March for Science Central Oregon
2018-04-14 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
In 2017, more than one million people worldwide gathered together in the largest event for science advocacy in history. In 2018, we unite again to hold our elected and appointed officials responsible for enacting equitable, evidence-based policies that serve all communities and science for the common good.
March for Science Central Oregon will be held Saturday, April 14, 10am at the Drake Park Amphitheater.
Interested in helping with the march? POPC will be hosting a volunteer meeting on April 7 from 12-2:30pm in the Downtown Bend Library Brooks Room to make signs and match volunteers up with day-of tasks.

Spring Farm & Food Faire
2018-04-14 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The Central Oregon Community College (COCC) Sustainability Committee, in partnership with Central Oregon Locavore and the High Desert Food & Farm Alliance, is hosting the 3rd annual Spring Farm & Food Faire on Saturday, April 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Coats Campus Center in Bend. Rain or shine, this event is free and open to the public.
The Spring Farm & Food Faire is an opportunity to browse, taste, and talk about local food. Purchase early-season crops, eggs, meats, seed starts, or sign up for community-supported agriculture (CSA) and herdshare memberships from more than a dozen area farms and ranches. The faire also serves as ​a place to learn about farm dinners, events, and volunteer opportunities scheduled throughout the year.
“The Spring Farm and Food Faire is opportunity to meet the amazing people responsible for growing food here in Central Oregon,” said event coordinator Owen Murphy. “The faire provides an indoor space for local farmers, ranchers, and producers to show their wares and connect with community members well before regional farmers markets start up in June.”
The COCC Sustainability Committee promotes sustainability education and practices among campus students, faculty, and staff. Central Oregon Locavore is a Bend non-profit that supports local food and farms through educational programs and a year-round indoor farmer’s market. High Desert Food & Farm Alliance’s objective is to support a community-based food system with access to fresh healthy food and sustainable farmland use.

Literary Central Oregon
2018-04-17, 2018-04-24, 2018-05-01, 2018-05-08 | 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.

Juniper Group Program Night
2018-04-18 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Wildlife Conservation in East Africa
Protecting East Africa’s wildlife and wild lands, including one of the greatest populations of elephants left in East Africa, Big Life Foundation employs hundreds of Maasai anti-poaching rangers using tracker dogs and aerial surveillance to protect nearly 2 million acres of wilderness in the Amboseli-Tsavo-Kilimanjaro ecosystem. Since 2008 a dramatic escalation in poaching has been fed by a surge in demand for ivory and other animal parts from China and other parts of Asia. Chillingly, at the rate of current poaching there will be no elephants or lions left in the African wild within 15 years. Big Life sounds the alarm for an urgent need to halt this destruction.
Big Life’s philosophy is that sustainable conservation can only be achieved through community collaborations for the benefit of all, and has established a successful ecosystem model that can be replicated across the continent. Protected iconic fauna include elephants as well as Eastern black rhinos, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, hippo, zebra and many more.
Sierra Club member and Big Life’s Associate Director Amy Baird will provide an update on the conservation work happening in Africa and share some of her firsthand experiences with Big Life’s work. Learn more about Big Life’s programs, including video material at biglife.org. At the Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas, Bend, 6:30 social gathering/networking, 6:50 action item and program. Free. Donations at the door will be gifted to Big Life Foundation.

Bend COTA Work Events
2018-04-19, 2018-04-26, 2018-05-03, 2018-05-10 | 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.

BendFilm Presents Evolution of Organic
2018-04-19 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Oscar winner Frances McDormand narrates the story of a motley crew of back-to-the-landers, spiritual seekers and farmers’ sons and daughters who reject chemical farming and set out to explore organic alternatives. Their heartfelt journey — funny, engaging, informative and filled with iconic music from the 60s — is what brought organic produce into mainstream markets and established a vision of sustainable agriculture for the future. Doors open at 4:30 pm.
Trailer: http://vimeo.com/181428111

Writing About (this) Place
2018-04-19, 2018-04-26, 2018-05-03, 2018-05-10 | 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.

