The Institute for Applied Sustainability at Southern Oregon University is hosting a conversation and downtown stroll 4-5 p.m. Thursday with Karen Mager, associate professor, discussing the consequences of Interstate 5 cutting through the landscape. She will talk about new ways to coexist with wildlife.

The event starts at Room 323 in the Stevenson Union on campus, at 1250 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland. It ends at Growler Guys, 356 Lithia Way. For more information, go to sustainability.sou.edu/institute/.

Land purchase meeting set in Williams

A meeting about the possible purchase of 1,800 acres of forest land, including what is known as the Pipe Fork property, is set for 6 p.m. Thursday at the Williams Grange. The land is due to be auctioned by the Josephine County Board of Commissioners.

For more information, visit www.williamscommunityforestproject.org.

Looking for owls and other predators of the night

Join Frank Lospalluto and others with the Klamath Bird Observatory for a haunting good time at 5 p.m. Friday to travel the Keno Access Road looking for owls and other silent predators of the night. The night will start at Rite Aid in Ashland to organize a carpool. Register at Klamathbird.org.

Learn about 4-H at open house

Anyone interested in 4-H is invited to an open house set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Southern Oregon University Research and Extension Center, 569 Hanley Road, Central Point. The event will include live animal projects, cupcake decorating, pumpkin painting and more.

Jackson County 4-H has 65 clubs to choose from, including swine, cattle, horse, robotics, cooking, art and leadership. Enrollment for the 2024-2025 year kicked off Oct. 1.

For more information, call 541-776-7371 or visit extension.oregonstate.edu/sorec.

Vesper Meadow hosts fundraiser

A festival fundraiser is planned 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Vesper Meadow Education Preserve, 16534 Dead Indian Memorial Road. Activities include live music, guided walks, yoga, Qigong and lunch.

Cost is $65 per person. To register, go to vespermeadow.org. The preserve is a 1,000-acre private preserve used for restoration, research and education.

Join a trail work party along Upper Rogue

The Siskiyou Mountain Club invites volunteers to join seasonal field staff this weekend to do trail work on the Upper Rogue River Trail.

The crew will work from the Mazama Viewpoint off of Highway 230 and head south for a few miles toward Hamaker Campground, where they will car camp. The main priority will be clearing brush and digging out sections.

Catch a morning ride from Gold Hill at 7:30 a.m Saturday and plan to be back by 6 p.m. Sunday. Volunteers willing to drive their own vehicle are welcome to meet the crew at the trailhead Saturday or Sunday morning. No trail work experience is required. Bring all necessary gear if you plan to stay overnight.

Email karly@siskiyoumountainclub.org for more details and to sign up.

Tour a native plant nursery in Williams

Director Taylor Starr will lead a free tour of the native plant nursery at White Oak Farm and Education Center in Williams at 10 a.m. on Sunday. The farm, at 1940 Kincaid Road, grows more than 20 species of native woody plants, primarily for riparian restoration projects around the Rogue Valley. White Oak is also a diverse organic farm, producing seed crops, food for the local schools and food banks, as well as hosting children’s education programs.

The tour will include propagation areas, greenhouses and field-grown hedgerows for habitat and propagation material. There will be an opportunity to purchase plants at the end of the tour. Sign up at bit.ly/3YvsciQ. Reach the farm at 541-846-0776.

Learn about impacts of climate change on farmers

Maud Powell, an associate professor with the Small Farms Program of the Oregon State University Extension Service, will explore the impacts of climate change on farmers and ranchers in Southern Oregon during an Oct. 29 meeting of Southern Oregon Climate Action Now. The meeting is set for 4-6 p.m. at the Medford Library, 205 S. Central Ave. The public is invited.

Powell will discuss the impacts to the mental health and emotional well-being of farmers. The variables of seasonal temperature and water availability are dominant factors influencing crop viability. An OSU initiative aimed at building resilience in farmers and ranchers seeks to address those concerns. Powell will also share initial findings from research conducted with Oregon farmers.

