It’s that time again—new clothes, fresh backpacks, sharpened pencils and someone is wondering where the lunch boxes disappeared to over the summer! Back-to-school season feels like a whirlwind of schedules, forms, practices and homework. That doesn’t mean family fun and bonding time should end, though. Quite the opposite—back-to-school is one of the best times to […]
Joshua Savage
Posted inColumns
Savage in Bend: Why Bend Loves Beer
A look at the local history of a beloved beverage
For this month’s Savage in Bend, Santi R. asks, “How and why did beer become more popular in Bend than most other places?” A very legit question considering beer’s popularity in Central Oregon. Two variables came to my mind when asked, both nature and nurture. The natural part of the answer relates to our amazing […]
Posted inNatural World
Cacti in the High Desert
A trip to Smith Rock Cactus Company
Can cacti survive in the harsh climate of the High Desert? The long, cold winters make it seem unlikely, but a recent visit to Smith Rock Cactus Company in Terrebonne dispelled any of my doubts. Cacti fascinate me, so when I heard about a place where they are purposely grown in our region, I had […]
Posted inBend Nest
All the Buzz
Beekeeping in the High Desert
Amazingly, Oregon is home to over 800 species of bees, a stunning figure that may surprise readers. Although most of those 800 are wild bees and not the ones we associate with honey production, all are native pollinators that play a huge role in keeping local ecosystems healthy by helping plants reproduce, which is crucial […]
Posted inColumns
Savage in Bend: Who is Libby?
The history behind the garden outside the Commons Cafe
Strolling downtown on Brooks Street, passersby may suddenly get bombarded by a lush garden full of eye popping colors during late spring and summer. On the side of the Commons Cafe & Taproom, a tiny space is filled with many varieties of plants like Rockcress, Allum, Iris and others. The Maltese Cross in full bloom […]
Posted inLocal News
Earth Hero: Sakari Farms
The owners of the Tumalo farm honor the land and Native agriculture
Sakari, a word meaning “sweet” in Inupiaq, represents a loving and warm personality, which exactly describes the vibe I felt when Spring and Sam Schreiner, along with Otis, their energetic canine, welcomed me to their farm on a bright, blue-sky day in Tumalo. Spring, an enrolled member of the Chugach Alaska Native Corporation and Valdez […]
Posted inTrending
A Different Type of Travel
Volunteering Abroad for the Whole Family
Here, in Central Oregon, local volunteer opportunities are plentiful, both for children and adults, and range in variety from animal welfare to community events to farming tasks and more. Participating in any of these activities has countless benefits for the whole family. Not only do we help others and make a meaningful impact in our […]
Posted inOutdoors
Labyrinths & Bats
Discover Central Oregon’s magnificent caves and their ecosystems
Beneath our feet, Oregon is riddled with a labyrinth of natural tunnels, lava tubes and underground chambers, all shaped by fire and time and home to several species of bats. Central Oregon’s dramatic landscape was sculpted by ancient lava flows and millennia of geologic upheaval. Situated on the eastern edge of the Cascade Volcanic Arc, […]
Posted inColumns
Savage in Bend: The Oldest Business
The oldest business in Bend
Because I often get questions about the “oldest” things in Central Oregon, I thought I’d tackle one to kick off the Savage in Bend column for this year. Catherine H. asks, “What is the oldest business in Bend?” There are several factors to consider, but if we mean the currently operating longest business under the […]
Posted inBend Nest
Styling and Saving
A Quick Guide to Thrifting
As a kid I always wanted to wear the name brand stuff—Ralph Lauren, Guess, Tommy Hilfiger—you get the gist. Perhaps I was a bit vain, but I had various jobs as a teen that helped pay for most of my own clothing. I never even considered shopping at secondhand stores. College came and my perspective […]
