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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us February 13, 2006 Essentially Ashland One of the last little family businesses Lance Pugh Mike and Kathy Uhtoff’s Northwest Nature Shop has had interesting eco-friendly stuff for more than 20 years It was during the early ’80s that I noticed a brass rubbing shop open on Oak Street, just down the street from the gas station on Lithia Way. The rubbing gave way to a year-round Christmas decoration store until the Grinch stole the mood, then it was back to brass rubbing redux. In 1985, the house-turned-retail location at 154 Oak St. began to wing its way to success as the location lost the brass and piled on the bird seed, feeders, houses, science toys, maps, posters, gifts and books. The Northwest Nature Shop took its first breath in what has, to date, been a 20-year successful run of eco-friendly merchandise, seminars and field trips for the child in all of us. It came as no surprise that Mike and Kathy Uhtoff opened up such a shop, as Mike had served as the director of the Portland Audubon Society for nine years. It was there that they opened up their first retail nature shop, getting a head start on the operation that was destined for Ashland. In addition to the Audubon shop, they used the Nature Company, which was then a national chain, as an example of what they would like to do. After purchasing the property on Oak Street, the Uhtoffs and their three children began living upstairs, a cramped camp that was soon moved to a rental, then their new house, back when locals could afford to purchase homes that have been lately driven out of reach by the “market.” Mike and Kathy Uhtoff bring a homey feel to their Oak Street store. Submitted photo Larry Medinger, who builds homes in Ashland, did the main remodel of the store in the late ’80s. This made it possible to expand the retail area that allowed the business room to grow. The Northwest Nature Shop is another family business, part of a dying breed in Ashland that is harder to find with each passing year. Son Chris works in the shop, as does their daughter Marie. Their other son, Pat, didn’t follow the flock directly, but rather joined a kindred venture called Woodlands Management, which oversees the health of the Ashland Watershed. Their location is a little off the beaten track, so they try to adjust by offering extra activities to attract and lure. Guest speakers, field trips, hanging outdoor wind chimes and, during the warmer months, baskets of colorful flowers hanging from the specially designed city light standards, all help draw the loyal locals and their kids for educational toys and numerous nature gifts. The bird seed crowd shows up for feed, then heads home, as the crow flies. During the summer you can look down Oak Street and see the colorful blooming baskets of flowers in front of the Uhtoff’s shop and Ashland Sanitary. You can only wonder why similarly equipped and otherwise identical light standards on the next block are, during the spring, summer and fall, absent baskets, flowers, care and love. When I owned The Historic Ashland Armory, I spearheaded the style and placement of the light standards, complete with an internal irrigation system for the planned hanging baskets of flowers. The property, without the colorful baskets, now appears like a present without the gift wrapping, bows and ribbons. I hope that the new owners consider the drive-by appeal of the whole block when the hanging landscaping is implemented and the irrigation with timers, which sit idle, are pressed into service. The Uhtoffs embody the warmth and friendliness that is increasingly difficult to encounter in these days of divisive politics and perpetual war. Should your busy day defy your attempts at scheduling, resulting in an after-hours bird seed need, simply enclose a check or other spendable in a provided envelope and slide it under the door, then load your bag of avian delights in the trunk and hasten home to your congregation of birds, where the devout flutter with anticipation. Today, I revisited the Northwest Nature Shop to go over a few details with Kathy and Mike. They were both at the store working the floor and restocking merchandise, which, as one with a background in retail, is a good thing to witness. I visited every nook and cranny and came away with a long list of future gifts that speak to an outdoors uncluttered with the detritus and debris of human occupation. While walking toward my bike I noticed some trash that had blown into a nearby bush. I cannot clean the whole world, but I sure can pick up the trash that I do see and go for a 3-point shot with a trashcan being my basket. It’s as close as I will ever get to the NBA, except, of course, pressing my nose to the television screen. Future columns will focus on various businesses as well as key individuals and events that will lead the charge from times past to lend perspective to the revival of Ashland. Send your favorite remembrances to: [email protected]. 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