If you have any interest in green building concepts and love touring homes as much as I do then Don’t Miss The 2010 Build it Green Home Tour!  I look forward to this event all year long, so much that this will be my fourth year participating.  

If you think you’d enjoy this tour even more if you could attend with others passionate or curious about green building, feel free to join GreenPDX in a large group caravan by clicking here:  http://www.meetup.com/greenpdx/

Otherwise, get your tix online here, grab a friend and head out to be a sponge.  $15 adults; $10 car-free/students/honored citizens; FREE for children under 14

I know, I know - there are SO many good eats along Alberta that it’s hard to try them ALL, but I highly recommend a trip to the tucked away Cafe Hibiscus.  Being just around the corner of our office, I go there often - yet I can’t seem to get away from ordering the same few favorites again and again.  (Try the Tuna Salad made with their famous dressing - I crave it – very satisfying!)

Cafe Hibiscus now also sells their very worthy bottled Martin’s Swiss Dressing at the Dean and DeLuca  store in Napa Valley.  Go check out this tasty sauce out at our local cafe- you’ll be glad you did. 

http://www.martinsswissdressing.com/

At 14th and Alberta  (just behind ZoomCare)

Check out this well maintained sweet “grandma and grandpa house” on NE Simpson just blocks from Fernhill Park!  The 1947 home is 2952 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2 full baths; 2 beds, 1 bath, a full kitchen, spacious living room and a fireplace on each floor.  The full walkout basement with large windows and great natural light has separate entrance on the side perfect for a rental or a co-housing situation.   The basements’ funky and fun retro kitchen really stole my heart!  All hardwoods and trim are in great conditions making the pride in ownership of this home is obvious.   The property is 1/3 of an acre with a large deep backyard perfect for your urban farm and currently a pool.  Listed at $349,000 with Kirsten Jenkins of RE/MAX Equity Group.  For a private showing or more information call Jaime Arb Haessig at 503-730-7205 or email at jaime@livingroomrealtors.com.

It’s not too late to enjoy a fresh crop of vegetables from your garden.  Here’s what the Maritime Northwest Garden Guide (Produced by Seattle Tilth) says you can plant here in August:  cilantro, onions, broccoli raab, chinese cabbage, cress, radish, turnips, leaks,  spinach, swiss chard, chicory, endive, escarole, lettuce, arugula, cabbage, mustard, bok choy, miners lettuce, kale, broccoli, and cauliflower.  We got our starts at Portland Nursery at 5050 SE Stark, but there are plenty of great, local Nurseries and Garden stores to shop. Some of my favorite plant places to wander are:  Marbott’s Greenhouse at 1808 NE Columbia Blvd, Pistils Nursery at 3811 N. Mississippi, Artemisia at 128 SE 28^th, Bamboo Craftsman Co, at 3528 NE 50^th.  Your local, weekly Farmer’s Market is also a great resource for plant starts.  Plant now and harvest in the next few months.

Festival features:

• Local, sustainable food and beverages
• Organic and sustainable wine and Hopworks beer
• Live music
• Fun, ecofriendly kids’ activities
• Workshops on sustainable living
• Local vendors of sustainable, organic products and services

Purchase tickets and learn more about this upcoming family friendly event in SE Portland at www.muddyboot.org.