Unless you plan on shutting yourself away in your basement for the next couple of weeks, there is absolutely no way you can avoid the spectacle that is Pedalpalooza. Thanks to the creativity and combined organizing efforts of many Portland pedalists, mid-June has become a time when bicyclists take over Portland’s streets, often en masse. Whether it’s Birding by Bike, Prince vs. David Bowie, PDX Bridges or the notorious World more...

If you yearn to eat seasonal, local foods while also deepening the impact of your purchasing power so that it directly supports the work of local farmers, you may want to consider becoming a member of a CSA. A CSA, which stands for community-supported agriculture, allows individuals and families to directly invest in a local farm by purchasing shares of the farm’s harvest. In return for your subscription, you get a box, basket or more...

When I have out-of-town guests, one of the places I love to take them is my neighborhood New Seasons Market. What makes it a tourist-worthy stop is that it's not only a great example of a thriving Portland alternative to national chains, but it’s also a store that strives to make grocery shopping an engaged and thoughtful experience. A big piece of that is deepening the meaning of “shop local” by making it their more...

Through small neighborhood grant programs, Both Metro and the City of Portland are working with neighbors to fund projects that make their communities greener, cleaner, safer and healthier. In the coming weeks, there are two upcoming grant deadlines: The City of Portland’s East Portland Action Plan Grants are due October 25, and Metro’s Central Enhancement Grant applications are due November 8. The City of Portland is more...

Fall is officially upon us, and however reluctant we may be to let go of summer; it is now the time to prepare our homes and ourselves for the winter months. In times like these, when money is tight for just about everyone, the winter months can add a lot of financial strain. Across Portland, residents are discovering that by weatherizing their homes, they can save a significant amount of money and reduce their carbon footprints year more...

Portland is a city that prides itself on its abundant supply of fresh food. Whether it’s being served in cafes, food carts, stocked on the shelves of grocers, grown on sidewalk garden plots or hanging from neighborhood trees, local and often organic produce is all around us. With all this food, it’s hard to understand why Oregon consistently ranks as one of America’s hungriest states. In the 2008-09 year, The Oregon more...

A wall-like structure is materializing around what has long been a glaring vacant block on North Fremont between Williams and Vancouver. It’s not the kind of wall you would expect. There’s no barbed wire fence or unfinished plywood mounted here to prevent loitering or other unwanted activity. Wrapping around the corner of Williams and Fremont are shoulder-high panels depicting a vibrant spectrum of images, ranging from more...

Bolted lettuce, flowering parsley, and violet borage blooms are scattered throughout Caitlin Daum’s garden. A resident of Northeast Portland's Cully neighborhood, Daum is one of a growing number of Portlanders who have transformed their front and back yards into a year-round kitchen garden. Portland’s DIY gardeners have come up with creative gardening plans that allow them to grow an impressive amount of food within more...

Suzanne Harold would love to enjoy her front porch this summer. There’s just one problem–the unimproved road alongside her house is home to a pothole so large that neighbors have dubbed it “Lake Carlton.” During the winter and spring, the pothole fills with water and sometimes ice, engulfing nearly the entire road. While this 20 by 30 foot mud or water pit (depending on the season) may deter many vehicles from more...