Earth Day Fair & Parade
2018-04-21 11:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend, OR, 97703
Join The Environmental Center for a fun and festive celebration of the natural world! Our day of festivities kicks off with a colorful, creative parade filled with children and adults costumed as their favorite plant or animal. Get ready for the parade by creating your own costume!
11:00 am: Assemble on Louisiana Avenue next to McMenamin’s
11:30am: Parade starts (about 8 blocks through downtown Bend and ends at the Earth Day Fair)
No motorized vehicles or written words allowed in the parade. Well-behaved dogs on leashes are allowed.
Following the parade, there will be live music, local businesses, a variety of food, and great hands-on activities and games for all ages. The fair takes place on Kansas Avenue in front of The Environmental Center (downtown Bend).

Drivers of Innovation
2018-04-23 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Driverless cars, big data, complete streets, smart busses, artificial intelligence – the future of transportation is changing.
So is Bend – 50,000 more people in the next ten years. Will the chicken be crossing the road by foot, in a self-driving car, or pedaling a bike?
Get in the conversation – Monday, April 23, 6:00 p.m. at the Tower Theatre. Four top experts will explore how planning, connections and an eye toward the future can shape Bend’s transportation system and hear your ideas and concerns.
Free admission, tickets required.

Wild and Scenic Rivers: An American Legacy
2018-04-23 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join acclaimed photographer and author Tim Palmer as he inspires us with stories and shares his awarding winning photos with us.
This year is the 30th anniversay of the Upper Deschutes River being designated Wild and Scenic and the 50th anniversary of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
Tim will reveal the history and essential policies of this unique policy and showcase spectacular photos of Wild and Scenic rivers from all parts of the country.
Tim Palmer is the author and photographer of 26 books about rivers, the environment, and adventure travel. As a writer, citizen conservationist, and environmental planner he has been involved in the Wild and Scenic Rivers system almost since its founding.
*Dr. Roderick Frazier Nash, Professor Emeritus, University of California Santa Barbara and author of Wilderness and the American Mind.

Happy Hour in the Garden
2018-05-01, 2018-05-08 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
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 2023, Happy Hour in the Garden will once again run twice a month from March through October. 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.
For Spring 2023, our Happy Hours will be 4-6pm, on the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of the month.
March & April Happy Hours sponsored by Wild Ride Brewing

March 7 & 21
April 4 & 18

May & June Happy Hours sponsored by Worthy Environmental

May 2 & 16
June 6 & 20

Stay tuned for confirmation of dates for July through October, as these might switch to the 2nd & 4th…)
Contact Denise, Garden Program Manager, if you have any questions about getting involved.

Electric Vehicle Workshop-BEND
2018-05-01 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Here’s your one-stop shop to get all your electric vehicle questions answered with a short presentation and Q&A with an EV owner and the Nissan dealership. You’ll get the low-down on what it’s like to drive an EV for everyday living–yes, in the snow and ice, for adventures, and for travel.
This workshop will also cover available tax credits and rebates that total up to $13,000 right now due to our partnership with Smolich Nissan to create a great group-buy program! Learn more about electric vehicles on The Energy Challenge website.

Western Monarch and Pollinator Spring Migration Celebration
2018-05-05 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The Monarch butterfly is vulnerable. There were an estimated one billion North American Monarchs twenty years ago. Today there are about 33 million. But their decline is only part of this compelling story. The Western Monarch—our Monarch butterfly—has seen a much greater population decline; yet dedicated study on their dwindling numbers only began in 2012.
Why is this significant? Because their story is an indicator of total pollinator decline which means our entire food chain is in peril. Fortunately, citizen scientists are making a meaningful difference in helping experts understand the underlying problems. The key to developing a citizen scientist network is education. Students can and are becoming engaged citizen scientists. The study of pollinators like the Monarch butterfly can get kids excited about learning.
We’ve seen this at Sisters Middle School and we want to share our success with you. That’s why we urge you to attend our free Western Monarch and Pollinator Spring Migration Celebration on May 5, 2018. See below.
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Southern Oregon Monarch Advocates is hosting a pre-conference round-table discussion where everyone may share their stories of success in helping Monarchs and pollinators in their area.
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Main Conference includes the following program:

