With the recent reprieve in winter weather, warm sunny skies inspire gardeners to begin work in the yard and garden.  Cherry blossoms, tiny crocuses and new buds renew the hope of spring and remind us that now is the time to plan for the bounty of summer.  In the NW we are fortunate to have a long growing season, and thoughtful preparation will provide a healthy and productive yard and garden all year long. More...

By Kyla Burnet, Chinook Book Sustainable Business Accounts Manager

So you’ve got a Valentine’s Day dilemma. You’d like to do something romantic, but you know the traditional chocolate and bouquet of roses won’t cut it this year. Or, perhaps you’d like to rent a tandem bike on February 14th but just haven’t met that special someone to fill the second saddle. Here are some dilemma-diffusing resources to help you make your sweetheart swoon while sticking to your New Year’s resolution to reduce your environmental impact.  More...

Love is a canvas furnished by Nature and embroidered by imagination. – Voltaire

Around Valentine’s Day, love is on everyone’s mind. Whether you’re looking for love or just want to celebrate the love you have, we’ve got some tips on how to keep your romance green. More...

Fertile Ground 2010
This city-wide festival is focused on new work in the arts. It will feature up to 30 world premiere projects, staged readings, dance, comedy, visual art, film and other arts events from the Portland creative community. Visit website for full listing of events, locations and times.
Jan 22-Feb 2

Photo of the Year Awards Gala
An evening filled with amazing photography, appetizers, drinks, music and more. More...

Holiday Jewelry Shopping and Wine Tasting at EcoTrust
Siri Jewelry and Scott Paul Wines will showcase their wares and wines during a celebratory event. RSVP requested at kellykarr@scottpaul.com.
Fri, Dec 4, 6pm-9pm
EcoTrust Building, 2nd Fl, 721 NW 9th Ave

Green Day Forum with Bill Bradbury
Green Day Forum offers a unique opportunity to hear regional leaders discuss cutting-edge strategies, policies and technologies needed to guide the building industry towards meeting the Architecture 2030 Challenge of achieving carbon neutrality. Space is limited, register early.
Fri, Dec 4, 7:30am-6:30pm
Earth Advantage National Center, 16280 SW Upper Boones Ferry Rd

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Eco Elegant Wedding Show
Learn how to plan a more green and ethical wedding. This event will showcase some of Portland's premier wedding vendors offering eco-friendly/sustainable products. Enjoy food and beverage tastings, a fashion show, presentations and more!
Sat, Nov 21, 11am-4pm
Center for Architecture, 403 NW 11th Ave

First Fix-It Fair
The City of Portland's 23rd annual Fix-It Fair season will kick off with a new addition: workshops in Spanish. Fix-It Fairs are free events where residents can learn simple and effective ways to save money at home this winter.  All fairs offer free childcare and lunch.
Sat, Nov 21, 8:30am-2pm
Roosevelt High School, 6941 N Central St
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SHIFT: A Green Salon, Sharing and Inspiring Sustainable Design
AIGA presents 10 five-minute presentations from designers, creatives, and innovators that are making communications more sustainable. Topics include creative print/web challenges, creating energy efficient sites, green office renovations, earth-friendly printing and more. Followed by short Q&A and networking.  Please RSVP, $5 non-members.
Thu, Nov 5, 7-9pm
Pop Art Community Room, 718 SW Alder St

Farm to Table 10th Anniversary Celebration
Celebrate Zenger Farm's ten years of educating youth, farmers and families in sustainable agriculture.  Chef Joe McGarry of Bon Appetit will be serving five delicious, locally grown courses, paired with local beer and wine. Join the silent and live auction and go home with something great.
Fri, Nov 6, Silent Auction 6:30pm, Dinner at 7:30pm
OMSI, 1945 SE Water Ave
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There’s a fun new way to stay motivated about recycling, and spotlight your business’s recycling practices. Recycle at Work is a great site sponsored by Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. The City of Portland’s goal is to progress toward a 75% recycling goal, and businesses are being asked to complete a Progress Report to let the city know about recycling practices at work. The Recycle at Work program offers some great advice on how to reach your company’s recycling goals, with everything from how to cut back on waste to green catering. More...

2nd Annual Green Professionals Conference
This is an event for students and professionals; providing learning, networking, and employment opportunities within the sustainability industry.  For detailed information on registration, exhibiting costs, venue and speaker information, visit the conference website.
Fri, Oct 9, 8am-5pm
Double Tree Hotel, 1000 NE Multnomah

Wordstock
Wordstock is an annual festival of books, writers, and storytelling in Portland. Wordstock features ten author stages, a book fair, a special children’s area and children’s literature stage, a series of workshops for writers and for K-12 teachers, a special broadcast of Live Wire!  Schedule and tickets available online.
Sat-Sun, Oct 10-11, 10am-6pm
Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd More...

Buy organic
Conventionally grown cotton is responsible for as much as 10% of pesticide use in the world and up to 25% of insecticide use annually, according to Grist. The chemicals can impact workers and leach into the groundwater. Because the United States produces more cotton than all countries except China, much of this is on our soil.

Next, ask about the processing method for cotton, wool, and other fabrics. Look for those that use natural dyes and avoid chlorine bleaching. Organic Consumers estimates that 1/3lb of chemicals are used in the production of a cotton T-shirt, so buying secondhand comes second to buying a product that avoids the conventional cycle.
 
Image: CreativeCommons/Cosmic Kitty More...