and little ones to get their hands dirty with Denise Rowcroft. Some or all of this program will take place outside, so please bring appropriate layers, snacks, and sun protection.
Denise Rowcroft joined The Environmental Center in 2006 and is responsible for the Kansas Avenue Learning Garden and the Garden for Every School program. The Garden for Every School program exists to connect youth to nature through food. This program includes food-based education in classrooms, cafeterias, school gardens and field trips. It also supports youth organizations, schools and districts with annual garden grants and on-going technical assistance.
The Environmental Center’s mission is to embed sustainability into daily life in Central Oregon. The organization’s programs and advocacy efforts focus on building community connections, educating students, revolutionizing energy, and rethinking waste.
REGISTER HERE!

Know Gardens: Garden Fair at Sisters Firehouse Community Hall
2024-04-28 11:00 - 13:00 | Sisters Firehouse Community Hall, 301 S Elm St, Sisters, 97759, United States
Description
Learn about composting, pollinator habitat, growing vegetables, seed bombs and more.
Learn from local experts how to help pollinators, compost, roll up seed bombs, grow vegetables in our climate, create paints from your garden, and more! Join Deschutes Public Library and the following community organizations for this free, fun event:
– Artist Lee Kellogg
Outdoors is where Lee Kellogg would rather be just about any day and anytime. Sketchbook in hand, she records the world around her. A bird watcher from a young age, Lee has long been interested in the natural world around us. From working summer camp as a teen to the Adult Education Coordinator at the Audubon Society of Portland to owning a retail business focused on art and craft, Lee has had much experience that all focuses on her love of the outdoors and art. Inspiring others to be creative and become aware of the world around them is part of her mission when she teaches. https://www.leekellogg.com/
– DPL Community Librarian
– Deschutes Land Trust
The Deschutes Land Trust’s mission is to conserve and care for the lands and water that sustain Central Oregon, so local communities and the natural world can flourish together for generations to come. https://www.deschuteslandtrust.org/
– OSU-Master Gardeners
“The Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener program educates Oregonians about the art and science of growing and caring for plants. OSU Extension Master Gardeners are volunteer educators, neighbors, and on-the-ground researchers who serve their community with solid training in science-based, sustainable gardening and a love of lifelong learning.” https://extension.oregonstate.edu/mg
– Pollinator Pathway Bend
Pollinator Pathway Bend is a community-wide effort to create and connect pesticide-free habitat for imperiled native pollinators in the city of Bend and beyond. https://pollinatorpathwaybend.org/
– Seed to Table
“Seed to Table envisions a vibrant and resilient community where all people, regardless of race, gender, geography, ability or socioeconomic status, have access to fresh produce that is nourishing, locally grown, and in keeping with their preferences. From our 4-acre farm plot, we strive to model a food system that restores ecosystems while providing equitable access to fresh foods and opportunities for community members to engage positively with farm-fresh foods.” https://www.seedtotableoregon.org/
– Sisters Garden Club
“The Sisters Garden Club, a non-profit organization, was founded in 1988 by 13 original members who wanted to spread the joy of gardening to this wonderful community they called home. The goals of our club are to stimulate increased knowledge of our unique local environment and how it affects our gardens; aid in the protection of native plants and wildlife including our essential beneficial insects; and encourage the sharing of this information with others in the community to make it even better.” https://www.sistersgardenclub.com/
– The Environmental Center
In 1989, The Environmental center was born to inspire locals to live lighter on the planet. “Our mission is to embed sustainability into daily life in Central Oregon. To us, that means driving local change that makes a world of difference.” https://envirocenter.org/

Spring into Nature Festival
2024-05-04 11:00 - 14:00 | Sahalee Park, 1 SE 7th Street, Madras, OR, 97744, United States
Visit the Deschutes Land Trust at the Children’s Forest of Central Oregon’s Spring Into Nature Festival! The Spring Into Nature Festival celebrates the many ways that we all connect with nature. Stop by our table to plant native milkweed seeds to add to your garden or yard and create a monarch butterfly craft. Learn more about the Land Trust’s work while also providing habitat for Western monarch butterflies and other pollinators.

