We're Just So Darn Green!

The following is something I wrote for The Oregon Sustainability Experience website (http://www.thesustainabilityexperience.org/). Basically, the program is a conference where people can visit our state and learn how we create and maintain sustainable stuff like LEED buildings, sustainable agriculture & food systems and sustainable urban built environments. My job was to write a few paragraphs about sustainable things to do in Portland while these people were here. I'm not sure if they will use it in the website or not but it was definitely good practice.

Sustainable Things to Do in Portland

It’s no secret that Portland is the epicenter of “green” culture in the US. As Portlanders, we are used to living in a city whose inhabitants take reduce, reuse, and recycle very seriously. Sometimes however, it can get a little overwhelming trying to find sustainable activities in a town where there is so much “green”. Where do you start? Why not take a hike? Fortunately, Portlanders do not have to travel far to enjoy the benefits of a brisk walk in the woods. In fact, Forest Park is located within the confines of our fair city and is one of the country’s largest urban forest reserves. Forest Park stretches for almost 8 miles along the Tualatin Mountains overlooking the Willamette River and is home to 112 bird and 62 mammal species. The park contains 70 miles of interconnecting trails with easily accessible trail-heads.

All that walking can build up a major appetite. Next stop--your local farmer’s market. With over fifteen markets across the city to choose from, it shouldn’t be too hard to find one close by. The markets are the very essence of sustainability. They provide a venue where local farmers grow and sell their produce in open air markets. These products are often organic and by cutting out the middle man of the chain stores, you save money and support your local farmer directly. It’s a great way to get healthy, fresh food and meet the farmers who produce it. Besides great produce, Portland’s farmer’s markets also sell locally made breads, cheeses, meats, and crafts.

Looking for something with a little more hops? Hop on your bike and head out to one of the many local breweries in town. Portland is a Mecca for beer lovers. Particularly those beer drinkers who like their suds made with fresh, local ingredients. Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB) on Powell Boulevard is 100% renewably powered and the only carbon neutral brewery in the world. The proprietors have painstakingly taken making sustainable beer and food to a new level. The structure of the pub itself is a paradigm of sustainability. The booths are constructed entirely from the ceiling joists of the previous tenants. Recovered framing, office paneling, and ceiling joists was used to construct the bar base. Biodiesel is made from the fryer oil which they use to fuel the delivery truck and help heat the brew kettle. Hopworks even collects it’s rainwater in a large barrel which they use for irrigation, general wash down and a future green house. HUB uses only organic barley malt in all their beers and the organic spent grain is used by a local cattle rancher. Beer and pizza go hand in-hand so HUB uses Shepherds Grain "Food Alliance Certified" flour for their pizza dough & other bread items and all the dressings are made from scratch which results in less packaging.

These are just a few options that highlight the “green” culture that makes Portland such a sustainable city. For more info, check out… (insert appropriate website)