Wildflowers of Deschutes Canyon Area
2018-03-06 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The middle Deschutes River Canyon provides a variety of native plant communities associated with the Sagebrush steppe. Wildflowers are blooming from February to October on rocky slopes, canyon rims, amongst bunchgrasses and along the river.
Photos of the most common of these native plants have been captured in a new pocket guide published by the Friends and Neighbors of the Deschutes Canyon Area (FANs). The author will present a slide show on the canyon and its plant communities. The guide will be for sale for $12. All proceeds are donated to FANs.
Marilynne Keyser, President of Friends and Neighbors of the Deschutes Canyon Area (FANS), is a retired CPA who also worked on Governor Barbara Robert’s policy staff during the early 1990s. She is an avid birder, hiker and canoeist, and an amateur native plant specialist. Marilynne heads up FANs’ Native Plant and Invasive Weed efforts.
Admission is free; donations accepted at the door.
Join the Coalition for the Deschutes at this event and receive a free book!
NOTE: You do not need to print tickets for this event; we will have a sign-in sheet at the door.

Green Drinks: All About ADUs
2018-03-08 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Please RSVP here.
Join us at Green Drinks to hear from special guest, renowned ADU expert, Kol Peterson from Accessory Dwelling Strategies. He will provide a brief introduction to ADUs and give an overview of his new book: Backdoor Revolution: The Definitive Guide to ADU Development.
Kol will be joined by Al Tozer of Tozer Design and Josh Wilhite of Copperline Homes to showcase recent projects right here in Central Oregon. If you’re starting to think about building an ADU, this panel of experts is for you!
Backdoor Revolution was written to guide homeowners aspiring to build ADUs and to assist municipalities that wish to foster their development. Through case studies, expert interviews, first-hand anecdotes, images, and data analysis, it reveals the opportunities, challenges and best practices of ADU development including costs, financing, design, zoning barriers, and regulatory loopholes.
Green Drinks is an international concept and is an enjoyable way to network, learn about local businesses and their sustainability efforts, and enjoy a drink or two. As always, please bring your own cup and consider carpooling, biking, or walking (there is very limited parking available at this venue so we’ll have three prizes to give away for those who don’t arrive in a car!). Please follow posted parking sides and only park on the designated side of the road.
Thank you to our event partners

Bend COTA Work Events
2018-03-08, 2018-03-15, 2018-03-22, 2018-03-29, 2018-04-05, 2018-04-12 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
When: Thursday Aug 11, Tuesday Aug 16, Tuesday Aug 23 and Tuesday Aug 30, 5:15 to Dusk
Where: Meet at the old Ray’s parking lot, NE corner of Simpson Ave and Century Drive in Bend
Worksite: Varies
There’s only one thing better than mountain biking in Bend, OR and that’s riding in Bend, knowing that you helped build and maintain the trails you love.
Please bring a hydration pack with water and a snack.
Be sure to bring appropriate layers to accommodate whatever the weather may be.
Questions? contact@cotamtb.com
All COTA trail work events require the following safety measures:
All participants are required to have the following protective clothing and equipment:

Sturdy shoes or boots
Gloves
Eye protection with clear or light colored lens
Long pants

Due to COTA’s insurance requirements and the inherent dangers of trail work, we must implement the following policy regarding children at work events:

For anyone 14 years of age or younger, we require one parent, guardian, or responsible adult for supervision of every four kids attending any COTA trail work events.
All minors under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian available to sign our waiver.

Anyone who arrives for a work event may be turned away if he/she cannot meet the above requirements.

