Central Oregon Living

Inspired by a recycled ride Sustainable Creativity Straight from the Hive Slow Fashion

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2 | Central Oregon Living | October 2015

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Central Oregon Living

FEATURES HIGH DESERT LIFESTYLES

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FALL 2015

editor’s note welcome home saving energy one block at a time a green thumb for clean air sustainable creativity inspired by a recycled ride taking action through slow fashion

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inspired by a recyled ride

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HIGH DESERT FOOD 18 21

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straight from the hive

straight from the hive food with attitude

sustainable creativity

GARDEN CALENDAR 22

October - November

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Central Oregon Living Fall 2015 is a product of The Bulletin’s Special Projects Division, 1777 SW Chandler Ave., Bend OR 97702.

All content is the property of The Bulletin/Western Communications Inc., and may not be reproduced without written consent.

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Staff members for The Bulletin’s special projects division include: Martha Rogers, Special Projects Manager Stacie Oberson, Special Projects Coordinator Kari Mauser, Special Projects Managing Editor Kevin Prieto, Special Projects Photographer and Graphic Designer Clint Nye, Graphic Designer

Story ideas may be submitted to editor Kari Mauser for consideration. Contact her at 541-383-0379 or kmauser@bendbulletin.com.

Cover Photo

of Becky Boyd and her J. Livingston bicycle, “Frogger,”

by Kari Mauser

Published Saturday, October 10, 2015

Central Oregon Living | October 2015 | 3

EDITOR’S

note

Embracing the benefits of going green.

Sometimes it seems as if we’ve come to a place where being “green” is often referenced with sarcasm or with the conviction that it’s completely cliché. I’ve witnessed plenty of people placing air quotes around the term during conversations. But, maybe that’s a good thing.

Maybe that’s because being green has become so embedded in our lifestyle that it really could just go without saying.

That is not to say, however, that advancements in environmentally sustainable practices shouldn’t be highlighted and celebrated (or featured in Central Oregon Living).

It’s always fun to dig in and see what stories we settle on for the fall issue, the “green” issue as it has come to be. It’s a great feeling to be a part of a community where there are so many people and businesses doing amazing things while focussing on sustainability.

As an adult I’ve watched the building industry evolve over many years, with

somewhat of an insider’s view through my husband’s career.

From his summer job framing houses the year we graduated high school to his role as a project manager for one of the top Northwest home builders today, we’ve seen an incredible change in the approach to what a house can be.

What’s really spectacular though is that it just keeps getting better.

The programmable thermostat in my house? Pretty great! But, it’s got nothing on the options for automating your home that are available today!

From new technology to new construction materials such as the SunTerra EnergyBlock, sustainability can be incorporated into our houses from foundation to finish. But once the house is built, it’s really up to the people who are making it

a home to ensure that they are making sustainable choices.

Most often those choices are pretty easy to make.

I can remember when my now 9-year-old was a toddler and we’d go out hiking, he always insisted on picking up every bit of garbage he spied from his seat in the off-roading stroller. Some of our hikes took hours to go just a mile or two because he was constantly in and out picking up trash others had left behind.

Admittedly it could get annoying, but what a proud mama he made me!

When my second kiddo started preschool a couple years ago at Mama Bear Oden’s EcoKidz, I figured it was a good fit for our “green” lifestyle. I had no idea how much I stood to learn from an eco kid. I’ve always been proud of my dedication to

recycling, but when he looks up with his huge dark brown eyes at me when we’re sorting the co-mingles and lists off a half a dozen ways we could re-USE each thing instead of just re-CYCLING it … well, again, somewhat annoying, but definitely another proud mama moment.

The little creations my kids come up with using discarded items are definitely shelf-worthy (in my humble opinion), and they are a perfect example of what can come from creative, Earth conscious minds. Those are the minds that build green businesses, that launch successful endeavors such as the DIYcave and J. Livingston bikes. Those are the minds that continue to explore what we can do to improve upon green building practices, to make our homes and our lives even more energy efficient so that as we move toward the future the term “green” becomes even more obsolete.

— Kari Mauser, editor.

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

Zack Hall is freelance writer based in Bend and a former staff writer for The Bulletin. He has lived and worked in Central Oregon for nearly 10 years. When not writing about the virtues of Central Oregon or the region’s array of world-class golf courses, he can usually be found chasing his daughter around the house or a little white ball around a patch of emerald-green grass.

Annissa Anderson, a freelance writer and PR consultant, also studied culinary arts and worked as a pastry chef in another life.

She now writes regular food and nutrition articles for The Bulletin.

When not researching food trends and recipes, she prefers to spend her time with her husband and young son exploring Central Oregon’s lesser-known natural spaces.

4 | Central Oregon Living | October 2015

An avid crocheter and origamist, John Cal worked as a baker, head chef, ukuleleist and SnoCat driver before settling into writing. He enjoys filling his time with yoga, postcard writing and collecting bowties. John also collects candy from around the world — he has a 100-plus specimen collection (and counting) — and lives in Bend with his dog, Hank.

Gregg Morris is a local freelance writer and musician.

You can find him around town finishing articles at the local tea shop, performing with his band Organic Music Farm or homeschooling his 10-year-old daughter. Supposed free time is spent in the woods with his wife and daughter or skillfully executing his duties as a member of the Deschutes County Search and Rescue team.

Amy Jo Detweiler has been working as OSU Extension Horticulture Faculty in Central Oregon for 16 years. She provides education in home horticulture, commercial horticulture, and provides annual training for the local OSU Master Gardener™ Program. She has an MS in Landscape Horticulture from Colorado State University.

