Events

Event Details:

If you are thinking about taking a course at the Center or want to learn more about our gardens, programs, permaculture projects and the Sowing Circle intentional community, our tours are a great way to get an overview. Guided tours are on Saturdays and Sundays at the times noted below. They last about 90 minutes unless noted otherwise. A donation of $10 per person is requested for non-plant sale tours. No dogs please.

Please RSVP by phone for non-plant sale tours and give yourself plenty of time to get to our site. OAEC is at least a 90-minute drive from San Francisco and the East Bay (click here for a map). Our afternoon tours are particularly good tours for those coming from a distance. Tours start on time!

March 11, Garden Tour at 1:00 pm
April 14, Garden Tours at 10:00 and 11:00 am (1 hour)
April 15, Garden Tours at 10:00 and 11:00 am (1 hour)
April 29, Culinary Garden Tour at 1:00 pm (3 hours)
May 5, Garden Tours at 10:00 and 11:00 am (1 hour)
May 6, Garden Tours at 10:00 and 11:00 am (1 hour)
May 20, Garden Tour at 10:00 am
June 16, Garden Tour at 10:00 am
July 7, Garden Tour at 10:00 am
July 21, Permaculture Site Tour at 9:00 am (3 hours)
July 22, Sudden Oak Death Tour at 9:00 am (3 hours)
August 4, Backcountry Tour at 10:00 am (3 hours)
August 25, Garden Tours at 10:00 and 11:00 am (1 hour)
August 26, Garden Tours at 10:00 and 11:00 am (1 hour)
September 15, Garden Tour at 10:00 am
October 21, Garden Tour at 1:00 pm

Private tours can be arranged. The fee for private tours is $100 or $50 for school groups. Tours are limited to 18 people – groups over that size are split. Call (707) 874-1557 x 203 to arrange.

Event Details:

Instructor: Brock Dolman with guests
Cost: $1350/$1250 if registered two weeks in advance (residential course). Some partial work exchange opportunities are available for this course; see below for more details.
For registration information, click here.

Whether you currently own property or dream of it, this two-week intensive course will immerse you in information, ideas and inspiration for how to design sustainable, regenerative systems in balance with your home ecosystem. You will learn the ethics, principles and practice of “permanent culture,” by exploring topics such as organic gardening, mulching, natural building techniques, forest farming, water retention and regeneration, erosion control, community processes, and much more. Using a combination of lecture, discussion, hands-on activities at OAEC’s 80-acre site, visits to local permaculture examples, and a group design project, you will have the chance to integrate and apply the concepts of permaculture during almost 100 hours of course time. Upon completion of the course, participants receive a Certificate of Permaculture Design.

As OAEC enters its second decade, we celebrate our eleventh year as a permaculture school, the most established and longest continually operating such site in California. In that time, we have offered 24 courses to well over 400 students, and consistently hear from graduates that it is a “life-changing” experience.

Event Details:

Instructor: Brock Dolman with guests
Cost: $1350/$1250 if registered two weeks in advance (residential course). Some partial work exchange opportunities are available for this course; see below for more details.
For registration information, click here.

Whether you currently own property or dream of it, this two-week intensive course will immerse you in information, ideas and inspiration for how to design sustainable, regenerative systems in balance with your home ecosystem. You will learn the ethics, principles and practice of “permanent culture,” by exploring topics such as organic gardening, mulching, natural building techniques, forest farming, water retention and regeneration, erosion control, community processes, and much more. Using a combination of lecture, discussion, hands-on activities at OAEC’s 80-acre site, visits to local permaculture examples, and a group design project, you will have the chance to integrate and apply the concepts of permaculture during almost 100 hours of course time. Upon completion of the course, participants receive a Certificate of Permaculture Design.

As OAEC enters its second decade, we celebrate our eleventh year as a permaculture school, the most established and longest continually operating such site in California. In that time, we have offered 24 courses to well over 400 students, and consistently hear from graduates that it is a “life-changing” experience.

Event Details:

Instructor: Brock Dolman with guests
Cost: $1350/$1250 if registered two weeks in advance (residential course). Some partial work exchange opportunities are available for this course; see below for more details.
For registration information, click here.

