Portland Fashion Week draws national attention for going green! PFW used a sustainably harvested bamboo stage, eco-friendly soy-based paint, low-voltage LED lights, and corn-based biodegradable drink ware.  Even the use of electric tape was prohibited because it can’t be recycled into to raw materials.

“This is the first and only sustainable production of a fashion week in the world -- not just the United States,” said Tito Chowdhury, the show’s executive producer.  Pretty impressive! More...

While the kids sharpen pencils and prepare for the first day of class, why not sign up to learn a skill or hobby for yourself? We've picked out the upcoming classes most relevant to eco-minded Portlanders.

SUSTAINABILITY
NW Earth Institute
Guide yourself or a group through prepared discussion courses from the  NW Earth Institute such as Sustainable Systems at Work, Global Warming, Choices for Sustainable Living, Menu for the Future, and more.
Cost: $20 for discussion guides

Urban Farm School
Located in Vancouver, the farm school teaches classes and offers consultation for your home produce garden.
Autumn classes: Basic Composting, Vermicomposting, Bokashi Composting, Putting the Garden to Bed, Canning and Preservation, Lawn to Food
September 11: Family Bat Night
Cost: $15 per person or $30 per family More...

Artist Helen Nodding creates tiny, hidden worlds among the loose bricks and sidewalk splits that are usually taken as signs of decay in our cities. With a change in scale, the nooks and crannies becomes destinations. See a world tucked beneath a floor and a wall crack turned countryside on her website Stories from Space. More...

Looking for a way to decorate your patio wall or a patch of ground? With a little coaching and watering, grow moss into shapes such as a poem, an eco statement, or animals.

Full instructions are on Instructables.

Image credit: Flickr/aaron13251 More...

Eco roofs, and their more visible cousins vertical gardens, are inspiring pieces of architecture which are usually difficult to view, since getting on top of a building is often prohibited or just a hassle. The California Academy of Sciences roof, pictured above, makes it a little easier to take in the benefits and beauty of rooftop greenery. Here is an entire photo gallery devoted to eco roofs of the world, and here is a Flickr pool.

Image Credit: Arex/CreativeCommons More...

Have you ever wondered what your neighborhood is doing to reduce its environmental impact? How about using a scavenger hunt to find out? We were surprised to find a home with solar panels that we'd never noticed right around the corner, but couldn't uncover a single rain barrel. Think you can photograph everything on this list? More...

On Art Mondays we bring you innovative, inspiring examples of artists working with and for the environment.

Sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor creates cement figures from models--including students and a BBC presenter-- and then places them underwater as artificial reefs, where sea sponges and worms can collect on the hard surface and attract fish and other underwater residents searching for a stable home. Check out the images of the works changing over time, it's both eerie and beautiful how the sea overtakes the forms.
One more image after the jump. All images courtesy Jason deCaires Taylor. More...

Are you ready for more sun and more fun in the great outdoors? So are we. To launch into summer, we're sending our June newsletter soon with free printable coupons for outdoor recreation and reminders of all the great deals in our book.

If you aren't signed up yet, enter your email in the box at upper right. We only send newsletters monthly.

Here's a sampling to get you interested. This Tizzi bathing suit by Kelly B is 65% bamboo and 25% organic cotton (with 8% spandex), and USA made. Order online ($130) from Nimli.

Image via Nimli. More...

We're promoting outdoor recreation--running, hiking, biking, swimming, camping...hang gliding, you name it--for all of June. Submit your fun photos to show others in the community what you're up to. Winners will be chosen frequently throughout the month to receive a free book.

You can submit other photos of green living at any time.

Portland Sustainable City on Flickr

Please note: To meet our criteria, the outdoor recreation must be non-motorized.

Image: Flickr/Creative Commons More...