The inaugural Bend Climate Innovation Fair was a resounding success! Ten exhibitors showcased the breadth of climate action happening across Central Oregon; from carbon removal and xeriscaping to regenerative farm design. Hosted at Worthy Brewing, the event brought together community members to share ideas, insights, and bold visions for what climate action in Bend can look like.

Attendees had the opportunity to learn about innovative solutions and vote for the ideas that inspired them most. At the end of the evening, we awarded first- and second-place ribbons to the top-voted projects, earning them sponsorships from the Bend Climate Collective, along with some well-deserved bragging rights.

Learn more about our winners and participants below:

FIRST PLACE: 

• Central Oregon Tool Library - “The Central Oregon Tool Library makes tools accessible to all. By borrowing instead of buying, we reduce waste and costs, foster skills, and build community. Access to tools shouldn’t depend on income or ability; instead, we provide a shared resource for sustainable living.”

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SECOND PLACE:

• Goal 300 - “Our solution uses finely ground olivine which is a byproduct of mining. We spread this olivine dust on fields where it undergoes a chemical reaction with acidic, pour water leading to the formation of bicarbonate and the removal of CO2 as a mineral. We follow the protocols of a top verification body and conduct extensive soil analysis and hydrology to prove that carbon was removed.”

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NOTEWORTHY PARTICIPANTS:

• Electrify Oregon - “Electrify Oregon is a non-profit focused on providing education, encouragement and support to households that want to adopt climate-friendly all-electric energy solutions in their home, such as heat pumps, electric vehicles and solar panels.”

• Energy Trust of Oregon - “Energy Trust of Oregon is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people and communities thrive through more affordable clean energy solutions.”

• Energize Bend - “Local climate action has never been more important. We are making sure Bend becomes a leader on climate by building community awareness and support for a Climate Pollution Fee that will curb fossil fuel use and invest in clean, affordable energy.”

• SCORE - “SCORE is a nationwide nonprofit that provides free business mentoring and resources for entrepreneurs and small business owners.”

• Shakti Farm Design - “Shakti Farm Design builds climate-resilient greenhouses that merge regenerative agriculture, renewable energy, and water efficiency. Our mission is to empower communities to grow local food year-round while restoring ecological balance and self-reliance.”

• “Xeriscape Bend” - “We are a landscape design company based in Bend on a mission to accelerate the adoption of sustainable landscaping in Central Oregon using thoughtful design and comprehensive project management”

• Worthy Garden Club - “Worthy Garden Club has grown to include the only professional observatory within Bend's city limits, a small-scale regenerative farm and native plant gardens that serve as classrooms for natural science education. We offer free or low-cost programs that educate our community on astronomy topics, dark sky practices, native pollinator conservation and sustainable food growing.”

A heartfelt thank-you to all of the community members who helped make this event such a success. We’re excited to build on this momentum and look forward to seeing you at the next Bend Climate Collective event!