Whether you currently own property or dream of it, this two-week intensive course will immerse you in information, ideas and inspiration for how to design sustainable, regenerative systems in balance with your home ecosystem. You will learn the ethics, principles and practice of “permanent culture,” by exploring topics such as organic gardening, mulching, natural building techniques, forest farming, water retention and regeneration, erosion control, community processes, and much more. Using a combination of lecture, discussion, hands-on activities at OAEC’s 80-acre site, visits to local permaculture examples, and a group design project, you will have the chance to integrate and apply the concepts of permaculture during almost 100 hours of course time. Upon completion of the course, participants receive a Certificate of Permaculture Design.

As OAEC enters its second decade, we celebrate our eleventh year as a permaculture school, the most established and longest continually operating such site in California. In that time, we have offered 24 courses to well over 400 students, and consistently hear from graduates that it is a “life-changing” experience.

Event Details:

Instructor: Brock Dolman with guests
Cost: $1350/$1250 if registered two weeks in advance (residential course). Some partial work exchange opportunities are available for this course; see below for more details.
For registration information, click here.

Whether you currently own property or dream of it, this two-week intensive course will immerse you in information, ideas and inspiration for how to design sustainable, regenerative systems in balance with your home ecosystem. You will learn the ethics, principles and practice of “permanent culture,” by exploring topics such as organic gardening, mulching, natural building techniques, forest farming, water retention and regeneration, erosion control, community processes, and much more. Using a combination of lecture, discussion, hands-on activities at OAEC’s 80-acre site, visits to local permaculture examples, and a group design project, you will have the chance to integrate and apply the concepts of permaculture during almost 100 hours of course time. Upon completion of the course, participants receive a Certificate of Permaculture Design.

As OAEC enters its second decade, we celebrate our eleventh year as a permaculture school, the most established and longest continually operating such site in California. In that time, we have offered 24 courses to well over 400 students, and consistently hear from graduates that it is a “life-changing” experience.

Event Details:

Instructor: Brock Dolman with guests
Cost: $1350/$1250 if registered two weeks in advance (residential course). Some partial work exchange opportunities are available for this course; see below for more details.
For registration information, click here.

Whether you currently own property or dream of it, this two-week intensive course will immerse you in information, ideas and inspiration for how to design sustainable, regenerative systems in balance with your home ecosystem. You will learn the ethics, principles and practice of “permanent culture,” by exploring topics such as organic gardening, mulching, natural building techniques, forest farming, water retention and regeneration, erosion control, community processes, and much more. Using a combination of lecture, discussion, hands-on activities at OAEC’s 80-acre site, visits to local permaculture examples, and a group design project, you will have the chance to integrate and apply the concepts of permaculture during almost 100 hours of course time. Upon completion of the course, participants receive a Certificate of Permaculture Design.

As OAEC enters its second decade, we celebrate our eleventh year as a permaculture school, the most established and longest continually operating such site in California. In that time, we have offered 24 courses to well over 400 students, and consistently hear from graduates that it is a “life-changing” experience.

Event Details:

Instructor: Brock Dolman with guests
Cost: $1350/$1250 if registered two weeks in advance (residential course). Some partial work exchange opportunities are available for this course; see below for more details.
For registration information, click here.

Whether you currently own property or dream of it, this two-week intensive course will immerse you in information, ideas and inspiration for how to design sustainable, regenerative systems in balance with your home ecosystem. You will learn the ethics, principles and practice of “permanent culture,” by exploring topics such as organic gardening, mulching, natural building techniques, forest farming, water retention and regeneration, erosion control, community processes, and much more. Using a combination of lecture, discussion, hands-on activities at OAEC’s 80-acre site, visits to local permaculture examples, and a group design project, you will have the chance to integrate and apply the concepts of permaculture during almost 100 hours of course time. Upon completion of the course, participants receive a Certificate of Permaculture Design.

As OAEC enters its second decade, we celebrate our eleventh year as a permaculture school, the most established and longest continually operating such site in California. In that time, we have offered 24 courses to well over 400 students, and consistently hear from graduates that it is a “life-changing” experience.

Event Details:

Instructor: Brock Dolman with guests
Cost: $1350/$1250 if registered two weeks in advance (residential course). Some partial work exchange opportunities are available for this course; see below for more details.
For registration information, click here.

Whether you currently own property or dream of it, this two-week intensive course will immerse you in information, ideas and inspiration for how to design sustainable, regenerative systems in balance with your home ecosystem. You will learn the ethics, principles and practice of “permanent culture,” by exploring topics such as organic gardening, mulching, natural building techniques, forest farming, water retention and regeneration, erosion control, community processes, and much more. Using a combination of lecture, discussion, hands-on activities at OAEC’s 80-acre site, visits to local permaculture examples, and a group design project, you will have the chance to integrate and apply the concepts of permaculture during almost 100 hours of course time. Upon completion of the course, participants receive a Certificate of Permaculture Design.