Julie Cockburn is a food photographer, writer, and volunteer Jamie Oliver Food Revolution ambassador. She is the owner of TasteOfThePlace.com, a website dedicated to exploring the world through food. When she’s not whipping up some new recipe in her kitchen, you can find her perusing specialty shops for exotic ingredients, sipping a glass of wine downtown, or out hiking among the juniper and sage in the high desert.

WELCOME

Today’s intera ctive technologies bring enhanc ed efficiency, convenience and comfort where it’s most valued — at home.

HOME

by Zack Ha ll,

for The Bulle tin Special Pro jects

Automated homes are not just for The Jetsons anymore. In fact, Central Oregon homes are becoming increasingly automated, using a centralized electronic “brain” with the ability to control almost anything, including heating, cooling and lighting.

The emergence of smartphones paired with home automation systems have made turning off home lights from the airport a very real possibility.

A homeowner can now control the temperature of their homes from the office with the use of a smart thermostat.

Used properly, such a system can make a home significantly more energy efficient. “(A smart thermostat) should be smart enough to know if you’re home and adjust the thermostat accordingly,” said D.L. Abbajay, account manager for Sisters-based Abbajay Automated Control Systems. “If it’s 80 degrees out and (the thermostat) knows your home, it’s going to set your temperature to 68 or 70 degrees, or whatever it knows to be your comfort point.”

Networked through the Internet, a

control center connected to a home’s HVAC system and lighting allows homeowners to make simple adjustments through a control pad or through an app on a smartphone or tablet.

In real terms that means that not only can lights be turned on and off remotely, they can be dimmed slightly to 90 percent in perpetuity to save energy.

In addition, the brain can adjust heating and lighting based on a home’s occupancy using motion sensors or cameras (usually integrated with an alarm system) that can tell when a homeowner is in the house.

Higher-end systems can even control the shades, raising and lowering them automatically depending on the outside temperatures.

“Integration really allows you to control it yourself,” said Ron Wanless, owner of Technology Design Associates in Bend, adding that what makes the technology work is that it is simple to operate. “You are able to adjust all of that according to your lifestyle and make those changes yourself. And you don’t have to worry about whether or

not the house is capable of doing it.”

The technology has yet to become a standard feature in homes, of course.

But it does appear to emerging.

Custom home builder Matt Brown, who owns JMB Homes in Bend, said his customers have become increasingly interested in the energy efficiency that automation can facilitate.

“The ability to turn all your lights on and all your lights off at one point in time with just a push of a button … is a huge selling point,” said Brown, who has built three fully automated homes in the last few years and is currently working on more.

How much energy can such a system save?

Most companies that manufacture automation systems boast at least a 15 percent decrease in energy usage. In the real world, Brown said his clients have seen closer to a 10 to 15 percent savings depending on their level of usage.

“The nice thing about an automated system is the ease of programmability for your thermostat,” he added.

“That gives you the opportunity to set up schedules and (temperature) ranges for heating and cooling. And it makes it very easy for people.”

Of course, the return on investment does take time. Entry-level smart thermostats can cost around $1,000, said Abbajay. An integrated system that controls a home’s HVAC system and lighting is closer to $3,000 to $4,000, Wanless said, with little difference in cost to install in new or existing homes. Fully automated platforms that control just about everything in a home can cost $100,000 or more.

Wanless said that in most cases, it takes about 10 years to see a return on the initial investment.

Still, he said that there is a good chance that automation in some form will become the norm in homebuilding.

“When you are talking about a $300,000 or $400,000 production home ($3,000-$4,000) is a pretty small investment,” Wanless said. “The younger generation, the millennials, are coming in and they want these things. These are all part of what people are requesting.”

Central Oregon Living | October 2015 | 5

SAVING ENERGY One BLOCK at a Time

The new SunTerra EnergyBlock wall system utilizes the sun and natural thermal dynamics to conserve energy and enhance comfort.

by Gregg Morris, for The Bulletin Special Projects Four years ago, while business was slow, Bend builder Jim Chauncey decided to put his mind to new building techniques.

After having an idea to improve upon concrete block construction, he went to building material supplier Willamette Greystone and asked if they could put a dovetail groove in a standard block.

They confirmed it was possible, and the SunTerra EnergyBlock was born.

The new exterior wall system, made of 8-inch by 8-inch by 16-inch concrete masonry units (CMU,) naturally stores and releases heat energy. The groove that is cut into the mason blocks receive a plastic insulation retainer, which then allows for the attachment of any exterior siding requested.

According to Oregon State University research, the EnergyBlock reduces the heating and cooling load on a residence by 29 percent. The blocks are assembled by a mason/contractor in the same manner and per the same building codes as historically done, with the added benefit of installing insulation to the exterior wall surfaces.

“This uses all of the traditional building components,” siad Chauncey.

“It just puts them together differently to create a better building system.”

Due to the promising nature of the reconfigured CMU, the Oregon State University’s Cascade fifth-year value engineering class chose the first EnergyBlock home, built three years ago in Sisters, as its capstone research project.

The students installed sensing and re6 | Central Oregon Living | October 2015

cording equipment in the home to measure the benefit and comfort of the new wall system. The findings showed the natural thermal dynamics providing an even temperature throughout the home and an enhanced ability to store and release free heat energy.

The EnergyBlock system not only beats standard wood-frame construction in energy savings, but outperforms its CMU rival, insulated concrete forms (ICF). Not only does it cost less, but the EnergyBlock’s true continuous insulation design, thanks to the aforementioned groove in the block, offers better insulation value than the ICF system. In addition, the thermal mass created by the EnergyBlock allows for 70 percent of passive solar thermal storage; which slightly higher than ICF and twice that of conventional wood-framed structures.

As for how it looks, the EnergyBlock system can be a decorative interior feature, and its design allows for any traditional siding to be used.

