Mount Hood

‌Give a big green thumbs up for gardening

These five YouTube channels make gardening easy-peasy 

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

The saying that “April showers bring May flowers” is especially true in Oregon, with the sunny spring weather being pretty touch and go. In between the rainy days, gardening at home can be an explorative and rewarding hobby; anyone can cultivate their own garden, even if they have no green thumb or outdoor space. There are YouTube channels dedicated to all things indoor horticulture, and ones that teach the very basics of planting, harvesting and tending to a garden. Poking around on YouTube can help anyone feel prepared for the upcoming planting season, and these channels are some great go-to’s: 

  • AnOregonCottage

Brian and Jami share their experience running a country cottage in Oregon, with their videos focusing on enjoying a homemade life. They started the channel over ten years ago, and their videos include recipes, garden tours, plant maintenance and the transformation of their 100-year-old farmhouse. 

  • EpicGardening

Kevin Espiritu has a goal of teaching over 10 million people how to grow their green thumb and reconnect with nature, no matter where they live. He has specific plant guides for urban and organic gardening, tips for prepping plants, DIY projects on a budget and countless other tutorials on his channel. 

  • GardenAnswer

Laura has everything that an urban gardener could need, with her videos covering proper care for succulents, which fertilizer to use for specific plants, lighting options and how to get the most out of one’s garden. Along with tutorials, she shows the process of growing from seed, and how she made a fairy house out of homegrown materials. 

  • LearnToGrow

Misilla demonstrates the perfect tricks for indoor and outdoor gardening, sowing seeds, propagating and pruning ⏤ all while being beginner friendly. Many folks can gain inspiration from her outdoor space and setup, and since she’s located in the Pacific Northwest, her videos are great for learning about which plants work best for the area. 

  • TheRustedGarden

Gary Pilarchik provides an in-depth look at all the nuanced parts of growing a garden, such as which bugs can harm the plants, planning an outdoor space, preventing damage, repurposing supplies and advice for saving money on supplies.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Here are a few simple pranks to pull come April 1st

These practical jokes are entertaining for everyone

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

It’s no hoax — April Fool’s Day is nearly here. Traditionally, people pull lighthearted pranks and jokes on unsuspecting family or friends, most of which range in the surprise factor. There are many tried and true tricks, like using fake spilled nail polish on the carpet or the classic caramel dipped onion on a stick. If folks need some inspiration, consider attempting these silly April Fool’s Day antics:

  • Taping googly eyes to household objects is a simple way to provide some laughs through the day. Throw them on the lamp, the TV, on the outside of a coffee mug ⏤ anywhere is possible. 
  • Covering sensors on electronics, or removing the batteries, can be a harmless way to prank the household for part of the day.
  • Take dark colored paper and cut out an insect, then tape it to the inside of the lampshade to make it look like there’s a large bug lurking. Plastic toy insects work just fine in a pinch and are normally pretty cheap.
  • Scrape the filling from a few Oreo cookies, and replace it with white toothpaste. Leaving some of these cookies ready on a plate can help entice the prankee to fall for it.  
  • If there’s a near empty or fully finished jar of mayonnaise, rinse out the container very well and replace it with whipped cream, and then pretend to eat the “mayonnaise” right from the jar to see people’s reactions.
  • Replace photos in the house with random celebrity pictures or popular TV characters. Some examples people have used in the past are pictures of Danny Devito, Steve Buscemi and Shrek.  

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Honoring the experiences of BIPOC students across Oregon universities

This Instagram page holds Oregon universities accountable, one post at a time

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

The college experience can be an exciting time for many students, and it can also be inherently stressful — the days are full of cramming study sessions, keeping up with assignments and too many late nights. Unfortunately, there are larger issues that have been running rampant across many universities in Oregon, ones that heavily impact Black, Indigenous and People of Color students and their ability to feel safe on campuses. 

One student at Western Oregon University saw the need for a space where BIPOC students can voice their experiences with racism and harassment, so they created the Instagram account @bipocatoregonuniversities. They post experiences that are submitted anonymously through Google Forms, it allows for students from Western Oregon University, University of Oregon and Oregon State University to submit their stories anonymously. 