Living on a Few Acres Conference
2018-03-10 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Deschutes County Fair & Expo, 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond, OR, 97756, United States
Plan to attend this informative annual conference held on March 10, 2018 at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center in Redmond. Improve your knowledge and acquire new skills by taking courses taught by experts in a variety of subjects. There is something for everyone, from urban gardeners and hobby farmers to ranch and farm business owners.
This educational experience, presented by the Oregon State University Extension Service, is a successful collaboration of many Central Oregon agencies, sponsors, vendors and volunteers.
Learn more about the following topics: Food safety from garden to kitchen, pressure canning, beginning beekeeping, enhancing wildlife habitat on your land, wildlife intervention strategies, weed management, soil information, pasture managment, growing hay, raising livestock and poultry, water rights, new irrigation projects from COID, use and calibration of backpack and ATV-mounted sprayers, irrigation system maintenance and cost share ideas, and many more.
Registration is now open!
Early registration deadline March 2nd – $50/person
$60/person after the deadline

Lessons from Lostine River
2018-03-14 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Prior to 2005, Lostine River in northeast Oregon frequently ran dry in late summer, leaving threatened Chinook salmon without passage to critical spawning grounds. Since then, The Freshwater Trust has worked collaboratively with nearly 100 irrigators to restore critical in-stream flows that support this iconic species and the local agricultural economy. Recently, the organization partnered with a local landowner to increase irrigation efficiency on nearly 900 acres of traditionally flood-irrigated land. Rob Kirschner, General Counsel to The Freshwater Trust, will present on the past, present, and future of these cooperative efforts, and offer insights on how conservation groups and irrigators can work together to restore Oregon’s streams.
Following Rob’s presentation, Natasha Bellis with the Deschutes River Conservancy (DRC) will talk about DRC’s partnership with Central Oregon Irrigation District on a Bureau of Reclamation water marketing grant, and how this effort will incorporate some of the same basic principles used in the Lostine deal to share water between irrigation, river, and municipal interests.
Thanks to the Deschutes River Conservancy for their support for this program.
Admission is free; donations accepted at the door.

PuddleStompers: Watery Wonders
2018-03-17 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Spark a sense of wonder for nature through imaginative play, exploration, songs and stories. This week’s program is Watery Wonders with Upper Deschutes Watershed Council. Free!

PuddleStompers is a special series just for ages 3-5 and family. Spark a sense of wonder for nature through imaginative play, exploration, songs and stories. Each event features a different partner and theme, and connects families to plants, wildlife, and local parks and natural places.
Program Dates
03/17/2018- Watery Wonders
04/14/2018- Fledging Fun
05/12/2018- Fantastic Flowers
06/09/2018- Wildlife is Everywhere

March Nature Night: The Era of Megafire
2018-03-20 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The year 2017 was a record fire year with 9.1 million acres burning in the U.S. More than 680,000 acres burned in Oregon alone, in at least 33 different fires, one of which was a megafire that burned 191,000 acres. Join Dr. Paul Hessburg for an engaging, multimedia presentation about wildfire, its natural role in our Central Oregon forests, and how that role has changed. Learn how we’ve interrupted the natural fire cycle of our forests and how, with a rapidly warming climate, we are experiencing more of these megafires. Dr. Hessburg will discuss the many options we have to reshape the wildfire problem, and how we all can learn to better live with the coming wildfires.
This event is free, but registration is required.

Juniper Group Program Night
2018-03-21 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Of Plants and Rocks and Peoples: A Geobotanical Tour of Central Oregon
Oregon’s diverse plant life is a result of its diverse geology. Please join us as Dr. Stu Garrett explores the wide variety of Central Oregon’s botanical treasures and how they relate to the spectacular landscape that surrounds us. We will make an armchair tour of the stupendous floods of northern Oregon, consider the glacial sculpting of the ice ages, and visit the dramatic lands of lava of eastern Oregon. You will learn about some of Oregon’s rarest plant species. These are the special places that draw us to Central Oregon and move us to protect them.
As an author, co-founder of the Native Plant Society of Oregon, Chairman of the Newberry Volcanoes Citizens Committee which enabled designation of Newberry National Volcanic Monument, winner of the 2012 Bend Memorial Clinic’s Lifetime Achievement Award for contributions in quality healthcare and community leadership, and recipient of numerous other awards, Dr. Stu Garrett is truly a modern day Renaissance man. His multi-faceted interests and knowledge converge in the rarified field of ethnogeobotany, a natural history take on how geology affected plant life in the high desert and how ancient peoples used plants and rocks to make a life here. We are honored to present his fascinating talk on a Geobotanical Tour of Central Oregon.
6:30 social gathering/networking, 6:50 action item and program.