Dave and Donna, the owners of the first built EnergyBlock home, were initially apprehensive about the resulting look of the home, but became immediately impressed with the finished product.

“We find the variation in textures along with the complementary slate tile work to be quite visually appealing.

On the outside, our house looks like all the others in the neighborhood; the siding conceals all the SunTerra Energy-Blocks.”

Because the EnergyBlock system is structurally similar to traditional CMU,

SunTerra EnergyBlock

is made up of a specially designed concrete block with dovetail grooves and a masonry-insulation connector strip to retain rigid foam insulation, making it ready to attach your choice of siding. there is no special engineering or training needed for installation. The standard block construction codes are already in place. Essentially, masons have been working with this for hundreds of years.

The EnergyBlock system only adds about a week or two to the entire timeline of the building process. Usually, other

work, such as roofing or flooring, can be finished while waiting for the mason to complete the walls.

SunTerra Homes has built a total of six EnergyBlock homes in the last three years, with another one on the way. Five of the homes are located in Central Oregon and one is in Lakeview, Oregon. The houses range from 1,216 to 2,857 square feet in living area.

Since moving in to their new home, Dave and Donna have been extremely pleased with the design and efficiency. They illustrate their satisfaction with this story: “This past winter we were gone for about three weeks.

We left the heat pump off. The only heat source was the passive solar construction and the EnergyBlock. Upon returning, the temperature was 57 degrees!

Furthermore, this summer we have not needed to use the cool-

ing function of the heat pump.”

SunTerra Homes averages between three and four custom energy-efficient homes, with or without using the EnergyBlock system, per year.

The company began building energy-efficient and alternative-energy homes in 1974 in Billings, Montana, but moved the operation to Central Oregon in 1990 and has won many local builder awards since then, in addition to winning the National Association of Home Builders’ National Custom Home Green Builder of the Year 2006 Award.

SunTerra EnergyBlock has held the patent for their EnergyBlock system in the United States and Canada since 2013.

However, it is only available in the Northwest region of the United States at this time. The company is pursuing options to offer the product throughout the North American region.

Central Oregon Living | October 2015 | 7

A Green Thumb for Clean Air When well cared for, certain houseplants bring great benefits.

By Zack Hall, for The Bulletin Special Projects Most any homeowner has heard it at one time or another: Houseplants can do a world of good beyond just sprucing up a house’s interior. In fact, houseplants have been found to be an efficient air cleaner to combat indoor air pollution.

In 1989, NASA conducted a study testing a range of houseplants for their ability to filter three chemicals — benzyne, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene — that are pollutants commonly found in home (much of which comes from the use of synthetics in common household items such as computers and carpeting).

The results of the NASA study were that in the small, closed spaces the plants were able to convert about 65 percent of the gasses and transform them into oxygen. The plants do this using photosynthesis — that term we all learned in school — to snatch gasses from the air with their leaves, absorb the toxins into the root systems, and transform the gasses back into oxygen.

“To me, that is an amazing story,” Michael Hull, a horticulturist and owner of Evergreen Plantscapes in Bend, said of the NASA findings. “It just goes to show how effective (the plants) are.”

What that means for homeowners is that the right houseplants under the proper conditions can make nifty air filters for those long winter months in Central Oregon when the windows are closed and the fresh air is strictly outdoors.

Plants can also act as a natural humidifier, 8 | Central Oregon Living | October 2015

which can come in handy here in the high desert.

Of course, for the houseplants to be effective there must be enough in a home to make a difference. About one potted houseplant per 100 square feet was needed to make a significant impact in the NASA study.

And most importantly, the plants must be in good health, Hull said. As a general rule of thumb plants can be damaged by low-grade soil, soil that is too moist (which can foster fungal spores) or too dry, or if houseplants are not kept between 65 degrees and 90 degrees.

“All of these things can prevent plants from operating efficiently,” said Hull, adding that contaminated soil can reverse the positive effects of photosynthesis by putting toxins back into the air.

“That’s why plant care is so important,” Hull added. “If a plant is healthy, then it is going to be doing a good job. If the plant is unhealthy, then it can be more of a detriment.”

It is also important to note that houseplants can be extremely detrimental to the health of pets and children if they are ingested, especially in large amounts. Many are considered toxic and can cause severe illness, so arranging the plants so they are out of reach of nibbling pets and curious toddlers is the best option.

With these considerations in mind, here are some plants that Hull suggests could help combat indoor air pollution that are all available in Central Oregon:

Peace lily (Spathiphyllum)

The peace lily has glossy green leaves and an ability to blossom white flowers even in indoor light. Peace lily also has a high transpiration rate, filtering a range of chemicals, including benzene, formaldehyde, trichlorethylene and ammonia.

Philodendrons Horsehead philodendrons are identifiable by deepgreen split leaves. These varieties, along with the elephant ear and the heartleaf philodendrons have all shown an ability to scrub formaldehyde out of the air.

Golden pothos, devil’s ivy, money plant (Epipremnum aureum) An evergreen vine, the plant is a quite common houseplant. Its heart-shaped and often multi-colored leaves grow from trailing stems. It has a proven impact on removing formaldehyde and benzene and “is perhaps the best air scrubber,� Hull said.

Boston ferns (Nephrolepis exaltata) Boston ferns, popular houseplants in the U.S., have been shown to filter formaldehyde and xylene. The plants are known for the small leaflets that spring from each leaf.

Leaf shine products can be particularly damaging to ferns, Hull warned, and added that almost any fern will actually work as an air filter.

Dracaenas With several varieties, such as the red-edged or cornstalk dracaenas, this family often makes for easy-to-grow houseplants. Though they take on different appearances, the red-edged dracaena, for instance, can grow to six feet tall with long, thin green leaves. And Dracaenas are all very good at filtering benzene, formaldehyde, and trichlorethylene.

Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum) The thick, dark-green leaves are highlighted with silver-green blotches. This plant thrives in sunlight, and it also filters chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde.

Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) Another commonly found houseplant, spider plants are recognizable by their long, green leaves with white striping.

Researchers have found the spider plant to filter formaldehyde and xylene.

Central Oregon Living | October 2015 | 9

SUSTAINABLE

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CREATIVITY

“A natural byproduct of the environment at DIYcave, along with the resources we’ve gathered, is the ability for people using the space to live greener.”

--Dave Danek.

Propelled forward by the sharing of items and ideas, tools and talent, DIYcave is the ideal spot for do-it-yourselfers and tinkerers alike.

by Gregg Morris, for The Bulletin Special Projects / Photos by Kevin Prieto Southeast Bend’s DIYcave aims to help you to fix it instead of buying a replacement. Since opening up their shop to do-it-yourselfers this past May, DIYcave owners have promoted the idea of repurposing as a way for Central Oregonians to become more self-sufficient and in turn, “green.”

DIYcave embodies the idea of repurposing; from its repurposed tools and building, to the classes instructing students how to reuse what’s available.

“A natural byproduct of the environment at DIYcave, along with the resources we’ve gathered, is the ability for people using the space to live greener,” explained co-owner Dave Danek. “Since our opening, countless items have been brought in and repaired rather than being thrown away and replaced.”

Two years ago, co-owner Aaron Leis realized he wanted to do something that had a more positive impact on the community than his chosen profession as a drywall contractor. He had been a follower of the do-it-yourself-inspired maker movement for a more than a decade and decided he wanted to open a maker space.

In order to research the idea further, Leis attended a “makers meet-up” hosted by the High Desert Maker Mill, another maker space in town.

There, he met up with Danek and the two friends then also connected with Tim Willis, who had the idea of creating an ultimate workshop that would be available for the community to utilize. After a few conversations between Leis, Danek and Willis, the three realized they could accomplish much more by working together than they ever would independently, so they joined forces and created DIYcave.

The idea of fixing something rather than buying a new item is the core aspect of reusing, which along with reducing and recycling is the cornerstone of the environmental movement. Willis, who is an Alaskan fisherman when not at the DIYcave, also believes that repurposing, along with the sharing of resources and knowledge, promotes environmental stewardship.

DIYcave’s first representation of repurposing came in the owners’ chosen space -- the old Pakit

Liquidators building on the corner of SE 9th street and SE Armour. For a long time, Pakit served as a used building-supply store for professional and amateur builders alike. The 3,000 square foot building, with an office loft and covered outdoor area has now been transformed from a space utilized for selling used materials into a space where classes offer instruction on what to do with used materials.

“People use to stop by and peruse the items that Pakit had, and try to find a way to give them new life or purpose,” explained Leis. “It was the heart and soul of re-users and tinkerers of Bend!”

After just a few minutes visiting DIYcave, or watching a video from one of the various classes the business hosts, you will notice many repurposed items throughout the workshop. Middle school lockers on the north end of the building serve as member lockers, while almost all of the equipment that circles the interior began its life somewhere else. A 3-D printer sits in a cabinet that used to be a lizard cage. An

old wooden ladder works as a clamp rack, and an old condominium refrigerator serves as the kegerator. And it’s difficult not to notice the Currie Bike, or modified six-wheeled, three-person tricycle, hanging from the rafters.

“Walking through and looking around the Cave, it’s pretty easy to see that we’re all about reclaiming, recycling, and reusing,” said Danek, who also works as a professional furniture and cabinet maker.

In addition to offering equipment usage to members, DIYcave offers roughly 30 classes each month, and hosts community events for all ages. Classes range from guitar building to welding yard art to automotive maintenance. More than 150 people attend classes each month. DIYcave also hosts private classes and clinics for adult groups and schools, such as Cascades Academy.

So far, in the five months it’s been in existence, the DIYcave owners have partnered with many local organizations to spread the word of repurposing. They

have hosted a Deschutes Library’s Maker Monday in their shop, showing people how to convert wine bottles into beautiful and safe drinking glasses. They hosted the Habitat for Humanity Restore’s “Furniture Flip Challenge,” where people turned everyday objects into furniture. And, they’ve partnered with the Environmental Center for their “Repair Cafe” event.

Perhaps DIYCave’s greatest strength lies in the partnership between the three owners. Each partner brings a different skill set and type of experience to the table.

“We are all very active partners,” said Leis. “Although I think all of us would have been willing to try it on our own, we each can agree that we never would have made it this far, this fast, by ourselves.”

For more information on how to join DIYcave, check out some past projects, or see a full list of classes, please visit www.diycave.com or find them on Facebook.

Central Oregon Living | October 2015 | 11

INSPIRED BY A RECYCLED RIDE

Rebuilt from old, unwanted mountain bikes into brand new custom commuter bicycles, J. Livingston bikes are about more than getting from point A to point B.

by John Cal, for The Bulletin Special Projects / Photos by Kevin Prieto Bend Velo -- a small, local bike shop owned and operated by Eric Power -- specializes in a line of bicycles like no other.

The first creation received its final touches in 2009, followed by just 24 more that year. Now, just six years after the original J. Livingston bicycle was reborn out of an old mountain bike, local demand pushes Power to craft hundreds of the custom rides annually.

Alongside shop manager Tory Sox, Power approaches each bicycle as an individual project, putting distinct care and thought into the finer details including the seats, handle bars, racks, and pedals. The recycled frames are powder coated in one of seven unique colors, an aspect of the rebuild that breathes life into the custom work.

Still, while J. Livingston’s distinct style and color palate have made it immediately recognizable as Bend’s iconic bike, it’s what’s behind the bike that really makes it

12 | Central Oregon Living | October 2015

so special — the story, the philosophy, and Power’s vision for a better, more accessible bike.