The creator of this page first saw a need for a safe space over the summer of 2020. They felt compelled to make the account after being profiled for a second time during Winter term of 2021, when trying to buy food at the Valsetz Dining Hall. They recounted this experience, “To people it may not be a huge deal, but for me when the simplest task of getting food is met with bias and assumptions based upon how I look, it can be difficult to feel welcome in a place you pay thousands of dollars a term to attend.” 

After experiencing this racial discrimination on Western’s campus, they followed their gut instinct and created the page to share stories from other students of color, and the page has been active since March 1, 2021.

“The purpose of this page is to make sure that universities do not have any room to think they can silence students of color’s voices by creating policies and forms that statistically deter students rather than helping them get the help and resources they need.”

Since the page started, students across universities have reached out to safely share their experiences, with the creator of the account saying, “So far this experience has been nothing short of phenomenally amazing. I have received overwhelming support from students around the state, as well as faculty, department heads, staff, and employees. I have encountered a particular post that was extremely ignorant and simply uneducated. I made sure to make an example out of what this page was not created to publicize. This page is for students of color, this is a time for particularly white students, staff, and faculty to acknowledge and truly listen to what students on this campus have endured.”

Additionally, “There are always ways for universities to grow and provide support for BIPOC students, such as hiring students of color for student work and leadership positions, a well-funded diversity center and additional supervisors, advisors and counselors of color.

There are many ways white students and staff can uplift BIPOC students, by “understand(ing) why our country, and why our world is the way it is. If you see something that is wrong, don’t just stand there and let it happen. Speak up, and just do the right thing. It’s okay to make good trouble.”

Students deserve to feel safe and represented on their campuses, and Instagram pages such as @bipocatoregonuniversities provide a space for students to be heard until the colleges decide to take further measures to address racism at their own schools.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

‌Hop to it, Easter is just a few days away

Plan something fun for Easter with these suggestions 

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

Easter get-togethers and egg hunts across the community will look a little different this year, but there is still an abundance of things to do come Easter Sunday. The day can be as simple as enjoying one’s own company ⏤ full of rest, relaxing and eating huge chocolate bunnies. Whatever people may have planned, here are a few things anyone can try to stay entertained:

 

  • For many people, dyeing Easter eggs is a must, although it can get messy. There are online tutorials that explain tips for beginners and ones that show elaborate designs. 
  • Easter egg hunts are a staple activity for people of many ages, and can also be a good way to keep kids engaged for a while. Try it with pets by putting treats in the eggs and hiding them in a place they frequent. 
  • The egg toss is perfect because all ages can participate in the competition. This is another messy game but it allows people to enjoy time outdoors and to practice their hand-eye coordination. 
  • It would be a shame to forget about the egg walk — which requires the player to hold a spoon in their mouth, while an egg balances in the spoon. Then, they walk a certain distance without dropping the egg in order to win. 
  • “Pin the tail on the rabbit” is an easy, interactive game to help entertain the youngsters. This will require a blindfold, a piece of paper, a pen to draw the bunny, some tape and a white cotton ball for the tail. 

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Enjoy the sunshine with these spring events

From whale watching to a gem faire, these local events have it all 

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

There are many springtime events happening through the Oregon area that can help with looming boredom. Ranging from Eugene to Dallas, some of these events are in person, while others can be attended virtually. If people are still looking for something to do for Spring Break while safely social distancing, it can be useful to know the latest happenings around town. 

 

Eugene

  • Gem Faire. March 26 through 28, 12 p.m to 5 p.m. $7 admission fee. Located at the Lane County Events Center. Additional details can be found at gemfaire.com. 
  • Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival. March 19 through May 2. Monday through Friday: 9 a.m to 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunrise Entry: 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. Additional details can be found at woodenshoe.com. 

Portland

  • March Medicinal Marketplace and Plant Sale. March 28, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Located at the Medicine Garden. Additional details can be found at stayhappening.com. 
  • Monthly Plant Walk: Early Bloomers. Event by The Arctos School of Herbal and Botanical Studies. March 26, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Class location TBA within the Portland Metro area, limited class size, must register by March 22. Additional details can be found at arctosschool.org. 
  • National Crafting Month with The Craft Factory. March 29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Currently offering curbside pickup or free delivery of supplies. Additional details can be found at craftfactorypdx.com. 