As OAEC enters its second decade, we celebrate our eleventh year as a permaculture school, the most established and longest continually operating such site in California. In that time, we have offered 24 courses to well over 400 students, and consistently hear from graduates that it is a “life-changing” experience.

Event Details:

Instructor: Brock Dolman with guests
Cost: $1350/$1250 if registered two weeks in advance (residential course). Some partial work exchange opportunities are available for this course; see below for more details.
For registration information, click here.

Whether you currently own property or dream of it, this two-week intensive course will immerse you in information, ideas and inspiration for how to design sustainable, regenerative systems in balance with your home ecosystem. You will learn the ethics, principles and practice of “permanent culture,” by exploring topics such as organic gardening, mulching, natural building techniques, forest farming, water retention and regeneration, erosion control, community processes, and much more. Using a combination of lecture, discussion, hands-on activities at OAEC’s 80-acre site, visits to local permaculture examples, and a group design project, you will have the chance to integrate and apply the concepts of permaculture during almost 100 hours of course time. Upon completion of the course, participants receive a Certificate of Permaculture Design.

As OAEC enters its second decade, we celebrate our eleventh year as a permaculture school, the most established and longest continually operating such site in California. In that time, we have offered 24 courses to well over 400 students, and consistently hear from graduates that it is a “life-changing” experience.

Event Details:

Instructor: Brock Dolman with guests
Cost: $1350/$1250 if registered two weeks in advance (residential course). Some partial work exchange opportunities are available for this course; see below for more details.
For registration information, click here.

Whether you currently own property or dream of it, this two-week intensive course will immerse you in information, ideas and inspiration for how to design sustainable, regenerative systems in balance with your home ecosystem. You will learn the ethics, principles and practice of “permanent culture,” by exploring topics such as organic gardening, mulching, natural building techniques, forest farming, water retention and regeneration, erosion control, community processes, and much more. Using a combination of lecture, discussion, hands-on activities at OAEC’s 80-acre site, visits to local permaculture examples, and a group design project, you will have the chance to integrate and apply the concepts of permaculture during almost 100 hours of course time. Upon completion of the course, participants receive a Certificate of Permaculture Design.

As OAEC enters its second decade, we celebrate our eleventh year as a permaculture school, the most established and longest continually operating such site in California. In that time, we have offered 24 courses to well over 400 students, and consistently hear from graduates that it is a “life-changing” experience.

Event Details:

Instructor: Brock Dolman with guests
Cost: $1350/$1250 if registered two weeks in advance (residential course). Some partial work exchange opportunities are available for this course; see below for more details.
For registration information, click here.

Whether you currently own property or dream of it, this two-week intensive course will immerse you in information, ideas and inspiration for how to design sustainable, regenerative systems in balance with your home ecosystem. You will learn the ethics, principles and practice of “permanent culture,” by exploring topics such as organic gardening, mulching, natural building techniques, forest farming, water retention and regeneration, erosion control, community processes, and much more. Using a combination of lecture, discussion, hands-on activities at OAEC’s 80-acre site, visits to local permaculture examples, and a group design project, you will have the chance to integrate and apply the concepts of permaculture during almost 100 hours of course time. Upon completion of the course, participants receive a Certificate of Permaculture Design.

As OAEC enters its second decade, we celebrate our eleventh year as a permaculture school, the most established and longest continually operating such site in California. In that time, we have offered 24 courses to well over 400 students, and consistently hear from graduates that it is a “life-changing” experience.

Event Details:

Instructor: Brock Dolman with guests
Cost: $1350/$1250 if registered two weeks in advance (residential course). Some partial work exchange opportunities are available for this course; see below for more details.
For registration information, click here.

Whether you currently own property or dream of it, this two-week intensive course will immerse you in information, ideas and inspiration for how to design sustainable, regenerative systems in balance with your home ecosystem. You will learn the ethics, principles and practice of “permanent culture,” by exploring topics such as organic gardening, mulching, natural building techniques, forest farming, water retention and regeneration, erosion control, community processes, and much more. Using a combination of lecture, discussion, hands-on activities at OAEC’s 80-acre site, visits to local permaculture examples, and a group design project, you will have the chance to integrate and apply the concepts of permaculture during almost 100 hours of course time. Upon completion of the course, participants receive a Certificate of Permaculture Design.