“I was making bikes that cost $1,000 to $2,000 dollars -- really expensive, fancy, high-end racing bikes,” explained Power. “Then, when I first visited Bend, I met John Livingston -- who is now my good friend -- but he challenged me, asking what made my expensive bikes better than his.”

Livingston, a huge bicycle enthusiast himself, rode bikes cobbled together from recycled and repurposed parts, parts that would otherwise go unused and end up in the landfill.

“I didn’t have an argument for him that translated into dollars beyond my ego,” continued Power. “That was the impetus for this whole thing, a friendly argument between friends.”

Through Bend Velo, Power creates brand new bikes

“We want to get more people commuting on bikes. That’s a huge part of our goal.

But, for that to happen, biking has to be just as easy as riding in a car.”

by repurposing old mountain bike frames. He scours Craigslist and frequents garage sales, all with the purpose of keeping unwanted bike frames out of landfills and instead, turning them into something useful.

“We want to get more people commuting on bikes. That’s a huge part of our goal,” added Power. “But, for that to happen, biking has to be just as easy as riding in a car.”

All J. Livingston bikes are made for the rider to sit in a comfortable upright position. All come standard with kickstands, racks, and fenders to make the riding experience as easy and pleasant as possible.

“It’s by far the most comfortable bike I’ve ever ridden,” declared Azure Karli, owner of Bend Naturopathic Clinic. “A good friend of mine in town had one, and I tried it, and I just couldn’t believe the difference, how easy it was to ride.”

While many people rely on Power to find an old frame to repurpose for them, Karli brought in her own, which was part of what made the experience so special for her.

“It’s like I got to help create something out of nothing, something that would have gone to waste otherwise,” she said.

Just six months after Karli purchased her bike, her hus-

band, impressed with the quality of J.Livingston got one of his own.

“I kept raving about it,” she recalled.

“We live midtown ... I work downtown and he works up at the hospital and so we commute a lot ... I don’t consider myself a bike person, I don’t really know anything about bikes, but my pants don’t get caught in the chain, I can use panniers or a basket to carry my stuff in and I love that it’s a local company,” she continued.

“I’ve had my bike for almost three years now, and I love it, and the shop has a really friendly, easy environment. I know that if I need anything, Eric and Tory will just take care of it.”

Unlike Karli, Kent Herman -- owner of local bike rack company Rack Stash -- knows bicycles.

“I own 10 bikes,” he offered. In the business himself, and an avid bicyclist across several cycling disciplines, Herman, in the know, outfitted his entire family with J. Livingston bicycles. He, his wife, and his two sons are all proud to ride them.

“It’s a workhorse,” Herman said. “I have panniers on it.

I have a rack in the front and the back. It’s great to carry stuff, carry my computer and all the things I need to go work.

There are fenders so I can ride in the rain and through pudCentral Oregon Living | October 2015 | 13

“We’re not a bike shop that’s everything to everybody, but we’re proud of everything we do and we want to help connect people to a bike they’re happy with.” dles without getting dirty, and the custom things you can do to make it your bike, the details and great care they give you at the shop make it a great local company.”

Herman owned a J. Livingston from the beginning, from that first year, and got a custom hub incorporated into the wheels that powers both his front and rear lights.

“I could buy something more expensive,” Herman continued, “but that wouldn’t make it better.

I think it’s important to support local ingenuity, local entrepreneurship, and these guys have it.”

J. Livingston bikes start at $700, with numerous customizable options.

“It’s important that a bike feels like it’s yours,” explained Power. “You can pick your bike color.

We have five colors of tires. Grips and saddles are black or brown, or you can pick something more unique if you want to upgrade ... [People] call me all the time and tell me they’re losing sleep over their bicycle while we’re making it, that they can’t

14 | Central Oregon Living | October 2015

wait to ride it, and that response has really been great and unexpected.”

Power has sold his bikes as far away as Sweden and New Zealand, and along much of the west coast, but at the end of the day he’s happy to be in Bend.

“We’re not a bike shop that’s everything to everybody,” he said, “but we’re proud of everything we do and we want to help connect people to a bike they’re happy with.”

Power is even beginning to work with Brian Potwin at Commute Options on how to get even more people on bikes, riding to school, work, just improving their everyday lives, one bike at a time.

“I want to leave a legacy. Bend is a great place to be, but I think we can be even better. I want to change the way Bend is, become less car-centric, keep more stuff out of landfills, and not feel like we’re giving anything up to do it.”

Taking through Action SLOW FASHION A sustainable solution to the environmental impact of ever-changing styles and trends.

by Annissa Anderson, for The Bulletin Special Projects Photos by Kevin Prieto

Did you know it’s hip to be slow?

While Central Oregonians may be addicted to our fast-paced recreational activities, we know that how we live our lives can affect the world around us.

That’s why more and more local retailers are adding examples of slow fashion to their apparel lines.

Slow fashion may be a newer concept, but its principles are the same as for slow food. Rather than consuming rapidly and cheaply made food that may be harmful to our health, to the welfare of the workers making it and to the environment, slow food is good for our bodies, responsibly harvested and sustainably grown. These same factors are true of slow fashion.

The emerging movement of sustainable style calls on people to pay close attention to the environmental impacts surrounding the choice of fabrics used, to the conditions of workers who sew the garments and even to what is done with proceeds from sales, as some companies donate certain percentages to help local or global causes.

In stores throughout Central Oregon, you can find examples of this in clothes made with recycled polyester or fleece, sustainable wool, hemp, organic cotton, and traceable and reclaimed down insulation.

Other examples include jewelry made from reclaimed materials such as leather and metal.

