green living

Weeds - we all have them. Come learn about the most common garden and landscape weeds along with some of the other more notorious plant invaders of the region. We will explain how these aggressive plants take over in your yard, and provide simple yet effective tips that will help you get the upper hand without turning to synthetic herbicides. Register at http://emswcd.org/workshops-and-events/upcoming-workshops/.

Chef Matthew Busetto of North Portland's Firehouse Restaurant invites you to join us on Saturday, September 17th from 10 am to 1 pm for a morning of learning, tasting and fun on the farm. Along with Chef Matthew,  we'll harvest a load of fresh veggies from the Sauvie Island Organics farm, then turn our haul into an authentic farm-to-table lunch.

Chef and Sauvie Island Center staff will share recipes for making the most of your late summer harvest and tips for getting kids engaged incooking and eating healthy food.

Farm-Fresh Family Cooking will be held on the grounds of Metro's Howell Territorial Park and the Sauvie Island Organics farm. The event will begin at 10 am. Please plan to meet us at the big red barn no later than 10 am. We'll head out to the farm shortly after 10 am

Whether you want to survive a zombie apocalypse, or cook healthier, cheaper meals for your family, foraging is a practical skill for all ages. Join plant enthusiast Eve Hanlin for a presentation and guided walk around Columbia Springs to help you identify the many safe, easy and free foods that grow in abundance right within our city limits.

When: Saturday, September 17th, 10am-Noon
Where: Columbia Springs Swift Classroom, 12208 SW Evergreen Hwy, Vancouver, WA
Cost: $5 suggested donation

Pre-registration is required for workshops. To learn more and register, visit columbiasprings.org. For questions, email workshops@columbiasprings.org or call 360-882-0936 x224. 

Whether you are a budding artist wanting to learn about botany or a plant lover eager to hone

your botanical illustration skills, this class is for you! Instructor Ruth Williams will teach students the basics of botanical illustration so that they can complete one or two watercolors.

About the Instructor: Ruth is an arborist and plant enthusiast with a degree in Horticulture from UC Davis. At Hoyt Arboretum, she leads tours and teaches plant identification and botanical illustration.

EcoChallenge gives you the tools and inspiration to reduce your impact on the planet and contribute to a healthy, vibrant, and sustainable future -- while engaging the people in your life and having fun in the process. Choose a Challenge that stretches your comfort zone, stick with it for two weeks, and make a difference for you, your community and the planet!

We invite you to engage your organization, community, workplace, or business in the EcoChallenge this fall -- it's fun, free and makes a big impact.