For more information, visit socan.eco or call 541-324-4501.

Cyclocross series starts Saturday near Grants Pass

The 26th annual Southern Oregon Outlaw Cyclocross bicycle race series benefitting Josephine County Search and Rescue is set for Saturday at Tom Pearce Park, 3700 Pearce Park Road in Grants Pass and continues on Saturdays at various venues through Nov. 23.

Other venues include Mount Ashland, Bigham Knoll and Valley of the Rogue State Park. The series is held in memory of Nicholas J. Jensen.

Races start at 10 a.m. Cost is $25. For more information, contact Cycle Analysis, 541-899-9190.

Take a Kid Mountain Biking event is Sunday

The third annual Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the Mountain of the Rogue trail system recreation site, located off of North River Road, about 1 mile south of Rogue River. Park along the road because the main parking lot will be closed.

The event is for children ages 4 to 17. There will be group rides, bike decorating, an expo, a raffle and barbecue. For more information, go to Mountain of the Rogue on Facebook.

Weekly walks in Ashland set for people 50-plus

A volunteer guide will lead a weekly walking group for people 50 years and older in and around Garfield Park in Ashland from 10-11 a.m. on Mondays through Dec. 16. Cost is $16 for eight walks, which will be held at a gentle pace and take about 45-60 minutes. Routes will stay on accessible paths. Register by calling 541-488-5342.

Take a hike with Medford Parks and Rec

People 55 and older are invited to take a hike with Medford Parks and Recreation on Nov. 12 to East Applegate Ridge, Nov. 19 to Cathedral Hills or Nov. 26 to Roxy Ann Peak. Other hikes are set for Dec. 3 to Ti’Lomikh Falls and Dec. 10 to Cantrall Creek.

Meet at Rogue X, 901 Rossanley Drive in Medford, on the day of the event and take a van to the trail. Cost is $18 for Medford residents and $24 for non-residents. Register early, as space is limited.

Call 541-774-2400 for more information or visit playmedford.com (click on “Program Guide” and navigate to the hikes page).

Fall festivals, pumpkin patch activities continue

This is the last weekend this year for many fall festivals:

• Bigham Farms, 9445 Pumice Lane, Central Point, offers a pumpkin patch and events 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday. Events include a corn maze, hay ride, kiddie cart rides and a bubble station. For more information, call 541-621-5441.

• The Pumpkin Patch is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. this weekend at 1475 Arnold Lane, Medford. Entry is free. Free cider and coffee. There will be food, games and storytime at 1 p.m.

• The Evers Ridge Farm pumpkin patch is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this weekend at 3100 Cordelia Way in Medford. The farm has a nature walk and offers fresh-pressed cider.

For more information, visit eversridgefarm.com or call 541-778-7681.

• The Pheasant Fields Farm harvest festival is set for Friday and Saturday at 1865 Camp Baker Road, Medford, with admission times on the hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fright After Dark events are set 7-9:30 p.m. Oct. 24-27.

Get more information and tickets at pheasantfieldsfarm.com.

• The annual Fall Festival at Fort Vannoy Farms, 5791 Lower River Road near Grants Pass, is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily in October.

The festival offers a farm stand, food, corn maze, pumpkin cannon and cow train. Tractor rides are free. A haunted maze is offered Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, as well. Purchase tickets at fortvannoyfarms.com. Call 541-479-3765 for more information.

Cities publish fall activities guides

The cities of Medford, Ashland and Central Point have published activity and recreational guides for the fall season, including classes, events and outings. View them at playmedford.com, ashlandoregon.gov/parks and centralpointoregon.gov/parksrec.

Want to publicize your upcoming outdoors event for free? Send details to writer Shaun Hall at 541-761-6726 or shaunmichaelhall@gmail.com. Submissions about upcoming events are encouraged.