Most sustainable style also supports fair trade practices and ethical sourcing, so you can wear each

item with confidence, knowing that any farmers, workers or artisans involved in making them were treated and paid fairly, and animals that provided the wool or down were treated humanely.

And contrary to much of the natural clothing worn in decades past, new sustainable threads are styled with fashionable colors, textures and cuts that are as fashion-forward – or more so – as those of other trendy designers.

Furthermore, these clothes are meant to last. Durable fabrics, thoughtfully designed and well-sewn, can be worn and washed repeatedly for many years to come.

Simply put, slow fashion is clothing and jewelry with a conscience.

Recycled Polyester

Fleece clothing made with polyester from recycled materials such as plastic bottles not only saves fossil fuels needed to make new polyester fabric, it reduces waste at the same time.

Women’s lightweight Synchilla SNAP-T pullover in peppergrass green. Made from recylcled polyester.

Patagonia / $99

Threads 4 Thought Echo Legging in heather charcoal / warrior. Made from recylcled plastic bottles.

Whole Foods / $48

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Organic Cotton

Organically-grown cotton is a desirable alternative to conventionally grown cotton, one of the dirtiest crops on the planet. Organic cotton is grown without dangerous chemicals that leach into the ground.

Brands that Give Back

Aventura NELL longsleeve in craisin. Made from organic cotton.

Common Threads (Sisters) / $64

Some lines of sustainable apparel pledge a portion of their proceeds to a charitable cause. Others may even donate a life-enhancing product to those in need for each apparel item purchased from their company.

Fair Trade Practices

Ecoths KELLAN longsleeve button down in fossil. Made from organic cotton/ proceeds support regional food banks across the country. Common Threads (Sisters) / $78

Many slow fashion manufacturers pride themselves on using fair trade practices. Fair trade means workers and artisans are paid a fair wage and work in safe conditions. They learn valuable skills while receiving the support they need to improve the lives of their families and communities.

Traceable Down

Threads 4 Thought vintage wash T-shirt in Atlantis. Made of organic cotton.

Whole Foods / $24

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Clothing labeled “traceable down� means the manufacturer can account for where the down came from, and that it is sourced only from animals that were never live plucked and otherwise humanely treated.

NAU twill down shirt in cavair heather.

Outside In (Bend) / $240

Reclaimed Materials

Using reclaimed materials — from squares of sweaters to swatches of T-shirts — is a way to create new styles with existing fabrics. A new trend, using reclaimed, cleaned down from pillows and blankets, takes this idea a step farther by extending the life of a raw material. Jewelry designers are also exploring the use of a wide range of reclaimed materials.

Men’s Back Step longsleeve button down in chambray: navy blue.

Made from hemp and organic cotton.

Patagonia / $79

Junk to Jems reclaimed leather and metal bracelets and earrings. Styles and prices vary.

BRAVE Collective (Bend)

Hemp Fabric

Hemp is a highly sustainable crop, as it takes little water to grow and is naturally pest resistant. Fabric made from hemp fiber is also extremely durable.

IBEX Northwest longsleeve, full zip wool top in midnight.

Outside In (Bend) / $170

Responsibly Sourced Wool

Wool is, by nature, a sustainable fabric. But some companies take the extra step of knowing exactly where their wool is coming from, and ensuring that it is sustainably priced.

Reused Clothing Icebreaker men’s wool tech longsleeve top in nori heather.

Outside In (Bend) / $110

The ultimate in slow fashion is clothing found in thrift stores, old to someone else but new to you!

IBEX Izzi wool pant in pewter heather.

Outside In (Bend) / $160

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STRAIGHT

FROM THE

HIVE

Exploring the tasty benefits of truly raw honey.

by Julie Cockburn, for The Bulletin Special Projects

Like a drop of liquid sun infused with the essence of flowers, honey has been treasured for millennia. It’s been found in the tombs of pharaohs, mentioned in the Bible, praised by ancient physicians and philosophers, and consumed by royalty.

But what is all the fuss about? What really makes honey, especially raw honey, so special?

Raw honey for health

Inside a honeybee hive / Photo by Kari Mauser

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Throughout the ages, honey has been used to treat all kinds of woes. According to Sandy Billings, owner of Sweet Alchemy, raw honey has been used for thousands of years to heal skin infections, deep wounds, and acne. It’s even been used by some to soften the skin. Sandy says raw honey is antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal, antioxidant, and can strengthen the immune system.

Even today, honey is often utilized for its health benefits. Lori S. Brizee, registered dietician with Central Oregon Nutrition Consultants, while cautioning that there is not much scientific evidence for honey’s health claims, said that it has been shown to act as a cough suppressant, and that honeys from particular nectars, especially Manuka Honey from the nectar of Leptospermum Scoparium (more commonly known as tea tree), are the source of the FDA approved “Medihoney” used for treating leg wounds and pressure sores.

One of honey’s exciting (and controversial) claims to fame is that consuming local, raw honey can help alleviate allergies. The theory goes like this -- local bees, while out and about foraging, are likely visiting some of the plants that you are allergic to, and then deposit bits of the offending pollen into their honey. It’s believed that when you then consume that honey, you expose yourself to tiny amounts of the allergen, and start to build up a resistance. Although the scientific evidence to support this claim is still a little thin, many people swear by its effectiveness.

Honey has been used throughout the ages for everything from skin care to immunity support . Photo by Julie Cockburn

If you decide to give honey a try for allergy relief, proponents recommend consuming a small amount of local, raw honey every day for several months leading up to allergy season. Keep it local so you are more likely to be consuming the pollen that you are allergic to, and raw so that all the natural goodness isn’t processed out.

A quick warning before you start drinking gallons of the stuff, though - Brizee offered the reminder that, like any sweetener, honey should be consumed in moderation. It’s a calorie-loaded carbohydrate, and can have the same impact on our bodies as white sugar.

