ONDA's Wild Desert Blog
Oregon Natural Desert Association knows that our wild desert lands will only be protected through the support of those who love them. This collection of stories from a variety of contributors reflects the diversity of people involved in our work and highlights what we have in common - a shared love of Oregon's deserts.
On the Owyhee and wilderness
Dr. Roderick Frazier Nash, professor emeritus of history and environmental studies at the University of California Santa Barbara, is renown for his work on wilderness. His books, “Wilderness and the American Mind” and “The Rights of Nature: A History of Environmental Ethics,” are considered conservation classics. Here, Dr. Nash reflects for the Oregon Natural Desert Association on a trip in Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands and on wilderness and humanity.
Volunteer of the Year: A lifelong love for the high desert
Dick Herb's passion for the high desert began more than 50 years ago. Now, the Oregon Natural Desert Association 2013 Volunteer of the Year regularly offers his time and can-do spirit.
Honoring a tireless Oregon Badlands advocate
The Oregon Natural Desert Association is fortunate to have numerous devoted volunteers. Meet 2013 Alice Elshoff Award recipient David Eddleston, a tireless advocate with a lasting love of the high desert.
A Bright Day for the Badlands- March 30, 2009
David Eddleston, Executive Director of the Friends of the Oregon Badlands Wilderness, reflects on the bright day four years ago when the Badlands Wilderness Act was signed into law. Volunteers from the Friends of the Oregon Badlands (aka "Fobbits") had the unique experience of being involved in a community effort in a wilderness study area when, with the stroke of the President's pen, it became wilderness.
ONDA Family Values
We often hear about the values that families develop through the influences of religion, culture and nationality. We hear less often about the values that the natural world instills in us.
Is Publicizing Desert Wilderness the Right Thing to Do?
Does keeping wild places a secret help or hurt efforts to protect those places?
Protected public lands drive job growth in the West
A comprehensive study recently released by Headwaters Economics shows that public lands that are federally protected, such as Wilderness Areas, National Parks or National Monuments, provide a major competitive economic advantage to the counties where they are located.
Clock is ticking for Wilderness in 112th Congress
If they fail to pass any of the 18 pending Wilderness bills, this Congress will become the second in the history of the Wilderness Act not to protect any of our public wild lands during their two years in session.
Place and Hope
Noted author and poet, Ellen Waterston recently shared her affection for Oregon's high desert with attendees at ONDA's Desert Conference event.
Owyhee Time
Watch "Owyhee Time," a video by ONDA members Marcial Reiley and Kim Jardine Reiley, and read the story of their adventure in the Owyhee Canyonlands that inspired the film.
Poetry of Ursula K. Le Guin
A poem by Ursula K Le Guin, who will read selected works at ONDA's Desert Conference on September 21.
Wild Comfort
An excerpt from Wild Comfort: The Solace of Nature by Kathleen Dean Moore, a professor of philosophy and environmental ethics at Oregon State University.
Painting with the palette of Oregon's High Desert
Artist Nancy Pobanz explores the inspiration and raw materials that she draws from Oregon's High Desert.
Capturing the sounds of Oregon's High Desert
This post contains a sound recording taken on the South Fork of the Crooked River in May of 2012.
Oregon is blessed with John Day country's beautiful landscape
ONDA volunteer and member, Dick Herb, tells his story about working in the John Day region excavating fossils with Lon Hancok. This experience led to a life long love for the area.
Oregon is a Desert State
Typically when people think of Oregon wilderness, they think of old growth forests and wild untamed coastal beauty. However, nearly half of Oregon is high desert, and this incredible area is largely unknown – even to most Oregonians.
Kicking off a Quarter-Century of Desert Conservation
2012 marks a significant milestone for ONDA. This fall, ONDA will have existed for a quarter of a century. Such a milestone is no small feat and speaks to the dedication and passion of the thousands of people who have supported ONDA’s effort to protect, defend and restore Oregon’s wild desert lands over the past 25 years.
ONDA's Annual Meeting
Each April, Oregon Natural Desert Association staff, Board of Directors and members gather in to commune with the desert, restore the land, and reflect on our passion for Oregon's high desert. This post reflecting on the 2011 Annual Meeting was contributed by ONDA member Ellen Mendoza.
Gordon Baker on Art and ONDA
As a geologist, environmentalist, conservationist, and artist, I have worked in wilderness areas in many different countries and have come to appreciate the psychological benefits and well-being of this experience for individuals and nations. Protecting true wilderness is a moral imperative. I proudly support ONDA through my membership for their dedication and reasoned approach to preserve and protect Oregon’s desert wilderness.