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Rubber Rabbits and Cornbread

The many uses and attributes of an overlooked high desert plant

My head is crooked upward more often in autumn, my eye drawn toward vibrant trees. But when I venture to look down, I see beautiful crunchy fallen leaves and one of the most abundant and obvious plants blooming throughout Oregon’s high desert in fall: the rubber, or gray, rabbitbrush. Gray rabbitbrush, or Ericameria nauseosa, is […]

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Pray for Snow: 10 Barrel’s Winter Bash Welcomes Arrival of Snow-Riding Season

Gear up for the season with the 13th annual Pray for Snow Party, 10 Barrel Brewing’s biggest winter celebration

As the snow begins to dust Bend’s pine-covered mountains, locals know winter is right around the corner. For outdoor enthusiasts, snow means endless days of carving down the slopes of Mt. Bachelor, skiing at Hoodoo Ski Area or snowshoeing through powdery trails. To celebrate, 10 Barrel Brewing is hosting its annual Pray for Snow Party […]

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It’s Time to Sow Your Seeds

Plant now to enjoy native wildflowers next spring and summer

Successfully growing plants from seed in Central Oregon is challenging. It’s also fun, inexpensive and deeply rewarding, once you learn the basics. Few people understand the struggles and rewards better than Lisa Sanco, the executive director of Worthy Environmental. “There’s nothing wrong with buying plant starts from nurseries,” she says, “but it’s more economical to […]

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‘Cheers to the Land’ Beer Dinner Celebrates Oregon’s Bounty

Oregon Agricultural Trust and Deschutes Brewery serve up a farm-to-table feast highlighting local foods paired with craft beer

Editor’s Note: Unfortunately, The Cheers to the Land Dinner has been cancelled. Cheers to the Land, a program by the statewide nonprofit Oregon Agricultural Trust, has teamed up with Deschutes Brewery to host an evening celebrating sustainable dining. The Cheers to the Land Beer Dinner, held at Deschutes Brewery & Public House in downtown Bend, […]

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Operation Lava Island Falls Fish Rescue

Deschutes River Conservancy organizes ninth annual fish rescue event, saving over 6,000 fish

Volunteers conducted a fish rescue operation over several days in mid-October, after reduced flows stranded fish in a mile-long side channel at Lava Island Falls along the Upper Deschutes River. The event was organized by the Deschutes River Conservancy, with help from volunteers and staff from fisheries and environmental consulting firm Mount Hood Environmental. Several […]

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Witches Paddle Returns: A Bewitching Halloween Tradition in Bend

Community members come together on paddleboards to support MountainStar Family Relief Nursery with the 5th annual Witches Paddle

What began as a fundraiser for MountainStar Family Relief Nursery has transformed into a beloved Central Oregon tradition. The fifth annual Witches Paddle returns to Bend on Halloween Day from 4-6pm at Riverbend Park. During the whimsical event, community members dress up in their best witch and warlock attire and take to the river on […]

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Improving Lives through Aerial Innovations

Bend-based company Kawak Aviation designs and manufactures firefighting equipment and much more

This year has been a hard-to-forget fire season for both its longevity and intensity. Nowhere has been immune to the wrath of these wildfires, from sagebrush grasslands to mountain forests. Fires have been ignited by lightning or human-caused, compounded by a hot and dry summer season. With firefighting resources at maximum capacity, it wasn’t surprising […]

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Running Through Nature: The Happy Girls Run in Sisters

Women runners of all levels take on scenic courses and a weekend celebration at Five Pine Lodge

Looking for a way to combine nature and exercise? The Happy Girls Run offers women an opportunity to lace up their running shoes and experience the autumn beauty of Central Oregon with a supportive community. On Saturday, Oct. 26, participants can choose from three race options: a 5K, 10K, or Half Marathon, all set against […]

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Winged Creatures of the Night

When the sun sets on the dramatic cliffs of the Owyhee Canyonlands, more than a dozen bat species take flight

By day, southern Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands stuns visitors with its colorful rock formations, vibrant wildflowers and bountiful wildlife species. But at night, when darkness falls over the rock spires and canyon walls illuminated only by the glow of starlight, the shadows of bats silently flittering through the air is a truly delightful sight. Although fabled […]

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A Picture-Perfect Pumpkin Patch

Celebrate the season with family-friendly activities, scenic views and seasonal delights at Schilling’s Garden Market’s 5th Annual “The Patch With a View”

As the crisp autumn air sweeps through Central Oregon and the leaves transform to vibrant hues, there’s no better way to celebrate the season than by wandering through a pumpkin patch framed by the Cascade mountains. Whether you’re seeking that perfect pumpkin or simply looking for a peaceful place to connect with loved ones and […]

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