In the August issue of Digger, I discussed some of the effects of the very dry summer season, not only in the Pacific Northwest, but in much of the western United States. Many readers and other gardeners commented about the article. As a result, I looked more closely at the surrounding neighborhood, as well as […]
Grower guidance vs. customer demand
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Sometimes customers want one thing and climate wants another, but this dilemma presents opportunities for the grower If Mick Jagger had been a horticulturist, he might have sung, “You can’t always plant what you want.” Case in point: Sean Hogan, owner of Cistus Nursery (Portland, Oregon), was driving home from work in late August and […]
New USDA zone map released
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released its first new climate zone map in more than new decades. The new 2012 map, downloadable here (various other versions here), replaces the previous map published in 1990. According to USA Today, the new map is much more localized — in fact, it’s accurate down to one-half mile. […]
Climate expert to speak at High Desert conference
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Kathie Dello, deputy director of the Oregon Climate Service at Oregon State University, will be the keynote speaker at the 20th annual High Desert Green Industry Conference. It will be held Wednesday–Thursday, Feb. 8–9, at the Deschutes Fair & Expo Center in Redmond, Ore. The conference is geared for those who supply, design, maintain or […]
Study: Climate change reshaping Northwest forests
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As you drive around the Pacific Northwest or other regions, have you ever noticed that the makeup of the forest changes when you drive from region to region, gain or lose elevation, or cross over a mountain pass? This phenomenon is real, and it happens due to microclimates. Scientists at three Northwest universities took this […]
Climate Friendly Nurseries best practices guide released
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A new guide called Best Management Practices for Climate Friendly Nurseries has been published by the Oregon Association of Nurseries and the Oregon Environmental Council. The new guide offers practical information on how nurseries can adopt climate-friendly practices, and includes case studies from several nurseries that already have done so. The guide was published as […]
Early registrations due May 15 for the 2010 Oregon Urban and Community Forestry Conference
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Early registrations are now being accepted for the 2010 Oregon Urban and Community Forestry Conference, titled ”From Seed to City: The Journey of an Urban Tree”. The two-day conference will take place June 2 at J. Frank Schmidt & Sons Inc. nursery in Boring, Ore., and June 3 at The Oregon Garden Resort, Silverton, Ore. […]
2010 REAP grants and loan guarantees now available
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It was announced today that applications are being accepted for the Rural Energy for America Program, which is administered by USDA Rural Development. This program offers grants and/or loan guarantees for small businesses, ranchers and farmers who install renewable energy generating systems and energy efficiency improvements. The projects must be located in a rural area. […]
‘Tree appreciation’ gets a new definition
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Many of us appreciate trees, in the sense that we recognize the positive attributes they can provide. They create shade, block the wind, prevent erosion, provide habitat and beautify the environment, among many other benefits. Now we are beginning to see a different kind of “tree appreciation,” however – one that documents trees as a […]
Energy audit program available through OSU
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There’s no question about it. Any form of agriculture, including the production of nursery stock, requires energy. And, energy costs money. Some may see that as a burden, which it is, but here’s a chance to see it as an opportunity. This spring, Oregon State University Energy Efficiency Center is offering rural energy audits, thanks […]
