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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 16, 1999)
k 22 Hidden haven—the Setter sweeping view from Kathy Oliver's deck, where she has breakfast in the Continued from Page 21 copper poles and immense concrete spheres scattered about her front yard like remnants from some gargantuan croquet match. Follow ing her around the house, I pass her garage and note it is brimming with works in progress. In contrast to her charming but modest front yard, the huge expanse of land in back is breathtaking. Oliver, the director of Outside In, a social service agency, says, “It’s my refuge, my sanctu ary.” Her half-acre lot is divided into many smaller garden areas, including a grape arbor, a flower garden featuring roses and astilbes, a vegetable and herb garden, plus the Toulouse the Goose Sauna. Her peas, which she man aged to get into the ground in February, are easily 8 feet tall today. Two small ponds delight the resident rac coons, who climb up to the second story deck each night for further attention. Oliver even installed a house for them high in a cedar tree at the rear of her property. “I’m a caretaker of this land—not just for me, but for all the ani mals that live here,” she explains. And to further preserve the neighborhood of half-acre lots, Oliver and a neighbor bought the house between them, so at least three plots of land will maintain this unofficial wildlife sanctuary. morning sun (or not) Twenty years ago when she bought the place, Oliver didn’t consider herself a gardener. But that quickly changed. “I wanted the space as soon as I saw it—I realized what it could be,” she says, beaming quietly as she gazes around her all-organic won derland. The large fenced property is also home to countless wild birds, squirrels, a neighbors ducks who prefer Oliver’s yard, her two border collies, Zoomer and Zeda, and her cat, Diesel, who taunts the dogs with his acrobatic skills. The squirrels have their own garden agenda: They’re incessantly planting a forest of hazel trees, which keeps Oliver busy yanking the .P ortland ' s ONLY ^ dependent . N oncommercial 1 I L istener -S ponsored (oMMUNin R adio S tation 1 j,’IM ■w* 1999 Silverado Extended Cah-J 1 «1 w • • 90.7 EM P ortland » 92.7 (miimu 6011» • 100.7 Wnwitnt Vitin 1 J • YeYt $1000 Factory Mato ombard OWE R S Proudly Serving The Greater Portland Metro Area Tn; 503/286-1330 •Twr io®’ fjà $1500 Located in Historic St. Johns 8302 N. LOMBARD • PORTLAND, OREGON 97203 Genuine Chevrolet- J •1 Expires 6-30-99 107 SE Grand • East End of the Burnside Bridge • 503-232-2000 W omen in the W oods '99 UJanna haue a good time? A ugust 20-22,1999 Wanna meet some great people? • Join with 100+ lesbians for a magical women-n^ Central Oregon, 2 hours drive from Po^ n- 1 'd at Breitenbush Hot Springs resort in «’9^ 1 and lithium sauna meals daily • Hot springs pc*'1 through Oregon’s old g' O available • Workshops. , craftswomen space • a> S® 'abins and 3 delicious vegetarian • Hiking trails Wanna haue the best summer euer? .ui crystal clear cold water • Massage i/thing 2 or more people want to talk about • .¿now • drumming circle • dancing 3 days/2 nights - $160 per person Registration deadline is August 1, 1999. Fees must be paid in full at that time. Call 503-284-0722 for registration form. Try..