conservation education

Less water + Less Work = More time to enjoy your yard! Learn how to design a low-maintenance, chemical-free landscape that conserves water and minimizes pollution, all while saving you time, money and energy! You'll get natural gardening and landscape design tips, take a field trip to a nearby naturescaped garden, and receive a comprehensive workbook and a native plant to get started! Space is limited and advanced registration is required.

Register online at http://emswcd.org/workshops-and-events/upcoming-workshops/. Information: 503-222-7645.

Multnomah County Master Gardeners'

Incredible Edibles Plant Sale 2015

From seedlings to supper, grow your own!

Give new meaning to "Picking up something for dinner!" with organic veggie starts and herbs for your home garden at the fourth annual Multnomah County Master Gardeners' Incredible Edibles Plant Sale.

Plant starts from the Incredible Edibles Plant Sale  are local, organically-grown varieties specifically selected for their ability to thrive in Pacific Northwest conditions, so you'll soon be harvesting nutritious, fresh-picked goodness for your table! Look for a luscious array of both heirlooms and hybrids among the proven varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, lettuces, herbs, edible flowers and more.

OSU Extension-trained Master Gardener volunteers will be on hand so you can 'Get the Real Dirt'  on plant problems, pest control and other gardening questions.

'Plant. Grow. Eat.' workshops  are scheduled throughout the day to inspire and provide education for new adventures in growing your own food. New to growing edibles? The Incredible Edibles Plant Sale is the place for you, with lots of information and helpful Master Gardeners to launch you successfully on growing your own food.

Bop while you shop to fun, lively, musical entertainment  and check out the art and food vendors.

Proceeds  from the sale further the work of the Multnomah County Master Gardeners, whose mission is to support the OSU Extension Service Master Gardener program and to educate the public about all aspects of successfully and sustainably growing and caring for plants.

You've seen Multnomah County Master Gardener volunteers at your neighborhood Farmers Market and other community events, but Master Gardener volunteers also:

*Donate produce from the Multnomah County Community Demonstration Garden to local food banks

*Host a monthly Speaker Series, free and open to the public, where guest horticulture experts share their knowledge on a range of relevant gardening and environmental topics.

*Provide horticulture lessons to young people being treated at Doernbecher Children's Hospital

*Instruct Seed to Supper classes in partnership with the Oregon Food Bank

*Teach gardening methods that support successful gardening and environmental stewardship at area schools, libraries, parks, and community gardens throughout Multnomah County

For more information go to www.multnomahmastergardeners.org/edibles or email

multmastergardeners@gmail.com, or call (503)445-4608

Free admission. Everyone welcome.

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1pm on April 12th
Carty Unit at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
28908 NW Main Ave, Ridgefield, WA 98642
Just 25 minutes North of Portland, OR

Join a Refuge Naturalist and take a walk along the Oaks to Wetlands trail to discover the wildlife that calls the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge home.

This hike is one of several activities that will be happening this day to kick off the Spring Opening of the Cathlapotle Plankhouse, including a spring wild foods hike, and from 12-4 Plankhouse tours and other Children's activities. 

The Cathlapotle Plankhouse is a contemporary Chinookan style Plankhouse located on the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. The house was built in 2005 as a partnership with the Chinook Indian Nation, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. Its mission is to share the lifeways, culture, and history of Chinookan Peoples of the Lower Columbia, and the natural resources of the Refuge. 

Wild animals are difficult to observe, yet are all around us.  Tracking provides a way to unravel their mystery, enabling us to discern their presence and learn about their lives.  In this class you will learn to recognize the common mammals in the Portland area, using clues from both their tracks and trail patterns.  You will also start to learn how to interpret an animal's behavior based on its gait.  The class consists of a  2hr classroom session, followed by a 3 hour field session to put what you learned in the classroom into practice. 

Date and Location:

Thursday, April 9, 6-8pm: classroom session at Cascadia Wild, 5431 NE 20th Ave

Sunday, April 12, 9-noon: field session at Oxbow Park

Description:  Beyond Forest Park, where elk roam forested hills and salmon swim in streams, voters have invested in a growing collection of protected natural areas. By protecting land and creating forested links with the Coast Range, the region can help animals travel across the landscape. Come learn about one of the natural areas in this wildlife corridor.

Register:  Advance registration required at oregonmetro.gov/calendar

Where: Exact location and directions will be provided upon registration.

When: Sunday June 14th, 2015, 10:00a.m. to 12:30p.m.

Cost: $6/person, $11/family

Ages: 12 and older

Difficulty: 2 boots of 3 boot rating system