Saving Snow Documentary Screening
2018-03-22 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Across the country, people who depend on winter for their livelihood are feeling the heat. On the sidelines of skiing and snowboarding, an epic struggle to reverse rising temperatures is unfolding. Ski towns and the snow sports industry are paving the way towards a clean energy future.
This 53-minute documentary by filmmaker Diogo Freire finds specific examples of communities that are being affected—and also show how they’re responding. “Saving Snow” focuses on people coming to terms with these changes. But it also presents solutions. The film highlights individuals and organizations who are working to reduce their communities’ impacts on the environment and raise awareness of the need for action.
Learn more about the film here.
Q&A to follow the film, plus a few words from a special guess and local POW ambassador, Matt Baker. Come learn more about how to get involved in climate action right here in our own community. This event is being organized in partnership by The Environmental Center, Protect our Winters (POW), and Oregon League of Conservation Voters (OLCV). Big thanks to 10 Barrel Brewing for hosting!

Meet Your Farmer Dinner
2018-03-22 18:00 - 21:00 | Wild Oregon Foods, 61334 S Hwy 97 Suite 360, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The Meet Your Farmer Dinner Series is a wonderful way to really meet your local farmers!
Meet Your Farmer dinners consist of a locally sourced, gourmet meal hosted by and prepared by rotating local restaurants. During dinner you will be treated to a presentation by the evening’s featured farmer.
About Wild Oregon Foods: Wild Oregon Foods is a diner style restaurant in Bend, Oregon committed to creating delicious, fresh and locally sourced food. We source our ingredients from all over central Oregon.
About Crooked River Bison: We raise our bison in the most humane and ethical possible manner. Our bison receive a diet of native grass and are never given steroids or hormones to artificially stimulate growth. When it comes time to harvest, we only field harvest in small numbers to maintain a low stress environment. The extra care we put into our ranching practices ensures that the meat on your dinner plate is of the highest quality. We adhere to our strictly-defined ranching standards and practice the most ethical ranching methods so you and your family can enjoy the tastiest, most flavorful bison meat available.

SOLVE Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup
2018-03-24 10:00 - 13:00
Join SOLVE and thousands of volunteers on March 24 as we clean up litter and marine debris from the entire Oregon coast! Since 1986, this home-grown tradition of twice-yearly beach cleanups has benefited people and wildlife alike, supporting clean seas and healthy communities. This is a family friendly event and SOLVE invites all Oregonians to participate.
Sign up here!
Choose from one of 45 beach cleanup sites from Fort Stevens State Park near Astoria to Harris Beach in Brookings. Pick your favorite beach or head somewhere new!

Propagate: a seed swap + tiny popup shop
2018-03-31 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Bring your saved and extra seed to swap with other gardeners in town! This is a free event.
Please be prepared to bring envelopes and/or bags to take your seed home in. This is a great opportunity to meet and connect with other gardeners/farmers in town to share stories, info, skills, etc.

Literary Central Oregon
2018-04-03, 2018-04-10 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Do you love history? Literature? And Central Oregon?
REGISTER: 541- 408-4509 or email esantasiero@gmail
In this 8-week class, read and discuss some of the best fiction, nonfiction, and poetry about and inspired by our natural and cultural landscapes. Guided by the work of historic and contemporary regional writers, both long-time residents and newcomers to the region can connect more deeply with this place we all call home. Readings, discussion, questions, group facilitation, and light refreshments provided.
Oregon State University English professor Ellen Santasiero leads the group and shares her love of our region. A founding staff member of High Desert Journal and a former Writer in Residence at COCC, her writing has appeared in Northwest Review, The Sun, thestayproject, High Desert Journal, and Oregon Home, among others.

