Category: Places

Slow it, spread it, sink it

The recent rains have me thinking about the permaculture water mantra, “slow it. Spread it. Sink it.” I’m in awe of the capacity of my gutters and our stormwater systems to whisk water away. Still, I fear we may be doing our community and environment a disservice with this approach. By concentrating all water from… Continue reading Slow it, spread it, sink it

My beloved Oregon is in drought

My beloved Oregon is in drought. 71% of Oregon is in severe drought, 26% extreme drought, and 4% “exceptional” drought (the dark patch in the middle). Basically, the spring rains never came. Oregon, despite our reputation actually gets very little rain in the summer. Prescribed burning over the last 6 months, and the scars of… Continue reading My beloved Oregon is in drought

“The Soil Killer” Invasive Species Lesser Celandine.

My Portland, Oregon sidewalk median strip is full of invasive species Lesser Calendine. The species is so prolific it’s one of 7 plants not allowed in Portland City compost (we have a city wide compost pick up program). It’s destroyed entire ecosystems in the NE United States where it was first introduced from Europe. The… Continue reading “The Soil Killer” Invasive Species Lesser Celandine.

Ode to leaf day

I don’t move my car on leaf day. I move it the night before. Several neighbors slept in and moved their cars, but by 9 am most of the work is done and their spots won’t be cleaned. Several neighbors don’t move their cars at all. Several neighbors sleeping in their vans probably didn’t get the mailer about leaf… Continue reading Ode to leaf day

3 Easy Ways to Make Your Trip to Hawaii More Environmentally Friendly

In Hawaiian, the word ‘kōkua’ is translated to mean help without personal gain — this spirit of sacrifice for the betterment of the community is a Hawaiian value you can apply throughout your trip to lessen your environmental impact. tl;dr Pick up trash – especially plastic Use less energy Only use REEF SAFE Sunscreen Pick… Continue reading 3 Easy Ways to Make Your Trip to Hawaii More Environmentally Friendly

The Insistence of 🌊. (Poem)

The Insistence of 🌊 waves. Crash lively and oblivious to ants on the rock.Slowly take with soft claws obsessed with persistence. Was it wind, or is it you that brought this might?Matters little for waves always win. I wrote this poem after visiting Nakalele Blowhole in Maui, Hawaii. The blowhole is on the north east… Continue reading The Insistence of 🌊. (Poem)

Evening Stroll in Red Rock (Poem)

Evening Stroll in Red Rock By Nathan Corliss (Originally published to Facebook June 6th, 2015) First it was weevils, then flies; A song bird taunted me and my dogA clan of ravens appeared Then Desert Jack, chose the roadAs his place to forageIn front of me. More was therenot revealed Next time you visit Las… Continue reading Evening Stroll in Red Rock (Poem)

Oregon Octopuses (Poem)

Oregon OctopusesSlink slowly Along underwater hillsides and canyons Their might (like ours) Is in their intelligence And malleability By Nathan Corliss 4-5-19 This poem was written in response to a lovely tweet by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, which you can see here: Good morning and happy Friday! This juvenile giant pacific octopus… Continue reading Oregon Octopuses (Poem)

Portland Snowstorm 2019: How to Have a Fabulous Time When in Snows

Covered in snow and ice, Portland, Oregon, can be a frozen hellscape, or a winter paradise. How it works for Portlanders comes down completing some essential snowy weather preparation or lack there of. Here are 6 things one can do to have a great time when it snows in Portland. Snow is coming… …what will… Continue reading Portland Snowstorm 2019: How to Have a Fabulous Time When in Snows