Crook County On The Move’s Community Garden Party
2024-05-11 10:00 - 14:00 | Prineville Presbytarian Church, 1771 NW Madras Hwy, Prineville, OR, United States
Free Family Fun! Bring the whole family to meet red wigglers, plant a garden salad bowl, get free seeds, experience the pollinator station, visit with Master Gardeners, talk with Search & Rescue to learn about Hug A Tree, get free plant starts, composting tips, play games and win prizes!
Lots of information is shared to help you grow your own fresh produce. Don’t have space for your own garden? Come by and learn how to utiltize our local community gardens!

Garden Clean Up at Franklin’s Corner Pollinator Garden
2024-05-21 09:00 - 10:00, 2024-05-28 09:00 - 10:00 | Franklin’s Corner Pollinator Garden, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
May 21 and May 28
9:00-10:00 AM
No registration. Just show up.
NE 9th and NE Franklin, Bend
Bring weeding tools, shovel, bucket, gloves, hat, sunscreen, water.
Franklin’s Corner pollinator garden is co-located with the community vegetable garden. The pollinator garden demonstrates waterwise landscaping with native pollinator plants. It’s maintained entirely by volunteers.

Volunteer at Native Plant Giveaways
2024-06-01 09:00 - 12:00, 2024-06-08 09:00 - 13:00 | 375 SW Powerhouse Dr Suite 100, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
June 1, 9:00-12:00 PM at Caldera High School (60925 SE 15th St, Bend)
June 8, 9:00-1:00 PM at Hollinshead Park (1235 NE Jones Rd, Bend)
Volunteer to hand out plants or staff the info table by completing this form. We will give away plants to 560 households this year thanks to the City of Bend, Wintercreek Nursery and Worthy Environmental. That means we need a lot of help!
Please note that there was a separate registration for plants and both dates are sold out.

Eggshell Garden Starts at The Environmental Center's Happy Hour in the Garden
2024-06-04 16:00 - 18:00 | The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend, OR, 97703
Make cute garden starts in eggshells and explore a garden!
Stop by the Environmental Center’s Happy Hour in the Garden to plant some eggshell starts, and feel free to volunteer in the Environmental Center’s learning garden afterwards (optional). This is a family friendly event – no experience or tools necessary. Beer and bubbly will be provided!
In 1989, The Environmental Center was born to inspire locals to live lighter on the planet. Their work began with a handful of people and a building in the center of Bend. Today, they’ve grown to become a regional leader in environmental education, engagement, and action. Their team works alongside people of all ages, local businesses, and elected officials to create and advocate for meaningful, lasting change.
Through unique programs and partnerships, the Environmental Center engages as many people as possible in their mission: To embed sustainability into daily life in Central Oregon.

Food Waste Prevention and Rescue Workshop
2024-06-19 13:30 - 15:30 | The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend, OR, 97703
Did you know that wasted food makes up over 25% of waste at Knott Landfill by tonnage – making it the largest category of waste in the landfill? Yet, in Deschutes County, 1 in 8 people is food insecure, meaning they don’t always know where their next meal will come from. In addition, the average family of four tosses $1,800 worth of food every year ($150/mo on just wasted food!) and wasted food uses the same energy and water as 50 million homes. It’s time to rethink food waste, and we want to help you do it.
We will start with a brief presentation on why food waste matters, how to prevent food waste, and strategies for composting. Afterwards, a small group of us will walk over to the Bend Farmers Market to the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance (HDFFA) booth for an intro and demo to food rescue. If you’re interested in both, the presentation and the demo, be sure to select the appropriate ticket below. There are only 15 spots open for the demo, so once it is sold out, that option will no longer be available. Please reach out to kavi@envirocenter.org with any questions.
REGISTER HERE

Native Pollinator Walk with Pollinator Pathway Bend
2024-06-20 10:30 - 12:00, 2024-06-21 10:30 - 12:00 | Worthy Brewing, 495 Northeast Bellevue Drive, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
June 20th, Worthy Brewing
June 21st, Franklin’s Corner