Letter to the Editor Writing Workshop - Public Lands Edition
2018-04-04 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Speak up and advocate for Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument and Public Lands around Oregon!
In this workshop, we will discuss best practices for writing and submitting Letters to the Editor and Guest Opinions for local newspapers. The discussion will include what does and doesn’t get published, how to reach beyond ‘the choir’, and basic writing tips. Local author LeeAnn Kriegh will be guiding us through an engaging training. Join us for a fun evening together using our voice to protect Oregon’s public lands.
Pizza, beer and other beverages provided.

Clean Energy Jobs - Post Session Celebration
2018-04-05 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join Oregon League of Conservation Voters and the Renew Oregon coalition for food, drinks, and highlights from a roller coaster of a legislative session! We’re getting together to discuss what the heck happened, thank everyone for their hard work, and start plotting the road ahead to 2019’s days in Salem.
This event will take place in the Hop Mahal. Please RSVP.

Spring Repair Cafe
2018-04-05 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Our Rethink Waste Project is organizing a Spring Repair Cafe will be at a new location, Ensworth Elementary School on Thursday April 5th from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. Volunteers will be on hand to attempt to repair your broken items, for FREE! Items to bring include clothes, outdoor gear, electronics and small appliances, jewelry, small furniture and household goods. You may bring multiple items, but only 1 item will be repaired at a time.
For more information on what a repair cafe is, check our the Rethink Waste Project webpage Dare To Repair.

Writing About (this) Place
2018-04-05, 2018-04-12 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
8-week class in place-based writing
REGISTER: 541- 408-4509 or email esantasiero@gmail
Inspired by the natural, cultural, and figurative landscapes of central Oregon and by select prose and poetry from our region, we develop and invigorate our own writing in all genres. Let’s see where an exploration of this particular place takes us as writers! Emphasis on place-based writing technique and form.
Writer Ellen Santasiero loves living, writing, and teaching right here in central Oregon. She teaches literature and creative writing at OSU-Cascades in Bend. Her writing has appeared in Northwest Review, The Sun, thestayproject, Oregon Humanities, and High Desert Journal, among others.

Spring Garden Work Party
2018-04-07 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join us in our Kansas Ave. Learning Garden to kick off another growing season! This is a volunteer opportunity to lend a hand and dig in the dirt as we prepare our garden for spring.
Please swing by any time between 9am – 12pm. Family friendly, and tools will be provided.

Mask Workshop for Earth Day Parade
2018-04-07 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Be a part of the 2018 Earth Day parade! Join local artist Debra Fisher for a mask-making workshop on April 7, 2018, 10:00- 12:30.
This workshop is appropriate for children of all ages; Children under the age of 9 must be accompanied by a parent. Parent participation in costume-making is encouraged!
Materials will be provided. $3.00 suggested donation to help cover the cost of these materials.
No registration required, but please arrive at 10:00 a.m. at the beginning of the workshop to receive full instruction.

30th Annual Salmon Run
2018-04-08 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
A benefit for The Environmental Center!
Kick off the 2018 race season with a true Bend tradition. One of the first half marathons of the year in the Northwest, it has long been central to the local racing scene. Because of its early-season timing, it is also the quintessential race for runners looking to build a base for future races.
Each year, the mighty Salmon make an expedition of a lifetime back to their homes – traversing thousands of miles and overcoming countless obstacles on their river journeys. The Salmon juxtapose the infinite space of their ocean homes against the micro-streams of their birth in one monumental run. Their achievement is awesome in the true sense of the word.
In much the same way, the Salmon Run is a “homecoming” to the countless number of runners who return year after year to run this beautiful course. The completion of this race is an achievement that is nothing short of awesome!
Choose your own migration distance:
Half Marathon, 10K, 5K or Little Fry Children’s Races
Experience the awesomeness of the salmon migration by completing your own Salmon Run! Begin and end your adventure along the Deschutes River and imagine what a river journey could be like for the mighty salmon. The backdrop couldn’t be more beautiful than the Deschutes River corridor in beautiful Bend, Oregon. With distances from the 5k to the half-marathon, there is a perfect course length for everyone.
If you’re not able to race, but want to help support this event, please sign up to volunteer!

