May 2026 Sunriver Scene - Flipbook - Page 20
Save the dates for upcoming FireFree events
With predictions for a dangerous fire
season, it is time to clean up your property and recycle debris for free during
FireFree collection sites in May and June
at the following locations.
• Sunriver Compost Site (Lake Penhollow): Friday, May 1 and Saturday,
May 2, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Knott Landfill, Bend: May 15 to
May 24, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• La Pine Southwest Transfer Station:
June 5 to June 13, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(closed Sunday)
FireFree reminds everyone to look
around their property especially in the
“home ignition zone” where glowing
embers can ignite spot fires in vulnerable areas and can spread flames to a
home or structure.
So, what can you do to help protect
your home from fire:
• Make sure gutters and roof valleys
are free from debris like pine needles and
leaves. Clean them out. Despite a metal
or asphalt shingle roof, the buildup of
gutter debris provides necessary fuel for
the glowing embers to ignite adjacent
fascia boards or siding, most often made
of wood.
• Do shrubs and weeds provide a path
of fuel for fire to reach trees or your
home? Reduce shrubs and other “ladder
fuels” within the immediate five-foot
zone around your home to reduce the
threat of ground fire ignitions.
• Do you have arborvitae or juniper?
These are required to be removed in
Sunriver as it is highly flammable. Bitterbrush or manzanita should be at least
15 feet from structures and out of tree
drip lines.
• Are there things that can catch fire on
your deck or patio or near an enclosure?
Remove weeds, shrubs or any combustible materials from around, under or on
top of your deck, patio or wood fence/
enclosures. This includes toys, planters,
construction materials, patio furniture
and cushions along with even small piles
of pine needles or leaves.
• Is your woodpile near your home or
next to other combustible vegetation?
In Sunriver, woodpiles should be at least
20 feet away from all structures or other
combustibles.
Visit the FireFree at www.firefree.
org for information about how you
can prepare your property for wildfire
season. The SROA website also has a
home assessment checklist you can use
to walk your property and identify vulnerable areas.
Visit www.sunriverowners.org/
propertypreparedness for information.
Central Oregon nonprofit offers sliding-scale produce share
A Sisters-based nonprofit is taking a
different approach to community-supported agriculture by offering a weekly
produce share where anyone can choose
the lowest price, no questions asked.
Seed to Table Oregon has opened signups for its 2026 Produce Share, a farm
share program that provides fresh, local,
organically grown vegetables from May
through November. The program operates on an open sliding-scale model, with
shares starting at $26 per week, while the
average weekly value of produce is closer
to $40 or more. In addition, to market
value the share offers “Pay It Forward”
opportunity for households in need of
support. Unlike most sliding-scale programs, there is no application or income
verification required.
“We’ve intentionally removed that
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MAY 2026 SUNRIVER SCENE
barrier,” Founder and Executive Director
of Seed to Table Oregon Audrey Tehan
said. “If a lower price works for your
household, you can choose it. We trust
people to decide what they can pay and
we want them to feel good about it.”
The approach reflects a growing effort
among community-based food organizations to expand access without adding
complexity or stigma.
For those who want to contribute
more, there are options to “pay it forward” and further invest in Seed to
Table’s work across the community.
Each week, participants select their
own vegetables by choosing either six
or 10 items from a seasonal spread that
typically includes 12 to 22 options. All
produce is grown in Sisters on Seed
to Table’s four-acre educational farm
using organic practices. Pickup is available in Sisters, Bend and at the Sisters
Farmers Market, with limited delivery
options. The program also integrates
federal nutrition benefits. SNAP/EBT
is accepted and Double Up Food Bucks
allows participants to stretch their dollars further.Programs like this reflect a
growing interest in flexible, communitysupported food systems that prioritize
both affordability and local connection.
In 2025, Seed to Table grew more than
100,000 pounds of produce and served
more than 2,000 households across
Central Oregon. For many, the impact
goes beyond the food.
“I love how the share brings our
family together to cook and eat,” one
participant said. Others say it helps them
eat more vegetables, try new foods and
feel more connected to the farm and
the community. Nearly everyone who
joins says it increases the health and
wellness of their household. While the
weekly produce is the most immediate
benefit, participation also supports Seed
to Table’s broader work. From hands-on
education for local students and keeping
the Sisters Farmers Market thriving to
fresh food access for neighbors across
Central Oregon.
“This is about more than a weekly box
of vegetables,” Tehan said. “It’s about creating a system where fresh, local food is
something more people can consistently
access.” As the 2026 season approaches,
Seed to Table is encouraging early signups, noting that availability is limited.
Visit seedtotableoregon.org/produceshare-sign-up to learn more or register.
