The Green Issue

A little more than a decade ago, 150 or so miles south by southwest from Bend, one of the most heated battles over water rights in contemporary American history exploded. For years, ranchers and farmers in the Klamath Basin had squared off against environmentalists who believed that the rivers tumbling through the area should be […]

In the past 50 years, the amount of snow that blankets the Douglas firs of the Cascade Mountains has fallen less thickly. There’s been a hushed build up to the realization that this change is very real and, in the case of forest fires, could have a dangerous impact on Central Oregonians. But now, finally, […]

Conserving water in the High Desert should be a no-brainer. But the problem is, according to local conservationists, the city’s water-billing strategy is severely flawed. Rather than rewarding conservation by charging for per-gallon use, ratepayers are charged a monthly flat fee—no matter how much (or little) they use. The result is that water conservers are […]

Maybe it’s something in the water, or the upholstery of our Subaru Outbacks that makes Central Oregonians so environmentally conscious, a fact that’s readily apparent in our recycling rates (almost 45 percent of our waste is now repurposed) and our embrace of solar power. (We’re home to half a dozen installers and recently added two of the biggest solar systems in state at Bend Broadband’s data center and Facebook’s new server farm in Prineville.)

Whatever the reason, sustainability isn’t just a way of life in Bend — it’s an industry that includes everything from small windpower producers like Redmond’s Abney Electrix to a people-powered cycle pub in Bend. This year’s Green Issue is a snapshot of how Central Oregon is putting itself on the forefront of the sustainability movement both individually and collectively. While there are dozens of interesting examples of how entrepreneurs, public agencies and private citizens are blazing a green trail, we’ve narrowed our focus to seven projects that show how Central Oregonians are putting their values into practice; examples range from a multimillion dollar community forest project to a natural soap making business. Read it, share it and then recycle it. (EF)

Did you know that if you complete 45 round-trip commutes to work by walking, bicycling, or utilizing a car/vanpool, bus, pogo stick, mule, etc., you are eligible for sweet prizes, like free beer, via the Commute Options' rewards program? Yeah.
All you have to do is fill out an online form that automatically notifies Commute Options when you've completed 45 alternative transportation commutes – commutes that don't involve solo drives.

One of the simplest (and most fun!) ways to flex your green muscles is to commute by bike. With gas ringing in at $4 per gallon, lots of folks already do it, but we suspect there are even more out there who like the idea of a pedal-powered commute. They just don't know how to go about it. In bike-crazy Bend it can be intimidating to get out there and mix with the racer nerds astride their high-zoot contraptions. We're here to lend a hand. This list will help you organize your commuter kit in the hopes that you, too, can take your ten-speed to the streets.

Snowberry
The snowberry's pink flowers give way to round white fruit in the fall that become a draw for birds – good news for the ornothologically inclined! This relatively hardy bush grows four to six feet in diameter and can withstand the high desert's wide temperature fluctuations with modest watering needs.
Bitterbrush
The iconic high desert plant is familiar to anyone who has hiked or biked a trail around Bend. Incredibly drought and temperature tolerant, the semi-evergreen produces pale yellow flowers and red berries.