educational course

Learn to make the most of the adundant fall and winter produce we're able to grow in the Willamette Valley. The workshop will cover time-saving ways to prepare and assemble delicious dishes with few ingredients. We'll talk about simple pantry staples to have on hand in order to turn vegetables into delicious weekend night meals with plenty of leftovers to freeze or save for later in the week.

Please pre-register for this class. You can sign up here!

Presenter Information: Katherine Deumling is the owner and operator of Cook With What You Have - A small business in Portland devoted to making cooking a regular, fun, and creative part of people's lives. Katherine teaches cooking classes in her home-bsed school as well as in corporate wellness programs and in private homes. She partners with local farmers markets to promote local produce and works with non-profits and public agencies to empower people to create healthy, delicious meals. She also works with local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farms, creating weekly, customized recipe packets for CSA members. She writes a weekly food blog, Cook with What You Have celebrating the area's food and farmers. Katherine is also the chair of the Board of Slow Food USA and an active member of Slow Food Portland.

Spicy scents of autumn trees, giant golden leaves on maples and the silvery chatter of American dippers in the river. These are the smells, sights and sounds of Oxbow Regional Park in the autumn. Witness the return of wild salmon to one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier rivers – the glacier-fed Sandy – just 45 minutes from downtown Portland.

Naturalists are on hand at the river’s edge to help spot spawning salmon and interpret their behavior and life cycle. Special salmon-viewing glasses are available on loan. Salmon viewing proceeds rain or shine. The trail is unpaved and fairly level; wear good walking shoes. Inquire at the entry booth for starting location of the salmon viewing then follow the signs to the salmon! Suitable for all ages.  Free with a $5 parking fee per vehicle and registration is not required. Leave pets at home. For more information, call 503-797-1650 option 2.

Explore the Fanno Creek Trail in Tigard, combining fitness and nature in a fun-filled morning with great views of the creek as it meanders through three city parks and other natural areas. Enjoy the area's beauty and see the habitat that is home to birds, fish and other critters - and learn how Metro and its partners have worked together to bring this vision to life. Local author Laura O. Foster gets you up to speed on the creek's past, as well as efforts to preserve and protect it for decades to come. Meet at the Tigard Public Library at 8:45 a.m. Free, but registration is required. If you have questions, call 503-797-1545. You can now register and pay online for Metro activities. Go to Metro's online calendar (www.oregonmetro.gov/calendar), find your event by searching or browsing, and follow the instructions. To register by phone, call 503-797-1650 option 2.

Perched above the town of Gaston, Metro's 1,200-acre Chehalem Ridge Natural Area is a majestic place - but it's also a work in progress. Be one of the first to explore newly thinned sections of this signature natural area, where Metro is helping transition a timber crop into a diverse, mature forest. Along the way, you might hear bird calls or spot a glistening Cascade peak in the distance. Be prepared to walk three miles at a moderate pace, including uneven terrain off the main path. Free, but registration is required. Details will follow registration. If you have questions, call 503-797-1545. You can now register and pay online for Metro activities. Go to Metro's online calendar (www.oregonmetro.gov/calendar), find your event by searching or browsing, and follow the instructions. To register by phone, call 503-797-1650 option 2.

South of West Linn, the Willamette River flows through a stretch of cliffs and rocky islands called the Willamette Narrows - a perfect place to explore by kayak. Join Metro's science team and eNRG Kayaking on this half-day paddling expedition, which introduces you to Metro's restoration work in the Narrows. The area can feel remote; it's home to deer, coyote, frogs, osprey, owls, heron and songbirds. All minors must be accompanied by an adult (no children under 12). Expect Class 1 river conditions - moving water, riffles and no rapids. $25 per person; kayak provided with registration. Details will follow registration. If you have questions, call 503-797-1545. You can now register and pay online for Metro activities. Go to Metro's online calendar (www.oregonmetro.gov/calendar), find your event by searching or browsing, and follow the instructions. To register by phone, call 503-797-1650 option 2.