The Nature Conservancy invites anyone interested in preserving Cascade Head Preserve to participate in a volunteer work party taking place on Earth Day,  Saturday, April 22.  Located near Lincoln City, this spectacular coastal headland provides critical habitat for native prairie grasses, rare wildflowers, the rare Oregon silverspot butterfly and one of the few populations of the Cascade Head catchfly.  During this work party, volunteers will remove invasive Queen Anne’s lace, teasel and ox-eye daisy, non-native species that threaten the native plant communities on the preserve.

A wild food conference and teach-in using the wisdom of the ancients in the context of current realities. The focus of this event is on the roles seavegetables, shellfish, and coastal wild foods play in survival, primitive living, and simple living. Participants will learn about, use, and gain experience with a variety of wild edibles along with the techniques used to bring them to the table. Everyone attending will share their knowledge, ideas, methods, and wisdom based on their own experiences. Participants arrive and set up on Friday. The program begins Friday evening and ends on Monday noon. There is much more necessary information and forms to fill out at the web site: http://www.wildfoodadventures.com/nativeshores.html

Learn how to find, dig, transport, clean, and prepare gaper, butter and steamer clams during one of the lowest tides in 2006. Learn gathering regulations and limits. Learn how Native Americans gathered these same clams.

Learn how to find, dig, transport, clean, and prepare cockle clams during one of the lowest tides in 2006. Learn gathering regulations and limits. Learn how Native Americans gathered these same clams.

Learn how to find, dig, transport, clean, and prepare cockle clams during one of the lowest tides in 2006. Learn gathering regulations and limits. Learn how Native Americans gathered these same clams.

Dr Kallas will lead an expedition to the Pacific coast where participants will learn about, identify, and gather samples of wild sea vegetables and seashore edibles during low tide. Find sea vegetables including nori, kombu, sea lettuce, fucus, alaria, laminaria, stir fry seaweed and more. We'll also find and discuss mussels, coastal strawberry, salal, and other coastal edibles.

Dr Kallas will lead an expedition to the Pacific coast where participants will learn about, identify, and gather samples of wild sea vegetables and seashore edibles during low tide. Find sea vegetables including nori, kombu, sea lettuce, fucus, alaria, laminaria, stir fry seaweed and more. We'll also find and discuss mussels, coastal strawberry, salal, and other coastal edibles.
What to Bring: An Oregon Shellfish license (See below), "only if you plan to collect mussels" - which we'll see on this trip. Warm layers of clothing, a sack lunch, beverage, collecting bags or buckets that you can hang from your belt, scissors & wet-tolerant footwear (old wettable tennis shoes or gripping aquatic sports shoes). It's not a bad idea to bring a small backpack and a waist pack to carry things so that your hands are free while walking through the potentially slippery inter tidal zone. Whatever you wear, it must protect your knees, shins, and hands. No sandals! Prepare for variable coastal weather!
Meeting Site: Car pool and caravan from the Fred Meyer at 99W: At 5:45am, we leave from the Fred Meyer Parking lot in Tigard on 99W between I-5 and Hwy 217. The parking lot is at the intersection of SW 72nd Ave and 99W. We'll be meeting under the Fred Meyer sign at the entrance to the parking lot. Be ready to leave by 5:45am. By this time you should have checked in with Dr. Kallas, your car should have a full tank of gas and you should have gone to the restroom (force yourself - it's the last one you will see one for 2 hours).
Or... Meet us in Lincoln City at the Roads End State Parking Area. Be there by 7:40am and wait patiently. Directions to the parking area: At the North end of Lincoln City on Hwy 101 is Logan Road. Finding Logan Road: [Logan Road is between Lighthouse Square {Bi-Mart & Good Will} and Lincoln City Plaza {Rite Aid & Safeway}). Logan road is also across from a MacDonalds.] Prepare to go North about 1 mile on Logan Road (Roads End), on the way you'll pass the Chinook Winds Casino on your left. Continue along the winding road. On your left (just after the Dory Cove restaurant, around N 60th Ave) is the State's "Roads End" Parking area. Use the restrooms and be prepared to car pool the rest of the way. Wait there patiently in case we get delayed, get to know the other participants, read a book, change into your workshop cloths. We'll swing by soon to pick you up and proceed on to the workshop site. You must be there when we arrive or you will miss us. YOU MUST LET US KNOW where you will be meeting us (Tigard or Lincoln City) and a cel phone number if you have one (in case of an emergency)!

Dr Kallas will lead an expedition to the Pacific coast where participants will learn about, identify, and gather samples of wild sea vegetables and seashore edibles during low tide. Find sea vegetables including nori, kombu, sea lettuce, fucus, alaria, laminaria, stir fry seaweed and more. We'll also find and discuss mussels, coastal strawberry, salal, and other coastal edibles.

Volunteers Needed at Cox Island Preserve Saturday-Sunday August 13-14. The Nature Conservancy invites anyone interested in maintaining Cox Island Preserve to participate in an overnight volunteer work party. Located 2 miles east of Florence in the Siuslaw River, this low elevation saltmarsh island is visited by over 80 species of waterfowl and other birds. Volunteers will be helping to control invasive saltmarsh cordgrass (Spartina patens) in order to protect the native wetland vegetation. Participants should bring camping supplies, food, water, work gloves, rubber boots and appropriate clothing for the weather.