Oregon gardeners are adapting to climate change. Now, they’re learning to grieve what’s been lost
By Janet Eastman
Published on May 6, 2026.
Oregon State University Extension's Master Gardener Program's LeAnn Locher and Maud Powell, an OSU Extension educator, held a workshop called “Climate Stress and Grief: Building Resilience Through Gardening” on May 4. The pair discussed how gardeners are adapting to shifting seasons, extreme weather, and other climate-related events. The workshop participants were encouraged to strengthen connections in the gardening community and other constructive responses to the ecological crisis. They identified ecological or climate grief as multifaceted, ongoing concerns without clear solutions creating anxiety, depression, and sleep issues. Participants were asked to identify their feelings using the Climate Emotions Wheel, a chart based on the work of Finnish researcher Panu Pihkala. Participants also encouraged to connect with nature and people during times of stress to focus on the joy of gardening.
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