Our Organic Northwest

Conservationists Disappointed by Aspects of New Oregon Forest Plan

EUGENE, OR - US Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced a new plan for managing federal forests in Western Oregon. Conservationists say the plan is not ideal.

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Less Trash Generated in the Down Economy

RICHLAND, WA - The down economy has one silver lining. Across the Northwest people are throwing away less trash these days. That’s good for the environment, but it’s also forcing some cities and counties to lay off landfill staff or raise dump prices.

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The Devil's Staircase in Oregon Close to Winning Federal Protection

PORTLAND, OR - A pristine piece of the Southern Oregon landscape is closer to winning federal protection. The Devil's Staircase is a rugged forested place in the southern-most edge of the Coast Range, east of Reedsport. From time to time, timber companies have identified it as a possible site for logging. But its terrain is so steep, and hard to navigate, that its old-growth trees have remained intact.

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Washington, Oregon Ask for Federal Help for Dairy Farmers

The Washington and Oregon state agriculture departments are asking the federal government to buy massive amounts of milk and cheese. Washington has lost 39 dairy farms this year and Oregon 16 as milk prices have fallen sharply across the nation.

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Drug Busts at Outdoor Pot Plantations On Record Pace

(photo: Boise County chief deputy sheriff Dale Rogers with a haul of marijuana. Courtesy of Boise County Sheriff’s Office.)

BOISE, ID - The Northwest’s vast acreage of public land is proving attractive to marijuana growers. We’re not talking a dozen plants here and there but thousands of plants per grow site, tended by armed drug gangs. Federal and local drug agents are on pace to match or break the region’s previous record for seizures from outdoor pot gardens. That was set just last year. But it’s unclear if the vigorous eradication campaign is having an effect on the weed’s price or availability on the street.

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Impending Frost Means Bad News for NW Gardens

This week the first frosts of the season are expected across the Northwest. That means green thumbs should bring in their sensitive plants, cover up their produce at night and say goodbye to their marigolds and basil. But the coming of cold weather isn’t all bad news for gardeners and farmers.

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