Adventure Writing Workshop
2018-04-10 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Seattle-based writer,editor, and international mountain guide Charlotte Austin to bring an adventure writing workshops to Bend, Oregon. Come join Charlotte to learn tricks of the trade, share secrets of the travel writing industry, and discover helpful hacks to craft their individual story. No experience is necessary; just bring an open mind, a laptop or pen or pencil and notebook, and your creative sense of curiosity. Whether you’re brand-new to writing, interested in blogging, or want to pursue publication, you’ll leave this workshop one step closer to meeting your goals. A percentage of the proceeds benefit Oregon Wild.

Power Hour: Commercial Solar and Efficiency
2018-04-12 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join The Energy Challenge to launch a brand new informational series: The Power Hour. This bi-monthly series will feature a deep-dive into a new energy topic every other month.
Join us starting at 5:00 to network and grab snacks and beer. Panel discussions will run from 5:30 – 6:30.
First up we’ll explore Whole Foods Market‘s energy journey. You may not be able to see it, but Whole Foods is saving a whole lot of energy and even producing some of their own with new solar panels on their roof. The most spectacular part of their story? They don’t own the building. You’ll see that energy improvements make sense in more situations than you may think. Over the last twelve months, several projects have been completed to improve energy consumption at Bend’s Whole Foods Market, including new cooler doors for refrigeration, an upgraded HVAC system, and new, more efficient sliding doors at the store’s entrance.
This will be an informative session for business owners, Green Teams, inspired employees looking to make a difference at work, and for community members who are interested in seeing how local businesses are walking the talk when it comes to sustainability. Join us in the Whole Foods café for an hour-long panel discussion (5:30 – 6:30) with experts, snacks, and pints.
Panelists will include:

Tyson Strople, Whole Foods, employee lead on the project
Jesse Holland, Energy Trust of Oregon, Existing Buildings Program
Jeni Hall, Energy Trust of Oregon, Solar Program
Laurel Hamilton, Solar Oregon board member and local solar installer

This event is also joining forces with a POWER PNW meet-up which provide a welcoming and casual opportunity to meet peers, share ideas and opportunities, and educate colleagues about projects and initiatives of interest to the group. POWER PNW is focused on building a community of women in energy and renewables and increasing inclusiveness through initiatives around workforce development, community building, and empowerment. All in all, we expect lots of great conversation and are looking forward to connecting with you!
If you’re interested in staying in the loop and getting an email a week before upcoming events, you can join the Power Hour email list. Just be sure to check ‘Power Hour Events’ from the ‘I am interested in’ list.
RSVP for this event
Thank you to our food and beverage partners!

Faces of Farming: Grit - Resiliency in the High Desert
2018-04-12 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Central Oregon Locavore presents:
Grit: Resiliency in the High Desert
3rd Annual Faces of Farming Gala, Silent Auction and Farm to Table Feast
Do you love fresh, nourishing food and the hard-working souls who make it possible?
We invite you to join us, Thursday April 12th, at The Tetherow Resort Event Pavilion for an evening of artful and delicious surprise, designed to honor the hardy and dedicated people who grow and raise our food in Central Oregon.
This event will include a photograph narrative of our local farmers and ranchers, a silent auction, local wine, beer and cocktails, and an extensive menu showcasing the bounty of local farms and ranches brought to you by Chef Miguel and the culinary team at Tetherow.
This years theme is Resiliency in the High Desert. Our high plateau climate, short growing season, volcanic soil and water scarcity make farming and ranching a daily challenge for farmers and ranchers. To succeed one must be resilient, tough and steadfast. We want to honor that tenacity, and recognize it, for it takes a special individual to be a farmer or rancher in Central Oregon. One must have true GRIT.
We believe in the power of the land and the people who cultivate it for our well-being. At Central Oregon Locavore, we know that the future of farming and local food will depend upon the support and encouragement that we provide to local farmers and ranchers. Faces of Farming serves to connect those passionate about our sustainability, cultivates strong relationships and celebrates the potential in all of us.
Ticket includes sit-down formal dinner, one drink, dessert and an evening of elegance designed to support our local farms and ranchers.
Cocktails, beer, and wine will be available.
