Giving Back

19 Ways to Make a Difference in Portland

Volunteering opportunities across the city, from serving lunch to planting trees.

11/26/2025 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen

Squash the Competition

How to Grow a Giant Pumpkin and Paddle It to Regatta Victory

A reigning champion of Tualatin's annual race spills his hard-won tips.

09/20/2024 Illustrations by Sam Island By Rebecca Jacobson

Feature

The Death of the Wolf in Oregon

Last year, state permits sentenced nearly one-fifth of wolves in Oregon to death. Animal lives aren’t the only ones at stake.

08/20/2024 By Juhea Kim

Field Day

How a Local Mill’s Summer Camp Is Changing Our Relationship with Bread

A look inside Camp Camas, an invite-only gathering for advocates of local grain.

06/10/2024 By Adrian J. S. Hale

In Bloom

Wildflower-Covered Hillsides to Elegant Gardens, Oregon Blooms Are Booming

Tulips, azaleas, wild irises, begonias, roses ... whatever flower you’re thinking of, it’s probably growing right here in Oregon.

03/20/2023 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen

Truffles

Truffle Farming Has Arrived in Oregon. How Does It Work?

French truffles are now farmed in Oregon, and command the same price as imports. What does that mean for wild varieties? Could your dog learn to hunt them?

02/07/2023 By Matthew Trueherz

Agriculture

It's Not Your Imagination—This Is a Tough Year for Oregon Summer Fruit

A warm January, April's unexpected frost and an exceptionally rainy spring is making for watery strawberries and low yield orchard fruit.

07/15/2022 By Matthew Trueherz

Holidays

Oh Tannenbaum? Are You Out There, Somewhere?

The Christmas tree shortage in Oregon (and the boost in prices) isn't your imagination

12/13/2021 By Karly Quadros

Climate Change

This Portland-Based Company Wants to Make Your Milk Carbon Neutral

Bill Gates and Mark Cuban are big fans.

11/03/2021 By Julia Silverman

Farm Life

Sanctuary Farm Brings a Food Justice Focus to Produce

This volunteer-staffed farm feeds Black and brown Portlanders every week—many of them for free.

08/14/2020 With Jenni Moore Photography by Jenni Moore

Agriculture

These Groups Are Bringing Black-Led Farming and Food Justice to Portland

Black Futures Farm and Equitable Giving Circle have a clear goal: food sovereignty.

07/08/2020 By Tiara Darnell

Summer Plans

You Can Still Pick Your Own Fruit at Oregon Farms This Summer

Goodbye for a few months, Driscoll's—Oregon strawberries are coming in hot.

05/16/2020 By Julia Silverman

Meet the Couple Behind Northeast Oregon's Farm and Forge to Table Cookware

What do you get when you combine a farmer, a craftsman, and two foodies? Cookware that creates delicious meals, looks good on the table, and lasts a lifetime.

03/24/2020

News

Prepare to Pay for the New Prestige Apple, the Cosmic Crisp

Is this big-budget branded apple the Honeycrisp killer of which prophecy foretold?

10/23/2019 By Jennifer Krazit

Twisted Citrus

Is Venture Capital–Backed Imperfect Produce Squeezing Portland’s Small Farmers?

Local CSAs say the company has a transparency problem.

06/25/2019 By Seth Lorinczi

Whither Willamette?

Will Success Ruin Oregon Wine Country?

Money. Popularity. Climate change. The Willamette Valley is outgrowing its gritty roots.

09/11/2018 By Ramona DeNies

PDX Index

Oregon's Cider Industry Is Booming

Here are the hard numbers on the state's next booze boom.

09/11/2018 By Sam Pape

Secrets of the North Coast: Sunrise over Wheeler

Can Oregon's North Coast Switch Up Its Tourism Game?

On our state's shores, tourism is synonymous with summer. These northern communities want to convince you the hotness extends all year.

07/17/2018 By Ramona DeNies

PDX Index

How Will Trump's Tariff Tussle Affect Oregon?

Oregon exports nearly $4 billion worth of goods to China. What could the trade tiff mean for our state?

05/22/2018 By Sarah Hutchins

History

How the Father of Oregon Agriculture Launched a Doomed Quaker Sex Cult

He came west with 700 saplings and founded our state's mighty fruit industry. But Henderson Luelling—idealist, farmer, visionary, swinger—dreamed of planting stranger seeds.

02/27/2018 By Heather Arndt Anderson