Silverton's Historic Oak

If this tree stump could talk. It’s historical to Silverton, and actually influenced the way in which Silverton grew as a town. It was a meeting place for most likely the Kalapuya and Molalla tribes. Then, pioneer, Polly Crandell Coon, was deemed the founding Mother of Silverton, because she designated the platting of the town around tree. Homer Davenport, a Silverton legend and famous cartoonist in the day, wrote that the short-brimmed hat people came on through and chopped it down in the night. Short-brim was a term for later pioneers that were thought to be from the big city. Silverton is just the type of town to pay homage to the great oak tree. In fact...there’s a mural dedicated to it right in the heart of Silverton.

It’s pretty brilliant to have a tree was the reason for how Silverton formed as a town. Using natural features of the earth, such as waterways were also ways that towns would orient themselves.

Happy Earth Day

Earth Day was a hit at the Oregon Garden. It was awesome to see vendors out spreading the word on all the valuable things people can do to be more environmentally-conscious. Earth Day has been evolving since the 70s. In the 80’s it was all about the three Rs - reduce, reuse, and recycle. Schools had efforts focused on saving whales, and the even the polar bear started appearing on the radar. And, now there’s a lot happening with regards to recycling and reusing bags. Have you got your reusable bag yet? If not…stay tuned for some wonderfully flashy bags soon to arrive.

Yes, that’s me sporting a vintage Earth Day shirt!

Sometimes it takes a bit of learning to catch-on. But, if you have a good teacher, then you’re on the right track. I remember arriving from Kansas to Oregon, and learning what it meant to recycle and what compost was about. I’m glad I had some patient roommates, because I didn’t know much about co-mingling recycling. We are lucky in the Pacific Northwest to have a lot of systems in place that champion earth-friendly efforts.

Whether you’re interested in new construction or a home that has history, there are many ways to be earth-friendly with your home. For new construction, there’s certifications like Earth Advantage, LEED, and more. I am an Earth Advantage Broker, and this means I have a deeper understanding of what it means to have an energy efficient and green home. There are reports you can also do that show home much energy your home is saving, which also may mean saving some money as well. For homes with more history, perhaps looking into adding some more energy efficient and green features is the way you may choose to go. Either way, I’m here to guide you in this journey to finding your dream home.

Save Money

A great sign posted here in Silverton to show the way you may be able to save with home costs and live more energy efficiently.

Energy efficiency is one of the many ways you may be able to save some money on continuous home costs. It could be as simple as replacing light bulbs with LED or perhaps getting a Smart thermostat to regulate the temperature in your home. Other ways to more your home more energy efficient may be to think about if your home is as insulated as it could be, so that way your heating and cooling aren’t accidentally leaving through the crack in your backdoor. This is what some builders call having a tightly sealed envelope, because it means all the potential leaks both within and on the exterior of the home have been sealed up.

Other ways of increasing the energy efficiency of your home could be to think about are having Energy Star appliances, or perhaps those solar panels you have been thinking about. These types of upgrades are a bit more of an investment. However, if you’re thinking about staying in your home for awhile, they may be really great things to consider.

Besides saving money by using energy more efficiently, there’s actually programs out there that may be able to help with the bill for these upgrades. So, that’s pretty rad, too. The Energy Trust Program is one of the many programs out there that may be able to help you out with your quest to live a more green and energy efficient lifestyle.

If you’re in the market for a more energy efficient home, or perhaps the upgrades you could do with an older home, let’s talk. I’d be glad to help you with your home search.

Gallon House Bridge

Hi, I’m Laura. Some people just call me DeVito. I’m a broker licensed in Oregon with Bledsoe Santana Team Realty LLC. They are a super awesome crew! I live in Silverton and love hiking around the temperate rain forests here. I’m actually at the oldest covered bridge under continuous service in Oregon! I think of it as joining up Silverton and Mt. Angel, two very cute and one of a kind places. I love helping my clients navigate buying and selling their homes with my marketing expertise and showcasing the unique qualities of all the different homes out there. Let’s talk about your dream home, and get started on this adventure.

Lovely Cabins

Silver Falls State Park has so many wonderful things. I usually hike it once or twice a week, and each time it is different. With the changing seasons of brilliant yellow leaves from the Big Leaf Maple to the gorgeous bluish green lichen that tends to get more vibrant as winter rains fall, there’s a lot going on. Did you know that there’s also some fun places to stay and also have events? Silver Falls Lodge and Conference Center is a fun place to explore, too.

They have a wide range of cabins including fun names like Calypso or Chickaree. It could be for a retreat, a wedding, or perhaps just a little get away where you can fully enjoy the temperate rain forest in all it’s glory. There’s also a food service that comes along with some of the plans.

Imagine breathing in all the goodness of different flowers blooming in spring and exploring trails that start right outside your door. Did you know that there could be homes out there with similar qualities to being out in the great outdoors? Let’s explore those options together and figure out your perfect oasis.

Silver Falls Lodge and Conference Center - Dining Area

Local Chocolate

There are many gems you will stumble upon in good’ol Silverton. Sometimes I have a sweet tooth, and Whimsy is known for some one of a kind gifts. From cute kitchen utensils to silly socks, there’s a lot of things to choose from. If you make it past all the awesome merchandise and head past the giant gnome, you’ll find some delectable treats. I absolutely adore truffles, and this is a great place to stop in and try a few. Yes, that’s right, if you keep exploring little places in Silverton, you’ll usually get wonderful surprises like this.

Chocolate from all over Oregon are here, and there’s also the specialty truffles you can choose from. My favorite is Smores…and well, it really depends on my mood. There’s also ones with coffee and mint, and if you like other types of chocolate, you’re in luck, there’s a lot of options.

If you like options, you may also want to know about the other sweet shops starting up in Silverton. There’s one called Candy that I will definitely need to check-out and I hear rumors of a cupcake place? Either way, you get the point, there’s a lot of sweetness in Silverton.

Contact me to experience all the potential sweet homes right here in the Willamette Valley.

Bikability in Silverton

One of the many reasons I love living in SIlverton, is the easy access to just about everything. I enjoy walking and biking immensely. I think it’s a brilliant way to get to know your surroundings and see what’s happening. For a town of just over 10,000 people, Silverton has so many fun things to offer. For instance, debating between Thai food, or some darn good fried pickles at the Gallon House. The Oregon Garden, which is truly a gem, is a quick jaunt up the street, too. It was a no-brainer to become members of the Oregon Garden, because it’s acres of gardens that are usually fairly quiet. Sometimes, it’s just me and my husband walking about it together. Not to say that we also don’t enjoy the busy times, like for Christmas in the Garden.

Coolidge Park is a quick little walk. WIth the Silverton Arts Association right there along with wonderful festivals like the Strawberry Festival. I’m more of a road bike kind of person (no mountain biking for me please), but if you’re also into that, then there are many bike marathons that go on, too! Sometimes, while going to the Willamette Valley Pie Company, I’ll see people biking along the hazelnut lined roads. It’s a beautiful sight. Otherwise, just taking a spin to the farmers market is more my style.

If you like to bike, the SIlverton may be a great place to be.

Come by and say, “Hello!”