Great compost Charlie Brown!

Wondering what to do with left-over fall pumpkins? Take a tip from Charlie and go brown. Turn your pumpkin, kitchen scraps and other fall debris into compost for your yard and garden. Compost rich soil grows healthier, more productive plants and reduces weeds.

When food waste and yard debris are sent to the landfill they don't have the right combination of oxygen, moisture and nutrients to break down. They also generate methane gas—a greenhouse gas over 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

If you don't have a compost pile at home, check with your trash hauler to see if they accept pumpkins in yard debris bins. Or you can roast and eat the pumpkin seeds, make soup out of the innards and pie out of the pumpkin itself. Mmm, mmm gourd!

Naturescape from the ordinary

Attend a FREE Naturescaping for Clean Rivers workshop to learn how to naturescape your yard. Learn about native plants, natural landscapes and water-friendly gardening practices. Ultimately you'll use less water, fewer chemicals and attract beneficial wildlife to your yard.

• Naturescaping Basic Workshop
  Saturday, December 6, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro
  Call (503) 797-1842 or email naturescaping@yahoo.com to register by December 2.

Look for more Basic and Site Planning I workshops this spring to teach you how to map your property, assess your garden style and work on landscape scenarios. The Naturescaping for Clean Rivers workshops are sponsored by the Tualatin Basin Partners for Clean Water.

Tree for you, tree for me

Two million trees will be planted in 20 years within the Tualatin River Watershed as part of Tree for All: Community Stream Planting Challenge. Do your part to improve water quality, fish habitat and the environment—take part in an upcoming planting event.

Tree for All is a partnership of the Cities within the Tualatin River Watershed, Clean Water Services, SOLV, Friends of Trees and helpful volunteers.

Don't leaf it alone

Be rain ready this fall. Help prevent flooding and protect our watershed by keeping storm drains (which lead to the nearest stream or river) clear of debris. Bring your leaves, grass clippings and a can of food to our 16th Annual Leaf Disposal and Food Drive on November 22 and December 6 at Sunset and Aloha High Schools from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This program is part of Clean Water Services' Surface Water Management which improves water quality, protects fish habitat and manages flooding. The Leaf Disposal is free and for Washington County residential use only. No commercial operations please. For more information call our Leaf Line at (503) 547-8116. The Cities of Hillsboro, Tigard and Beaverton also provide free leaf drop-off sites.

With our best efforts, rising water may still occur. Sand and sandbags are available through Washington County. Call ahead to confirm hours of operation and supply.