What does restoration really look like—and what happens when people develop a lasting relationship with the places they care for?
At this year’s 8th Annual Lake Oswego Urban Forest Summit, we’ll explore these questions through three short films featuring local restoration stories.
For Lake Oswego residents, helping trees and shrubs through the dry season begins with the soil beneath them. Healthy, organic-rich soil acts like a sponge, absorbing and holding rainwater so it remains available to plant roots during dry periods.
Restoration projects and home gardeners alike depend on locally adapted native seeds. By collecting seeds from plants growing in our communities, individuals can help supply native plants for their own landscapes, local seed libraries, schools, and conservation organizations.
By supporting student-led stewardship efforts, OLWC and LOSD are helping create a culture where environmental responsibility is part of everyday school life. These projects not only improve campus landscapes but also empower students to become active participants in caring for their watershed and community.
Every action we take, from how we manage our lawns to the plants we choose to grow, has an impact on the health of the watershed. By making thoughtful choices in our own landscapes, we contribute to something larger than ourselves: cleaner water, healthier habitat, and a more resilient community.
When we take time to not just look at nature but actually absorb it – sensing its manifest forms of beauty — it becomes attached inside us as a precious resource. A gift. Many in the community are already seeing what is at stake and are doing this reciprocal work of stewardship in many different ways. Please join them.