(By Ashley Chesser, Executive Director) Though I dabbled with growing flowers and veggies in a community garden plot in college, I didn’t start gardening in earnest until about eight years ago when I moved into a house with a yard. In the first several years, I added raised beds and planted a mixture of vegetables, berries, flowers, and ornamental plants. I brought in healthy, organic soil and had successful growing seasons with plump veggies and vibrant blooms. But by the third year, many plants weren’t looking so happy. Continue reading

(By Dominica Navarro, Healthy People & Communities Program Manager) Above, left: Dominica and Ana at a PPE distribution event in Hermiston, OR. | Right: Informational materials to help spread the word. ¡Léelo en español! In collaboration with partners and community leaders, NCAP is launching a series of participatory events this winter for Spanish-speaking farm workers and landscapers across six counties in Oregon. Our goal is to help reduce the harms of pesticide use in the workplace by providing tools for workers to champion safety.  By working alongside community leaders, such as Ana Elisa Wilson, we are able to address the true needs of our communities.  Continue reading

(By Sharalyn Peterson, Healthy Wildlife & Water Program Manager) As I look out over the fields of wilted flowers and vegetable crops on my farm, I reflect on the record temperatures we’ve experienced across the Pacific Northwest this summer. Historic heat wave and drought events are becoming more common with the warming of our climate. The Northwest has warmed substantially, nearly 2°F since 1900.1 Higher temperatures create imbalances in natural systems, causing more outbreaks and damage from unwanted pests and weeds. This leads to increased pesticide use as there are more pests to manage.2 Our new Pesticides and the Climate Crisis infographic (below) shows the relationship between pesticide use and climate change, and its effects on environmental decline and human health problems. Continue reading

Photo on right by Arlie Sommer, doubledutchphotography.com NCAP said goodbye to several esteemed board members recently. Marianne Ober joined the board in 2016 and led NCAP through a staffing transition in 2018, and as Board President through the 2020 pandemic year. She steps away to allow more time for her career as a staff attorney at Legal Aid Services of Oregon. Her thoughtful, people-oriented approach to supporting the NCAP mission and strategic visioning will be missed. Continue reading

(By Archie Adams, guest writer, with NCAP staff) Do you have trouble keeping your plants alive during dry Pacific Northwest summers? Do you wish you didn't have to water so much? Start planning now for a drought resistant garden in the heat of summer. “Water wise” is a water and plant management practice that emphasizes using vegetation that has lower water needs, and grouping them by water needs to encourage more efficient water use. Water wise ensures you have beautiful plants in your garden even during the dry season. Additionally, native plants suited to your particular Northwest ecosystem will help create a balance of pest bug and prey so that no harmful pesticides are needed. Continue reading