Sharing stories of fair trade

Fair trade is most often spoken about in abstract terms of being for the greater good, but this month a man who has met and worked with those employed as a result of fair trade shares his stories.

Doug Dirks, a past president of the Fair Trade Federation and currently Ten Thousand Villages artisan storyteller, will share stories of artisans he has collected during travels to many of the countries that produce the products sold by Ten Thousand Villages.

Dirks will speak twice in Salem on Monday, Nov. 9. First, on the Fair Trade commitment to sustainability and equity, in the Hatfield Room on the 2nd floor of Willamette University Library at 4 p.m.

At 7 p.m. in the Grande Theater, 187 High Street NE, he will share his artisan stories and the difference fair trade has made in their lives.

Before and after the second presentation, refreshments - including Fair Trade coffee and tea - will be available at the One Fair World store, located at 474 Court St NE

The fair trade movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers, particularly in developing countries, as well as adherence to social and environmental standards in the production of a wide variety of goods.

Give green with help of holiday market

The Straub Sustainable Holiday Gift Market – a fundraiser for the Straub Environmental Learning Center – is held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22.

The gift market, which features holiday gifts that are made from recycled and biodegradable materials, are locally made, meet fair trade standards, and required minimal energy and water to produce, are held at the Cone Field House of the Sparks Center at Willamette University (corner of 12th and Bellevue).

Children have opportunities to make gifts for family members and friends at the “Earth-Friendly Elves” stations. Sustainable gifts donated by vendors are raffled off throughout the day.

All proceeds support environmental education programs offered by the Friends of Straub Environmental Learning Center.

Class offers tips for trailing wildlife

The signs of wildlife are everywhere, and a one-night class will help attendees track down the sources of everything from paw prints to that weirdly alluring and repugnant scent of a skunk.

Dorothy Brown-Kwaiser, the Interpretive Park Ranger at Silver Falls State Park, will teach the basic skills of animal tracking on Wednesday, Nov. 18. The class runs from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Straub Environmental Learning Center, 1320 A St. NE, next to Olinger Pool.

Brown-Kwaiser helps participants categorize families of tracks and scats, interpret animal skulls, and describe techniques to locate animal signs in the landscape, among other skills.

The class costs $5 and is open to the public. Registration is required. To register, call 503-391-4145.