Keynote speaker: Entomologist Dr. David James of Washington State University, founder of the Western Monarch tagging and tracking program will bring us all up to date.
Featured speaker: Robert Coffan, of Southern Oregon Monarch Advocates is part of a team that is currently performing the largest single monarch habitat restoration project in the western United States! As SOMA co-founder, Robert will share just why and how they are doing it.
Special guest and MC: Sisters Middle School Special Education teacher Susie Werts, used Monarch butter-flies to enhance student reading and writing skills while rearing monarch caterpillars and releasing tagged Mon-arch butterflies. Teacher Werts some of what she has learned.
Featured video: Journey’s Flight, The Video Storybook, produced by Angela Street. Angela captured the essence of the book Journey’s Flight, written by Sisters Middle School students into a delightful short video with music and student art.

Spring Wildflowers and Magnificent Mountain Views on Gray Butte
2018-05-05 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The Gray Butte Trail winds through the juniper forest and sagebrush slopes of Gray Butte. Hikers will be rewarded with sights of spring wildflowers such as phlox, lupine and balsamroot. And, if the wildflowers are not enough, the views of the Crooked River National Grasslands below and the snow-capped Cascades will be spectacular. Perhaps you will even get a glimpse of Mt. Hood! Charmane Powers, a botanist on the Deschutes National Forest since 1990, will lead this FREE hike.
The Gray Butte trailhead is about 36 miles north of Bend (approximately a 1-hour drive). Hikers will meet at ONDA’s Bend office, 50 SW Bond St., Suite 4, to carpool to the trailhead together. High clearance vehicles (Subaru or better) will be required to reach this trailhead.
ONDA Hiker information

Hikes have a very limited capacity. As such, we ask that you only register for hikes that you are certain you will attend.
Expect a phone call from us the week before the hike confirming your attendance. We will have a waitlist for each hike and will release your spot to someone on the waitlist if we are unable to confirm your attendance.
Each hiker is required to sign a liability release form at the beginning of the hike.
We love our furry friends, but your pet is not invited on this hike.
Hikers will meet at the Oregon Natural Desert Association office – 50 SW Bond St. Suite 4, Bend, OR – and carpool to the trailhead. Do you have a high clearance vehicle you are willing to drive for the hike? Let us know how many people you can take, including yourself. If you are able and willing to drive, please come with at least half a tank of gas. If you can’t or do not wish to drive, please bring cash and plan to contribute between 5 and 10 cents per mile to the driver of your carpool. Directions will be provided for drivers.

4th Annual Furniture Flip
2018-05-05 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Think HGTV’s Flea Market Flip! Each year, ReStore hosts the Furniture Flip Design Challenge, where dozens of teams compete by redesigning 3 pieces of furniture and home accessories, in a one month time period. The final designs will be on display for bidding around Earth Day.
ReStore is partnering with DIYcave for this upcycle event of the year. All proceeds from the auction will benefit Bend Area Habitat, and help build affordable homes right here in Bend. You don’t want to miss this unique Earth Day fundraiser!
Timeline for Artists & Vendors
March 30: Designer Applications Due
April 4: Artist kick-off meeting (Artist handbook shared and Q&A, Restore gift cards handed out)
May 4: Work Due
May 5: Furniture Flip 2018!

10 am-4 pm: Silent Auction
4:30-5 pm: Live Auction
5:30-6 pm: Awards

Click here for the Designer Application
Click here for the Vendor Application

Public Meeting for Tumalo Watershed Plan
2018-05-08 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
A Draft Watershed Plan-Environmental Assessment (Plan-EA) has been released for the Tumalo Irrigation District Irrigation Modernization Project. The public is invited to attend a meeting about the Draft Plan-EA.
The purpose of the meeting is to inform the community of the Draft Plan-EA and to gather public comments. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) developed the Draft Plan-EA in partnership with Tumalo Irrigation District, the Deschutes Basin Board of Control, and Farmers Conservation Alliance. View the Notice of Availability and News Release from NRCS.
The Draft Plan-EA and other relevant documents are available here. Limited copies of the Draft Plan-EA are also available at the Deschutes Public Library in Bend, the NRCS office in Redmond, and the Tumalo Irrigation District office.
Comments on the Draft Plan-EA may be submitted from April 16, 2018 to May 22, 2018.
Comments can be sent to wsp@tumalo.org or mailed to:
Farmers Conservation Alliance
Tumalo Watershed Plan
11 3rd St, Suite 101
Hood River, OR 97031

