Mulch ado about something

Fall gardening tips + tasks for Portland, OR

A small group of people stands around raised garden beds in a courtyard.

Residents of the Goat Blocks apartment complex can pick herbs and vegetables from the on-site gardens. | Photo by @goatblocks

Fall gardening tasks aren’t all double, double toil and trouble — working outside can be a great chance to soak up some sun before the rains return to the Portland area. And all your sweat equity will have big returns in the spring.

Whether you tend a community plot, own property, or grow potted plants in an apartment, these tips and resources will help you stay on top of your to-do list.

🍎 Harvest

Pluck the last round of warm-weather crops like corn and tomatoes, and keep an eye on apples, pears, and fall raspberries. Root vegetables like carrots and beets can be left in the ground and harvested through winter and into spring.

🍂 To tidy, or not to tidy

Fallen leaves can be gathered and composted, shredded and spread over beds, or residents can take advantage of PBOT’s free Leaf Day services. Withered veggie plants and annuals can also be added to the composter (as long as they aren’t diseased) — but cut them at their base instead of uprooting them if you follow no-till methods. Or leave them in place through winter to provide shelter and food for wildlife.

Raised garden beds in a row with a shed and trees in the background. — Looking for a green space to tend? Get in touch with Albina Cooperative Garden.

🌷 Pruning, planting, protecting

It’s not yet time to prune trees, but you can trim perennials using bypass shears.

Trees, shrubs, and perennials can be planted or moved (as long as it doesn’t get really cold really early). So-called “cover crops” like fava beans and certain clovers can be planted to provide food for pollinators during the off-season while improving soil nutrients — but don’t start them too close to your area’s average frost date. Overwintering veggies like garlic and shallots, as well as spring bulbs, can go in the ground now.

Fall is a great time to give the lawn some TLC by over-seeding patchy areas with a spreader and adding lime to boost soil pH. Your gardens will also thank you for a fresh layer of mulch, which prevents soil erosion and compaction, and protects against extreme temperatures.

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Monday, October 17

Black Lagoon Pop-Up Bar | Mon., Oct. 17 - Mon., Oct. 31 | Times vary | Hey Love, 920 E. Burnside St., Portland | Free | Sip on otherworldly concoctions at this “creepy-as-hell” Halloween pop-up bar.
“Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts” | Mon., Oct. 17 + Sun., Oct. 23 | Times vary | Portland Film Festival, 1241 Lloyd Center, Portland | $15.00 | This film examines the Civil War and civil rights battles fought by Black cavalry troops.

Tuesday, October 18

“Hocus Pocus” Halloween Bash | Tue., Oct. 18 | 8 p.m. | Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., Portland | $40.00 | This hour-long musical tribute show directed by “Hocus Pocus 2" star Ginger Minj will put a spell on you.

Wednesday, October 19

Food Preservation - Canning Fall Fruits | Wed., Oct. 19 | 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Columbia Pacific Food Bank, 1421 Columbia Blvd., Saint Helens | Free | Learn how to safely preserve autumn’s bounty.

Thursday, October 20

The Who | Thu., Oct. 20 | 7:30 p.m. | Moda Center, 1 N. Center Court St., Portland | $37.00 - $148.00 | Singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist/songwriter Pete Townshend will rock the house on their “The Who Hits Back!” 2022 tour.

Friday, October 21

Haunted Scooter Ride | Fri., Oct. 21 | 6 p.m. | Irving Park, 707 NE Fremont St., Portland | Free | Decorate your scooter and don a costume to visit seven of Northeast Portland’s spookiest houses with food carts and beer waiting for you at the end.

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

FIND SOMETHING FUN THIS WEEK

Weather

69º | Partly cloudy | 8% chance of rain

Sunrise + Sunset

Rise: 7:29 a.m.
Set: 6:21 p.m.

Outdoors

Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation orders were issued Sun., Oct. 16, for some residents near the Nakia Creek Fire burning in Clark County. Visit the Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency website for the latest information. (KOIN)

Biz

Kroger and Albertsons Companies Inc. are merging. The transaction, expected to close in early 2024, will reportedly result in food being delivered fresher and faster to grocery stores, including Portland’s 10 Fred Meyer locations. 🛒 (Portland Business Journal)

Family

Unpaid caregivers can now register for Washington County’s 19th annual Family Caregiver Conference. The conference — to be held at three in-person locations and virtually in November — will include workshops and support for relatives caring for older adults, those with dementia, and older adults raising children. (Beaverton Valley Times)

Community

The Oregon Humane Society has opened a new community veterinary hospital in Portland where pet owners can take their fur babies for primary care services priced on a sliding scale. The hospital at 7865 NE 14th Pl. will offer everything from surgery, dentistry, preventative care, and urgent care. 🐶 (OPB)

Arts

A new contemporary art exhibit at the Portland Art Museum puts Portlanders on literal pedestals. “Jeffrey Gibson: They Come From Fire” is a three-part installation — panels outside the museum cover Native American history in Oregon, while a mixed-media installation and performance-based piece inside spotlight the many faces of our community. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Listen

Give it up for the Chainsaw Rabbits. Four of the band’s five members are nurses at OHSU (and the fifth is married to a nurse). Born this summer after a hard couple of years in the healthcare industry, the indie-rock band plays original material and cover songs. Nurses rock. 🩺 (Portland Tribune)

Plan Ahead

Deck the halls with baby goats dressed as reindeer. Every weekend from Sat., Nov. 26-Sat., Dec. 24, Portland Goat Parties will offer Baby Goat Reindeer Visits, complete with photo ops and carrot snacks. Sign up online for a 20-minute visit for $50. 🐐

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Brainy days are here to stay

Portland State University researchers ranked among the world’s most-cited

A sky bridge on the PSU campus reads "Let knowledge serve the city."

PSU researchers are taking the message of this campus skybridge to the next level. | Photo by Parker Knight

Portland: the home of top-notch cuisine, iconic bridges, and big brains. A newly updated database of the world’s top-cited scientists is shining a spotlight on some local researchers.

The database includes 100,000 of the most-cited authors across all scientific fields based on several very complex data sets. Among this list of super-intelligent beings are 35 Portland State University faculty members. Here are five of them:

Miguel Figliozzi — Contributed to a recent report examining travel time reliability as it impacts people’s travel behavior.
Charlotte Fritz — Authored a study that found managers especially benefit from getting into the right mindset before starting a workday.
Ephraim Suhir — Professor specializing in applied mathematics physics and applied probability.
Leslie Hammer — Part of PSU’s No. 1-ranked (nationally) Industrial and Organizational Psychology program and contributor to studies on mental health within the military.
Berrin Erdogan — Studies workplace relationships and was recently cited in an Oregonian article on Portland Timbers and Thorns owner Merrit Paulson.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Cambrie.

Editor’s pick: Gracie’s Apizza in the St. Johns neighborhood has generated a lot of buzz for a reason — I recently tried its signature Tomato Pie and I can confirm: it’s knock-your-socks-off delicious.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? Prepare thyself, brave adventurer, for a coffee-fueled quest of whimsical proportions.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Cambrie Juarez, Ben McBee, Trevor Peters, Britt Thorson, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Terri Kiesenhofer | Advertise with us.

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