Columbia Springs Summer Camp Registering Now!

Kids take nature into their own hands at Columbia Springs' Nature Nuts Summer Camp!


It's not too late to register the kids in your life for Columbia Spring's popular "Nature Nuts" summer day camp.  In fact, register for our July 26-30th week of camp by July 1st and receive a $50 discount off your registration total! 


From 9am-3pm the week of July 26-30th, campers entering 2nd-5th grades will have the opportunity to actively and creatively explore the natural world that abounds at Columbia Springs.  Campers will discover the Northwest ecosystems through hands-on science and experience outdoor adventures through nature hikes, fun games, recycled arts projects, and much more!


Cost is $150/camper. $50 sibling discount for each additional camper and needs-based scholarships available. Register your camper for our July 26-30th week of camp by July 1st and receive a $50 discount off of your total registration.  


To register your camper today or for more information follow the link below...


http://www.columbiasprings.org/events/camps.html 

Help spread the word and get more kids out into nature this summer... 

There are also still volunteer opportunities available for those interested in being a Camp Counselor. Email volunteer@columbiasprings.org for more information. 

Local Wine!

The wineries of Southwest Washington have formed a cohesive group, aptly named Southwest Washington Wineries. Winery info, events and winery locations are all published on the new Southwest Washington Wineries web site. What a fine resource for all of us fermented grape juice devotees!

Check out their very spiffy web site, follow them on Facebook and be sure to get out and patronize our local wine makers!

Move Over Whole Foods...New Brick & Mortar Food Markets Are Coming to Vancouver!

Looks like residents of East and West Vancouver will be enjoying easier access to good, locally grown/produced foods later this year.  Chuck's Produce & Street Market (an odd name for a store that will be located inside the old Joe's building) is currently hiring and looking to open soon.

And in my hood on the WESTSIIIIIIIIIDE, longtime local food advocates and activists, Heather Lehman and Sunrise O'Mahoney will be opening Little Luna Market soon as well. Thank you, ladies!

I'm thinking the two markets will be as dissimilar as Whole Foods and People's Food Coop, but both are aiming to boost access and support for local agriculture...and That's a Good Thing! (Thank you, Martha.)

No web presence for Chuck's yet (I still think they need some marketing help), but you can visit Little Luna on the web and I recommend following Little Luna on Facebook too.

Vancouver Coop du Jour Urban Chicken Tour - 7.17.10

What:

A fun self-guided chicken coop tour through the Uptown Vancouver neighborhoods

When:

July 17, 2010

12:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Where:

Urban chicken coops in uptown Vancouver, WA

Arnada, Carter Park, Hough, and Shumway Neighborhoods

Cost:

The $10 tickets for the event go on sale the last week in June at Mint Tea (2014 Main St) and Arnada Naturals (1705 Broadway). 

A map of coop locations and wristband passes will be available for pickup the day of the event at ticket locations.

All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Hough Foundation.

How:

Tour maps and wrist passes will be available the day of the event at ticket locations

Walk, bike, or run your own route at your own pace

Why:

To learn about raising urban poultry for food

To strengthen our community ties

For more info please visit the official Coop du Jour website.

Pizza Della Terra

Despite the number of pizza joints doing business here in Clark County, it's been almost impossible to find a good pie. Not any longer. Della Terra is an oasis in the North Bank pizza desert. The pizzas are cooked in a very cool, custom built, wood-fired pizza oven on a trailer. The crust is thin, crisp on the outer and a nice chew on the inner and the toppings are gently applied in a balanced and flavorful manner. We had the Pizza Bianca (a white pizza with olives, cheese and olive oil...no tomato sauce) and it was fantastic. You can get a good pie at 360 in E. Vancouver/Camas or you could drive out to Bingen and get a fantastic pie at the Solstice Wood Fired Cafe...but if you want a great, locally made pizza, seek out Della Terra.

You'll have to scan the vendor lists at local farmers' markets, craft fairs and public events to catch up with the folks at Della Terra. But I guarantee that this is one scavenger hunt that will reward you well in the end.

Della Terra appears regularly at the Camas Farmers' Market, will be at the Esther Short Park Noontime Concert series throughout the summer is setting up shop for the weekend of July 24th & 25th at the Confluence Vineyard "Artists in the Vineyard" event in Ridgefield.

Community Garden Vandalized...

This sort of thing pisses me off and breaks my heart. All I can say is whoever did this should be shamed in the town square then made to work in the community gardens 24 hours/week for a couple of seasons.

Garden dreams uprooted by vandals
By Laura McVicker
Columbian staff writer
Wednesday, June 2, 2010

FIRCREST — A year ago, LeeAnn O’Neil-Ocampo had a vision for Leroy Haagen Community Park in east Vancouver: a plot of fresh soil for neighbors to harvest vegetables.

That vision took form with the opening of a community garden earlier this spring at the park at Northeast 136th Avenue and Northeast Ninth Street.

What the Fircrest Neighborhood Association secretary didn’t foresee for her slice of Mother Earth? Senseless vandalism.

The morning of May 7, community gardeners arrived to find vegetables ripped from the ground and tossed aside. Wooden boards supporting raised plant beds were unearthed and dismantled. String separating the garden plots was yanked out.

Link to Entire Article