Green Drinks at Wild Oregon Foods
2018-05-10 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
This event is limited to 75 people. Please register in advance.
Register
This month, come check out Wild Oregon Foods, a diner-style restaurant committed to creating delicious, fresh food. They source their ingredients from farms all over Central Oregon and the Pacific Northwest to craft beautiful, healthy, modern-day delicatessen dishes.
Come check out the restaurant for yourself and enjoy a bite from Chef James and his team. Learn about Wild Oregon Foods’ dedication to sustainable business practices and our community. Plus, check out their catering services and upcoming events.
Big thanks to Craft Kitchen & Brewery and Humm Kombucha, beverage sponsors for this event. Each attendee will get one ticket to enjoy a drink. (Bring your own cup – make it a ‘green’ drink!)
The restaurant is located on the south end of town in the Bend Factory Stores. Please consider biking or carpooling to the event.

LandWatch Spring Hike 1
2018-05-11 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
LandWatch is excited to offer a series of spring walks to some of the most spectacular field sites in Central Oregon as part of our Rivers & Springs program. These trips include beautiful springs, pristine riparian corridors, and dramatic stream and river confluences. We will explore some of the region’s fascinating hydrology, including the connection between ground water and surface springs, while engaging in restorative walks, including guided reflection on our connection to the natural environment.
Join us for this walk from Tumalo State Park to Riley Ranch Nature Reserve along the (upper) Middle Deschutes and past the confluence of Tumalo Creek.

Friday, May 11, 10:00am to 3:00pm
Easy, level trail with one hill
Forested and shady to open and (hopefully) sunny
State park day use parking pass is $5

Hike leaders:

Jeff Perreault, retired USGS hydrologist and LandWatch board member
Anne Gordon, ecopsychologist and LandWatch volunteer
Nathan Hovekamp, naturalist and LandWatch Wildlife Program Director

Suggested equipment: comfortable hiking shoes, sack lunch, plenty of water, sunscreen, binoculars, and field guides. You will receive an email with more details closer to the date of the hike.

Public Lands Summit
2018-05-12 15:00 - 18:00 | Trinity Episcopal Church, 469 NW Wall St., Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Our public lands face threats on numerous levels, from the Trump administration’s attack on the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument to various attempts by industry-friendly politicians to sell off America’s natural heritage. Join us for the second-annual Public Lands Summit on Saturday, May 12, to learn more about these threats and what you can do about it!
This three hour event will include:

A panel presentation that covers the overview of the threats we faced in 2017, who responded effectively and how, what to expect this year and how we can respond.
Two breakout training sessions to choose from that are geared to help you become a stronger advocate for public lands.
Happy hour beverages and snacks and an opportunity to meet and talk with other public lands advocates in your community.

Suggested $5 donation at the door.
Organizing partners: Oregon Wild, Oregon Natural Desert Association, The Great Old Broads for Wilderness, the Sierra Club, Vocal Seniority, and Central Oregon Landwatch.

Bend Open Streets: Old-town Bend
2018-05-13 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join Bend Open Streets on Sunday, May 13th (Mother’s Day!) from noon to 4:00pm for the NEW!! Old-town – Bend route.
Bend Open Streets is an initiative of Commute Options, City of Bend, Oregon Government and Bend Park & Recreation District. Temporally closing 1 mile of streets to automobile traffic, so that people may use them for walking, biking, skating, playing and more! It is free, family focused and dog friendly!
Bring your bicycle, or just your feet and explore the streets in a safe, healthy and more livable way.
Visit TEC’s Hub!
Bend Open Streets will temporally close one mile of streets to automobile traffic, so that people may use them for walking, biking, skating, playing and more. The Environmental Center is an Activity Hub along the route! We’ll have live music, garden activities, a fun painting project, and short yoga classes. Plus, Un-Bag Bend needs your help to prep reusable cloth bags on-site. We’ll see you there!