As OAEC enters its second decade, we celebrate our eleventh year as a permaculture school, the most established and longest continually operating such site in California. In that time, we have offered 24 courses to well over 400 students, and consistently hear from graduates that it is a “life-changing” experience.

Event Details:

Instructor: Brock Dolman with guests
Cost: $1350/$1250 if registered two weeks in advance (residential course). Some partial work exchange opportunities are available for this course; see below for more details.
For registration information, click here.

Whether you currently own property or dream of it, this two-week intensive course will immerse you in information, ideas and inspiration for how to design sustainable, regenerative systems in balance with your home ecosystem. You will learn the ethics, principles and practice of “permanent culture,” by exploring topics such as organic gardening, mulching, natural building techniques, forest farming, water retention and regeneration, erosion control, community processes, and much more. Using a combination of lecture, discussion, hands-on activities at OAEC’s 80-acre site, visits to local permaculture examples, and a group design project, you will have the chance to integrate and apply the concepts of permaculture during almost 100 hours of course time. Upon completion of the course, participants receive a Certificate of Permaculture Design.

As OAEC enters its second decade, we celebrate our eleventh year as a permaculture school, the most established and longest continually operating such site in California. In that time, we have offered 24 courses to well over 400 students, and consistently hear from graduates that it is a “life-changing” experience.

Event Details:

Instructor: Brock Dolman with guests
Cost: $1350/$1250 if registered two weeks in advance (residential course). Some partial work exchange opportunities are available for this course; see below for more details.
For registration information, click here.

Whether you currently own property or dream of it, this two-week intensive course will immerse you in information, ideas and inspiration for how to design sustainable, regenerative systems in balance with your home ecosystem. You will learn the ethics, principles and practice of “permanent culture,” by exploring topics such as organic gardening, mulching, natural building techniques, forest farming, water retention and regeneration, erosion control, community processes, and much more. Using a combination of lecture, discussion, hands-on activities at OAEC’s 80-acre site, visits to local permaculture examples, and a group design project, you will have the chance to integrate and apply the concepts of permaculture during almost 100 hours of course time. Upon completion of the course, participants receive a Certificate of Permaculture Design.

As OAEC enters its second decade, we celebrate our eleventh year as a permaculture school, the most established and longest continually operating such site in California. In that time, we have offered 24 courses to well over 400 students, and consistently hear from graduates that it is a “life-changing” experience.

Event Details:

Instructor: Brock Dolman with guests
Cost: $1350/$1250 if registered two weeks in advance (residential course). Some partial work exchange opportunities are available for this course; see below for more details.
For registration information, click here.

Whether you currently own property or dream of it, this two-week intensive course will immerse you in information, ideas and inspiration for how to design sustainable, regenerative systems in balance with your home ecosystem. You will learn the ethics, principles and practice of “permanent culture,” by exploring topics such as organic gardening, mulching, natural building techniques, forest farming, water retention and regeneration, erosion control, community processes, and much more. Using a combination of lecture, discussion, hands-on activities at OAEC’s 80-acre site, visits to local permaculture examples, and a group design project, you will have the chance to integrate and apply the concepts of permaculture during almost 100 hours of course time. Upon completion of the course, participants receive a Certificate of Permaculture Design.

As OAEC enters its second decade, we celebrate our eleventh year as a permaculture school, the most established and longest continually operating such site in California. In that time, we have offered 24 courses to well over 400 students, and consistently hear from graduates that it is a “life-changing” experience.

Event Details:

It’s time to plant your spring garden! At the spring sales we will feature many interesting ornamental perennials, as well as traditional Andean annual and perennial food crops such as yacon, kiwicha, mashua, tamarillo, oca, pepino, quinoa, and cape gooseberry. Our first Spring Plant Sale will feature early spring crops such as lettuces and salad greens, peas, brassicas, chards, leeks, flowers, and herbs.

Hours are 9 am – 5 pm each day
Garden tours will be held at 10 am and 11 am each day
Free admission

Event Details:

It’s time to plant your spring garden! At the spring sales we will feature many interesting ornamental perennials, as well as traditional Andean annual and perennial food crops such as yacon, kiwicha, mashua, tamarillo, oca, pepino, quinoa, and cape gooseberry. Our first Spring Plant Sale will feature early spring crops such as lettuces and salad greens, peas, brassicas, chards, leeks, flowers, and herbs.

