CCC Offers Free Wildlife And Water Friendly Garden Series (Photo) -01/13/25
OREGON CITY – The Clackamas Community College Environmental Learning Center is hosting free weekly wildlife and water friendly garden workshops – just in time for the spring gardening season. Each week, industry professionals will discuss gardening for wildlife and water quality, with an overarching theme on climate resilience and the impacts of climate change on wildlife. Workshops will be held virtually Thursdays, Jan. 23-March 6, noon-1 p.m., with an option for in-person screenings. Learn more about the workshops at https://bit.ly/ELCgardenseries2025.
Jan. 23, Trees for climate resilience and watershed health
Trees provide many benefits, including providing habitat for wildlife, sequestering carbon and helping to reduce stormwater runoff. They are also one of the greatest defenses against climate change. How are trees coping? What does stress look like, and which species are more resilient? Learn how to manage and nurture trees.
Jan. 30, The impact of land use changes and climate on bird species
Learn how climate change is affecting bird species across the U.S., including research on how to better manage forests and land to help reduce climate-induced declines of bird populations.
Feb. 6, Habitat gardening for pollinators in a changing world
Learn about some of the ways that pollinators and other invertebrates may be affected by climate change and actions that everyone can take to help protect pollinator biodiversity, including gardening to create a climate-smart habitat around our homes and communities.
Feb. 13, Soil: The magic ingredient
Healthy soil, rich in organic matter and microbial life, is great for our plants but it also helps to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events. Learn how soils form, store water and nutrients, and how to apply this knowledge to backyard gardening.
Feb. 20, Plant tolerances to weather extremes
As the temperate climate continues to evolve, winters have more concentrated rain events, longer freezing temperatures and ice storms. On the flip side, summers are drier with hotter temperature extremes. Is this the new normal? Explore the impacts these effects have on plants, what to do to combat it and how to choose the right plant for the right place, while keeping water conservation in mind.
Feb. 27, Balancing fire resistance, wildlife habitat and water conservation goals
Hotter, drier and longer periods of drought create parched landscapes by summer’s end, leading to hazardous fire conditions. Explore how to balance fire-resistant landscaping with wildlife habitat gardening. Incorporate best practices for reducing fire risks of the home through design and maintenance, while also achieving water conservation and wildlife habitat goals.
March 6, Gardening for amphibians
Amphibians need clean water and upland habitat to breed and thrive. Learn how local frogs and salamanders can benefit from leaves, logs and water features and in return, keep down insect populations in your yard.
For questions, email michelle.scholz@clackamas.edu. The workshop series is sponsored by Clackamas County Water Environment Services and in partnership with Clackamas River Basin Council, Clackamas River Water Providers, Oak Lodge Water Services and Tryon Creek Council.
About the Environmental Learning Center
The Environmental Learning Center has a rich history as an educational resource for Clackamas Community College, regional schools, industry and the community. Located on the former site of a Smucker's processing plant, the center was created to demonstrate what people could do to reclaim industrial sites, address stormwater issues and restore wildlife habitats in urban areas. Each year, thousands of people visit to explore the 5-acre site and learn about watershed health. The site serves as an important stormwater facility for the college campus and provides critical wetland habitat for resident and migratory birds, such as the great blue herons, cedar waxwings and mergansers. For more information about the Environmental Learning Center, visit CCC's Environmental Learning Center webpage.
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