This year, learn by doing at BRING. We’re hosting hands-on workshops on select Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Materials are provided while supplies last. Workshops are free to participate, with a $5 suggested donation for cost of materials. NEW DATE! July 20 Make it! Birdhouses + Bat Houses Birds and bats are an important part of our ecosystem. They can also be a joy to observe in the yard. Craft birdhouses and bat houses from reusable materials during this do-it-yourself building workshop. All houses are built from pre-made and pre-drilled kits. Quieroz Taquiera truck will be on site

Whether it’s our desire to reduce the impact of climate change, make our state cleaner and safer, or fight bias and hate, we all have a role to play in making our world a better place. Sometimes this may be as simple as speaking kindly to someone at the store or deciding to buy one product over another because it has less packaging. Sometimes it may be much more significant. “A rising tide lifts all boats,” as they say. At BRING, we believe that helping other businesses and nonprofits helps us advance our mission to provide vision, leadership, and tools

by Sophia Bennett Everywhere you look these days, it seems plastic has a big target on its flimsy side. The Eugene City Council recently passed an ordinance that would disallow restaurants from distributing some single-use plastic items, including lids, straws, and condiment packages, unless a person requests them, and HB 2509 would prohibit retail establishments throughout Oregon from providing single-use checkout bags (following in the footsteps of cities such as Eugene, Corvallis, Bend, and Portland). Companies have come up with all kinds of alternatives to plastic packaging, including cardboard shipping containers, biodegradable packing peanuts, and banana leaves as wrappers for