Salem 

  • 22nd Annual Clay Ball: Through the Looking Glass. March 20, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Virtual streaming event. Additional details can be found at salemart.org.

Oregon Coast 

  • Oregon Spring Whale Watching Week. March 20 through 28. Additional details can be found at gowherewhen.com. 

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

St. Patrick’s Day folklore to explore

Try these traditions and check out some St. Paddy’s Day folklore 

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌

St. Patrick’s Day celebrations will look a little different this year without large gatherings and events, but there’s still fun to be had in the various traditions and folklore that revolve around the holiday. Traditionally, the day honors the death of the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick. Over time, people continued to recognize Irish culture ⏤ often involving elaborate get-togethers with food, dancing, music and wearing green clothing. Consider looking at these traditions and tidbits of folklore to get into the festive spirit come Wednesday, March 17.

  • Legends believe that the shamrock became a symbol of St. Patrick’s Day, partly because they also believe that St. Patrick used the three leaves to explain the Holy Trinity in his teachings.
  • St. Patrick used to be associated with the color blue, but green fell into favor and has been associated with the holiday ever since.
  • It has also become custom for people to pinch each other for not wearing green, as it is seen as bad luck.
  • In ancient Ireland, shamrocks are considered to be sacred and symbolize the rebirth of spring. 
  • The odds of finding a four leaf clover on the first try is one in ten thousand, which makes it extremely lucky to find one. 
  • Leprechauns date back to Celtic mythology and are believed to be fairy-like creatures in Irish folklore, which connected them to St. Paddy’s Day. It is said that they are dressed in green, are mischievous and live in remote areas, where they make little shoes and protect their gold. 
  • Corned beef and cabbage have been a staple dish for this gathering for years, but corned beef really came into popularity for Irish-American families who used it as a substitute for traditional Irish bacon.
  • In 1962, Chicago dyed a portion of the Chicago River green to celebrate the holiday, which has since become a long-standing tradition for the area. Although there were no gatherings for the event this year, the city still dyed the river green to show their spirit.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Grab some popcorn and catch these latest local plays

Western presents “Little Prisons: A Series of Short Plays by Portland Playwrights”

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

There are still plenty of opportunities to enjoy the performing arts from home, and local theater events are still happening throughout the year to provide some much needed entertainment. Beginning Mar. 6 Western’s theater students will be live streaming their upcoming event, “Little Prisons: A Series of Short Plays by Portland Playwrights,” which is directed by Jessica Wallenfels. This performance highlights four plays written by local playwrights, all of which will be free to watch. There will also be various streaming methods to accommodate different schedules — some will be pre-recorded, while others will be streamed live. 

The plays featured will have a wide range of topics and themes, the titles being: “The Third Prisoner” by EM Lewis, “A Wing and a Prayer” by Josie Seid, “Three Love Songs” by Anya Pearson and “Joy Fricken Hates her Stupid Dumb Room” by Sara Jean Accuardi. 

These local art performances can be found on WOUTV and will be available to stream at 7 p.m. on Mar. 6, and will be available on demand until Mar. 8 at midnight. To learn more about the event and to support the local arts, check out the theater department’s Instagram, @woutheatredepartment, or their Facebook page, @WOU Theatre Department.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

WOU logo

Facebook   Instagram   Twitter  YouTube  LinkedIn  wouTV

WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY
345 Monmouth Ave. N.
Monmouth OR 97361

503-838-8000 | 1-877-877-1593

Tools

Campus Maps
Canvas
Find People
Portal
Virtual Tour
WOU Email
Technical Support

Resources

A-Z Index
Accessibility
Academic Calendar
Class Schedule
Jobs at WOU
Partnerships
Student Services

Western Oregon University’s Land Acknowledgement
Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

Accessibility    Public Records    Privacy    Student Consumer Information

WOU prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by WOU.