Taming the Thorn: Managing Goatheads in Gravel Cycling

Jennifer Ware Kempcke | The Artist

In this episode of The Connection podcast, Jennifer Ware-Kempcke discusses her artistic journey and her collaboration with Dirty Freehub to create the cover art for the Deschutes River Basin gravel cycling guidebook [https://dirtyfreehub.org/product/deschutes-river-basin-gravel-guide-collectors-edition/]. As a dedicated watercolorist and teacher, Jennifer explains how her work is deeply inspired by the natural landscapes and shifting light of Central Oregon. She details her preference for versatile techniques, ranging from photorealism to abstract styles, while emphasizing her constant drive to experiment with new mediums like pastels and oils. The conversation explores the technical challenges of commissioned work and the history of plein air painting, which involves capturing scenes directly outdoors. Jennifer also highlights her commitment to the local art community by teaching classes and exhibiting her pieces in various regional galleries. Ultimately, the source illustrates the powerful connection between outdoor recreation, environmental storytelling, and visual art.

Taming the Thorn: Managing Goatheads in Gravel Cycling

This podcast excerpt features an interview with ecologist Martha Brabec of Boise Parks and Recreation regarding the impact of goatheads, an invasive and noxious weed common in the American West. These plants are notorious for producing sharp, puncture-prone seeds that frequently damage bicycle tires and reduce local biodiversity. Brabec explains that because goatheads are annuals, they can be effectively managed if individuals learn to identify them, pull them by the root, and dispose of them in the trash. https://www.facebook.com/Boiseparksandrecreation/ [https://www.facebook.com/Boiseparksandrecreation/] https://www.instagram.com/boiseparksandrecreation/ [https://www.instagram.com/boiseparksandrecreation/] https://www.cityofboise.org/departments/parks-and-recreation/open-space/weed-warriors/ [https://www.cityofboise.org/departments/parks-and-recreation/open-space/weed-warriors/] ------------------------------------------------- This podcast is produced by Dirty Freehub, a nonprofit organization that publishes hand-curated (and great!) gravel cycling Ride Guides. Our mission is to connect gravel cyclists to where they ride through stories about culture, history, people, places, and lands with the hope that they will become involved as advocates, volunteers, or donors with organizations that protect and preserve recreation spaces. Our Podcast Channel  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Connection ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://anchor.fm/dirtyfreehub] Our Ride Guides / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dirty Freehub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://dirtyfreehub.com/] Our Ask / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠ [https://dirtyfreehub.org/donate/]

Dwarf Mistletoe in Oregon

In this episode, we sit down with David Shaw, a Professor Emeritus in the College of Forestry at Oregon State University, to explore the fascinating ecology and management of Oregon's dwarf mistletoe. While heavy infestations can deform trees by creating massive, dense branch structures known as "witches' brooms"—which can sometimes grow larger than a van—Shaw explains why these plants are actually crucial drivers of forest biodiversity. Learn how these unique structural formations provide vital nesting habitats for wildlife like the spotted owl, and how the mistletoe's aerial shoots act as the sole food source for the caterpillars of the Johnson's and Thicket hairstreak butterflies. ------------------------------------------------- This podcast is produced by Dirty Freehub, a nonprofit organization that publishes hand-curated (and great!) gravel cycling Ride Guides. Our mission is to connect gravel cyclists to where they ride through stories about culture, history, people, places, and lands with the hope that they will become involved as advocates, volunteers, or donors with organizations that protect and preserve recreation spaces. Our Podcast Channel  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Connection ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://anchor.fm/dirtyfreehub] Our Ride Guides / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dirty Freehub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://dirtyfreehub.com/] Our Ask / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠ [https://dirtyfreehub.org/donate/]

History of Timber at Coos Bay

In this episode, we’re joined by Sire Pro from the Coos History Museum to explore how the timber industry built Coos Bay from the ground up. Towering forests and deep-water ports shaped more than just the landscape of Coos Bay—they shaped an entire community. We dive into the early 20th-century boom that fueled the local economy, the key events and figures that defined Coos Bay’s timber trade, and the technological advances that transformed logging and milling along Oregon’s South Coast. Sire also unpacks the environmental challenges that came with large-scale logging, how those impacts were addressed over time, and the role Coos Bay played in the broader Pacific Northwest timber industry. Bonus: Sire also shares about myrtlewood wooden coin. Coos History Museum: cooshistory.org [http://cooshistory.org/] Image Credit: Coos History Museum ------------------------------------------------- This podcast is produced by Dirty Freehub, a nonprofit organization that publishes hand-curated (and great!) gravel cycling Ride Guides. Our mission is to connect gravel cyclists to where they ride through stories about culture, history, people, places, and lands with the hope that they will become involved as advocates, volunteers, or donors with organizations that protect and preserve recreation spaces. Our Podcast Channel  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Connection ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://anchor.fm/dirtyfreehub] Our Ride Guides / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dirty Freehub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://dirtyfreehub.com/] Our Ask / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠ [https://dirtyfreehub.org/donate/]

Gravel Champ: Rick Marshall Living with PTSD

In this episode we sit down with Rick Marshall, a retired Army Major, veteran, and cyclist, for an honest conversation about living with PTSD and finding moments of calm on two wheels. This isn’t a story about fixing trauma or pushing through pain. It’s about learning, over time, how movement, solitude, and nature can offer connection and relief. This episode is especially for combat veterans—and for anyone who loves and supports them. ------------------------------------------------- This podcast is produced by Dirty Freehub, a nonprofit organization that publishes hand-curated (and great!) gravel cycling Ride Guides. Our mission is to connect gravel cyclists to where they ride through stories about culture, history, people, places, and lands with the hope that they will become involved as advocates, volunteers, or donors with organizations that protect and preserve recreation spaces. Our Podcast Channel  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Connection ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://anchor.fm/dirtyfreehub] Our Ride Guides / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dirty Freehub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://dirtyfreehub.com/] Our Ask / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠ [https://dirtyfreehub.org/donate/]