Hannah Wallace
Hannah Wallace writes about everything from regenerative agriculture and natural food trends to cannabis startups, maverick winemakers and food justice activists.
The Portland Airport’s Astonishing New Roof Tells a Local Timber Story
The massive project — a years-long deep dive into sustainable forestry — used only timber from within 300 miles of the airport.
The Portlanders Going Electric
Induction stoves? Tax breaks? Local groups are demystifying the whys and hows of home decarbonization.
The Portland Art of Feel-Good Densification
How the city pulled off one of the most pro-housing reforms in America by playing nice.
When Tackling Homelessness, Prevention is Often the Best Medicine
By intervening early, often with small rent payments, a Portland shelter kept nearly 100 families out of homelessness last year, saving thousands of dollars in future rehousing costs.
Black Joy Is Propelling a Rural Racial Justice Movement
In conservative parts of Oregon, one protest group is betting that a celebration of Black culture will capture more hearts than anger.
The Guilt-Free Way to Get Rid of Halloween Pumpkins
An array of options exist, and a landfill doesn’t need to be its final resting place.
The Spectacular Comeback of the American Farmers Market
Once ubiquitous, farmers markets nearly vanished in the mid 20th century — until an array of forces converged to bring about their modern-day renaissance.
As Temperatures Rise, Farms Are Sprouting in Alaska
Even as farms decline across the US, a longer growing season is bringing food security to a state that has long relied on sustenance from afar.
How San Francisco Cracked the Urban Composting Code
As California begins statewide composting, the place that pioneered it in the ’90s shows how dramatically it can benefit a city.
Nuclear Crocodiles Invade Florida — in a Good Way
A nuclear power plant that became a thriving habitat for endangered crocs shows how conservation can work even in the most human-altered environments.
California’s Floodplains Are Coming Back, and So Are Their Salmon
Farmers and ecologists are partnering to restore the state’s natural flooding patterns, allowing native fish to thrive.
The Anti-Displacement Repair Team of Portland
By fixing up homes in Black neighborhoods, one group is slowing down harmful gentrification and keeping communities intact.
From a Prison Garden Sprouts Real Growth
Amid rows of snap peas and summer squash, incarcerated gardeners cultivate job skills, inner peace and fresh produce for the cafeteria.
The Tiny-House Village That’s Changing Lives
Agape Village is a place where people find community, structure, stability — and a path to permanent housing.
The Casino That Farms Its Own Food
A stone’s throw from the blackjack tables, bison are grazing, beehives are buzzing, crops are growing — and nature is winning.
Hard-Knocks Restaurant Workers Are Embracing Mental Wellness
An industry that often celebrates pushing through the pain is turning its focus to mental health.
A New Generation of Black Farmers Is Cultivating Self-Determination
By going back to the land, Black farmers are resuming a journey toward “food sovereignty” that began centuries ago.
Wine Country’s Farmworkers Are Staying Healthy Against All Odds
Populated by seasonal laborers, Oregon’s Willamette Valley could have been devastated by the coronavirus. Instead, it’s become a model for how to keep workers safe.
How Portland Makes Local Food Work for Everyone
A food hub known as the Redd solves the business and logistical challenges of local food — and helps small farmers become a big deal.
This ‘Carbon-Negative’ Burger Is Fighting Climate Change
As fake meat floods the market, some fast-food joints are insisting that their ultra-sustainably raised beef is better for the planet.
The Beautiful Place that Stopped Big Bottled Water
As Washington State moves to ban companies from selling its spring water, the story of Hood River County shows how even a small place can stop the extraction of its most precious resource.