Why raw is so important The majority of the honey available at the grocery has been pasteurized and ultra-filtered, processed to the point that it is little more than honey flavored sweetener. This creates a clear, uniform honey that doesn’t crystalize on store shelves.

“Crystallization is a normal part of raw honey,” Billings explained. “If it doesn’t crystalize you don’t have the real thing.”

Billings emphasized that all the amazing benefits

of honey are destroyed during heavy processing. Raw honey, on the other hand, is only gently filtered to removed the larger bits of debris left behind by the bees, keeping all its good stuff intact, including its wonderful and unique flavors and characteristics.

Raw honey tastes really yummy!

Have you ever compared two or three raw honeys side-by-side? Each is complex and layered with flavors, and the differences between them are generally quite distinct. One might flow like dark, liquid gold with earthy, minerally, pungent flavors that beg to be paired with a strong blue cheese and dark beer. Another may be creamy and golden, like whipped butter, accented with flavors of citrus and pine, perfect with a creamy, mild brie and a glass of crisp white wine. A third may be firm with a crunchy bite, scented like a field of wildflowers, and delicious spread on a sweet scone accompanying afternoon tea.

The intriguing differences between one raw honey and the next come from the flowers that the bees visit. According to the folks over at the National Honey Board, the color, flavor, and even aroma of a particular

variety of honey often differs depending on the nectar source of the flowers the honey bee visited. Bees generally patrol an area of several miles around their hives, dancing from flower to flower gathering fragrant nectar. So if the hives are surrounded by miles of sunflowers, for example, the bees will make sunflower honey. While you might not actually taste a sunflower in your honey, you will get unique flavors and colors that hint at the origin of the nectar.

Raw honey in Central Oregon Here in Central Oregon, you can find honey sourced from wildflowers, alfalfa, carrots, and rabbitbrush, to name just a few. We are lucky enough to have many markets and specialty stores, including Central Oregon Locavore and Ginger’s Kitchenware, carrying local, raw honey from all around the region.

We even have honey infusions here on the high desert. At Sweet Alchemy, Billings combines raw honey from the Hood River area with herbs and spices such as ginger, lavender, cayenne pepper, and lemon myrtle, boosting the nutritional value, and creating flavor combinations that are out of this world! Imagine Central Oregon Living | October 2015 | 19

lavender vanilla bean honey drizzled over baked brie, or lemon myrtle honey stirred into a cup of tea. Sandy suggests combining 2 tablespoons of her cayenne infused honey with 4 tablespoons of butter, and slathering over five or six ears of corn-on-the-cob hot of the grill. Yumm!

Whether you use honey for allergies, skincare, wound treatment, or simply to sweeten your morning tea, think twice about what you purchase.

“Make the investment in your health, and also your tastebuds, and choose local, raw honey,” advised Layla Fay McGlone, certified integrative nutrition coach.

“It can really help empower your health and your immune system.”

And it tastes really good, too!

Here in Central Oregon, you can find honey sourced from wildflowers, alfalfa, carrots, and rabbitbrush, to name just a few.

Photo by Julie Cockburn

20 | Central Oregon Living | October 2015

Food With ATTITUDE! Finding terroir in Central Oregon honey.

by Julie Cockburn, for The Bulletin Special Projects

On the edge of the Badlands east of Bend, surrounded by sage, juniper, and rabbitbrush, sits a small farm. Tucked away behind bales of straw is a collection of white bee hives, all branded, “Bend Bee Company.”

The Bend Bee Company was started by two Central Oregon natives who gathered a few bees, just so they could have some good honey to put in their tea. It turns out their honey was so tasty, that soon friends, neighbors, and even people they didn’t know wanted to get jars of the stuff.

But what makes the honey from Bend Bee Company so special? How is it different from any other honey out there. For that matter, what makes any food produced in a particular place different from the same food produced somewhere else?

We all know that pinot noir from California tastes different than pinot noir from Oregon. Maybe you’ve noticed that cheese from your favorite cheese maker tastes different than the same type of cheese made by another producer. But why? What’s the difference?

The answer is terroir (Pronounced ter'wär. The first syllable sounds just like the word tear - as in to tear something up. The second syllable gets the emphasis, and rhymes with car).

Terroir is one of those mysterious terms the wine industry has been tossing around for years, but has recently grown to encompass artisan foods, as well.

Loosely translated, terroir means a taste of place or a sense of place. The idea is that the soil, climate, environment, and even the folks who grow and process any food have an impact on how that food tastes. In other words,

food with terroir is food that knows where it’s from, and isn’t afraid to show it. It’s food with attitude!

When it comes to food with terroir, honey is near the top of the list. Honey can taste different from one season to the next, or even one farm to the next, depending on what plants the bees are pollinating, and how the honey is harvested and processed.

Canyon Davis, one of the Bend Bee Company proprietors, explained that nectars are different from alfalfa, to clover, to sage brush, to rabbitbrush.

“So as the bees visit those different types of plants, it’s kind of like a chef going into a kitchen, collecting a different variety of nectars … which makes a unique flavor of honey to your local area,” she said Back over on their small farm on the edge of the Badlands, the bees that make the honey really have a thing for pollinating the rabbitbrush that grows all over the region.

Rabbitbrush flowers are a vibrant yellow, and give off a sweet aromatic scent, with hints of resin, pine, and citrus. Rabbitbrush is also called chamisa, or officially Ericameria nauseosa -which hints to the fact that many people find the smell of rabbitbrush far from appealing!