Hours are 9 am – 5 pm each day
Garden tours will be held at 10 am and 11 am each day
Free admission

Event Details:

It’s time to plant your summer garden! At the spring sales we will feature many interesting ornamental perennials, as well as traditional Andean annual and perennial food crops such as yacon, kiwicha, mashua, tamarillo, oca, pepino, quinoa, and cape gooseberry. Our second Spring Plant Sale features hundreds of varieties of warm season summer crops, including basil, summer and winter squash, pumpkins, tomatoes, hot and sweet peppers, eggplants, melons, cucumbers, and gourds.

Hours are 9 am – 5 pm each day
Garden tours will be held at 10 am and 11 am each day
Free

Event Details:

It’s time to plant your summer garden! At the spring sales we will feature many interesting ornamental perennials, as well as traditional Andean annual and perennial food crops such as yacon, kiwicha, mashua, tamarillo, oca, pepino, quinoa, and cape gooseberry. Our second Spring Plant Sale features hundreds of varieties of warm season summer crops, including basil, summer and winter squash, pumpkins, tomatoes, hot and sweet peppers, eggplants, melons, cucumbers, and gourds.

Hours are 9 am – 5 pm each day
Garden tours will be held at 10 am and 11 am each day
Free

Event Details:

One of the great joys of living in Northern California is that we can garden all year round, creating fall and winter gardens that rival the beauty, diversity and productivity of summer gardens. Now is the time to put fall and winter seedlings into the ground while the soil is still warm! Come and choose from hundreds of varieties of California Certified Organic heirloom brassicas, lettuces, salad greens, chards, leeks, and herbs as well as old-fashioned annual flowers. Select from an impressive array of ornamental and edible perennials propagated from our own collections.

In addition to plant shopping, this is an excellent opportunity to become familiar with OAEC by attending our Open House. The OAEC grounds will be open to give you a taste of our educational programs with a self-guided tour of demonstration stations from 11 am to 2 pm, and we’ll have refreshments and entertainment.

Event Details:

One of the great joys of living in Northern California is that we can garden all year round, creating fall and winter gardens that rival the beauty, diversity and productivity of summer gardens. Now is the time to put fall and winter seedlings into the ground while the soil is still warm! Come and choose from hundreds of varieties of California Certified Organic heirloom brassicas, lettuces, salad greens, chards, leeks, and herbs as well as old-fashioned annual flowers. Select from an impressive array of ornamental and edible perennials propagated from our own collections.

In addition to plant shopping, this is an excellent opportunity to become familiar with OAEC by attending our Open House. The OAEC grounds will be open to give you a taste of our educational programs with a self-guided tour of demonstration stations from 11 am to 2 pm, and we’ll have refreshments and entertainment.

Event Details:
$15-$8 sliding scale for adults, $6 for children (ages 3-15)

An hour-long show tailored to the whimsy of children and the innocence of all souls. Fumbling clowns, sunny sing-alongs, marvelous magic, and other wonders will leave eyes wide and hands clapping!

Event Details:

Instructor: Brock Dolman
Cost: $375/$325 if registered two weeks in advance (includes meals and lodging)
For registration information, click here.

Reconciling the need to meet basic human needs with concern for the sustainability and regeneration of the natural world is the essence of permacultural design. This course will expose you to the basic principles and applications of permaculture with a variety of lectures, discussions and hands-on activities in OAEC’s 80-acre garden, community and wilderness. Topics will range from water catchment to erosion control, organic and polycultural food production, natural building, site design, and more.

Event Details:

Instructor: Brock Dolman
Cost: $375/$325 if registered two weeks in advance (includes meals and lodging)
For registration information, click here.

Reconciling the need to meet basic human needs with concern for the sustainability and regeneration of the natural world is the essence of permacultural design. This course will expose you to the basic principles and applications of permaculture with a variety of lectures, discussions and hands-on activities in OAEC’s 80-acre garden, community and wilderness. Topics will range from water catchment to erosion control, organic and polycultural food production, natural building, site design, and more.

Event Details:

Instructor: Brock Dolman
Cost: $375/$325 if registered two weeks in advance (includes meals and lodging)
For registration information, click here.

Reconciling the need to meet basic human needs with concern for the sustainability and regeneration of the natural world is the essence of permacultural design. This course will expose you to the basic principles and applications of permaculture with a variety of lectures, discussions and hands-on activities in OAEC’s 80-acre garden, community and wilderness. Topics will range from water catchment to erosion control, organic and polycultural food production, natural building, site design, and more.