Fortunately, the happy bees making the honey at Bend Bee Company know just what to do to leave the less-than-appealing bits behind, and to bring out the best flavors from the rabbitbrush. And the team who puts the tasty honey in the jars works to process it as minimally as possible, so all those delicious flavors that define rabbitbrush honey from the high desert of Central Oregon can make it home and into your cup of tea.

photo by Julie Cockburn

Experiencing rabbitbrush honey from the high desert The first thing you will notice when you grab a jar of honey from Bend Bee Company is the soft yellow color, hinting back to the vibrant yellow flowers where the bees found their nectar.

Open the jar and give it a smell. It smells like sweet flowers, with a bit of pine-y-ness.

And the taste? Yep, you guessed it! Hints of rabbitbrush come through here, too, with flavors of flowers, citrus, and the slightest, pleasant touch of pine.

If you are ready to try a taste of Central Oregon, the honey from Bend Bee Company is available seasonally at Ginger’s Kitchenware. There are also many other fine producers of high desert honey, showcasing significantly different flavors, available throughout the region.

Why not try a few high desert honeys side by side, and see if you can taste the difference? You might be surprised how much impact terroir can really have when it comes to making food with attitude!

Central Oregon Living | October 2015 | 21

GARDEN CALENDAR OCTOBER • Interested in becoming an OSU Master Gardener? OSU Master Gardeners are individuals that are trained volunteers in the areas of general gardening and plant problem solving. Applications for the class of 2016 are available. For information contact 541-548-6088 or go on line at http://extension.oregonstate.edu/deschutes/ to download an application.

• Are you seeing webbing in your trees this fall?

It may be fall webworm. For a small population prune out larvae and webbing. For larger population use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) when larvae first appear.

• Continue to water and mow your lawn minimally.

• At the end of October into November, blow out your automatic irrigation system for the winter.

• At the end of the month put down a “winterizer” fertilizer on your lawn at a rate of 2 lbs of nitrogen per 1000 square feet, using a soluble or mixed soluble slow release nitrogen fertilizer. A common winter fertilizer has an N-P-K of 10-514. You would need 10 lbs of product per 1000 square feet with this ratio.

• Spread two to four inches of compost or mulch on top of your vegetable garden.

• Harvest and store apples; keep at about 40 degrees F, moderate humidity.

• Pick you green tomatoes before a heavy frost hits them. Only mature green tomatoes can be ripened off the vine. Mature tomatoes are light green in color with a reddish tinge on the blossom end. The pulp inside of a mature tomato should be jelly-like, not firm. To ripen, wrap them individually in newspaper and place them in a box so they are not touching one another in a room at 60-70 degrees F. Check them every 3-4 days for rotten ones. They will ripen over a 3-4 week period.

• Save seeds from the vegetable and flower garden, dry and store.

• Time to go and pick out your pumpkins from the local growers for all of your fall festivities.

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• Harvest sunflower heads; use seed for birdseed by hanging the flowerheads upside from a structure or tree. The birds will get a tasty treat and you will get surprise sunflowers popping up next year. You can also toast the sunflower seeds and treat yourself.

• Cut back your perennials to 1.5 inches above the ground and with pine needles or wood bark mulch to protect the roots through the winter.

Some perennials that prefer additional mulch for winter protection include pincushion flower (Scabiosa), lavender (Lavendula), and veronica.

• Regular roses need special winter care including winter mulch. For more information check out the following rose care publication at: http:// ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1957/19854/ec1624-e.pdf • Pull up all dead plant materials, rake diseased leaves and remove all fallen branches. This will prevent insects and disease from overwintering in your landscape.

• Leave your ornamental grasses up in winter to provide winter texture in the landscape, cut them back to the ground in early spring.

• Prune your evergreen and conifers.

• Given the impending prediction for another dry winter it is critically important to provide a deep watering to your perennials trees and shrubs.

You may need to use a hose if you have already blown out your irrigation system. If we have warm temps and sunny days during the winter and the ground can accept water, give your plants a deep soak so they do not sustain damage from winter desiccation.

NOVEMBER • Plant a cover crop in your garden area to come up next spring. Try winter wheat, cereal rye, winter rye, triticale, winter barley, or winter peas.

• Plant a window garden of lettuce, chives, and parsley.

• Place mulch around berries for winter protection. Cover strawberry plants with clean straw to insulate them through the winter.

by Amy Jo Detweiler / Special to The Bulletin

• Store garden fertilizers and supplies in a safe, dry place, out of the reach of children.

• Start your compost pile for next fall. Do not use grass clippings or plant debris that may have pesticide residues, disease or insects in your compost pile.

• Wrap the trunks of young, think barked trees (maples, aspen, ash) in November, with paper tree wrap to prevent sunscald. Remove it in spring (April). Do not leave the tree wrap on thoughout the summer, it may harbor unwanted insects. Wrap your new trees 2-3 years in a row until the outer bark has thickened.

• Now is a good time to remove and discard paper wasp nests from the eaves of your home. At this time of year the nests may be empty. Wasps only occupy their nests for one season. Remove at dusk when wasp activity slows down.

WHAT’S NEW AT THE OSU EXTENSION SERVICE? • Did you have wormy apples this season? Now is good time to check out Project Happy Apples so you are ready to combat coddling moth on your fruit trees next spring. http://extension.oregonstate.edu/deschutes/project-happy-apples • Any late season gardening questions? Did you know the OSU Extension Service provides free plant clinic services to you in all three counties.

We are located in Redmond, Prineville, and Madras. We can help identify plants, weeds, insect and plant damage and suggest research-based management strategies. For more information call 541-548-6088.

CHECK OUT ONE OF OUR NEWEST PUBLICATIONS: EM 9115, Growing Hops in the Home Garden

by Brooke Getty, Shaun Townsend and Amy Jo Detweiler. Provides instructions for the home gardener on how to select, grow, harvest, and store hops. https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/em9115

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