OAEC conducts winter prescribed burn
photo by Brock Dolman In late January, with the help of Fire Forward, the OAEC and Sowing Circle community conducted a prescribed burn in a 4-acre woodland unit of our … Read more
Beaver Restoration Feasibility: A Webinar for OlemaĀ
The following video is a recording of the informational webinar Brock Dolman and Kate Lundquist (Occidental Arts & Ecology Center WATER Institute Directors) gave on March 4, 2021 to those … Read more
Podcast Interview on Intentional Community with Dave Henson
The Foundation for Intentional Communities has launched a new podcast called “Inside Community” and invited OAEC Executive Director and Sowing Circle Co-Founder Dave Henson to be the guest on one … Read more
Kent Whealy Memorial Seed Collection
Pictured above: Doug Gosling, Mother Garden Biodiversity Program Director, in the OAEC seed vault with the new Kent Whealy dedication plaque.Ā It is our great pleasure to announce the dedication … Read more
Take a virtual or in-person garden tour!
After a long Covid hiatus,Ā on-siteĀ tours of the gardens led by real live humans will resume this April!Ā Join usĀ 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month at 1pm, starting at the … Read more
OAEC Organizes ‘Rewilding California’ Convening
In September, OAEC, along with the Center for Biological Diversity and The Rewilding Institute, convened a virtual Rewilding California meeting that, for the first time ever, brought together many of … Read more
Beyond Defensible Space webinar presentation by Brock Dolman
Wildfire preparedness at the county and state level often focus onĀ defensible space and home hardeningā¦ and for good reason! Both are critical strategies when it comes to saving lives, … Read more
Fall Nursery Sale: Nov 7-8 & 14-15
Fall Nursery Sale November 7-8 & 14-15 Everything 20% Off! Wow, what a season! Ā From Covid to wildfires, the Mother Garden Nursery has hit more than a few bumps along … Read more
Beaver Webinar with Kate Lundquist – video recording
Beaver in California: Creating a Culture of Stewardship Online Presentation The following video is a recording of a presentation WATER Institute Co-Director Kate Lundquist gave on October 15, 2020.Ā Learn how … Read more
Story of Plastic Wins an Emmy!
OAEC’s fiscally sponsored project Peak PlasticĀ creates integrated storytellingĀ campaigns to fightĀ plastic production and pollution and toĀ empowerĀ global collaborative action. LastĀ month, Peak Plastic foundersĀ Stiv Wilson and Megan Ponder and their team won an … Read more
Read the 2021 Update
In these times, OAEC continues to embody David Orrās assertion that āhope is a verb with its sleeves rolled up,ā advancing practical solutions at the personal and community scale that … Read more
Peak Plastic Foundation joins OAEC!
OAEC has brought on the Peak Plastic Foundation (PPF) as a new fiscally-sponsored project, continuing OAECās involvement in the movement to end the plastic crisis. We are excited to support … Read more
Celebrating Women’s Leadership in Food
OAEC is excited to announce a new partnership with Celebrating Women’s Leadership in FoodĀ led by local farmer, author and activist Caitlin Hatchmyer. We are thrilled to support this project as … Read more
Forest Thinning and Gully Repair
‘Slash Ain’t Trash, It’s Beneficial Biomass!’ Ā – Brock Dolman For the past few months, OAEC’s Wildlands team has been working hard applying for permits to restore a number of eroding … Read more
Winter Veggie Starts Available
Winter Gardening Starts Now! This week, the Mother Garden Nursery will begin offering your favorite winter vegetable varieties including chicories, lettuces, brassicas, and herbs, in addition to our fabulous perennials. … Read more
Wildlands Program Builds Local Wildfire Resiliency
October 2021 Though the air has been clean at OAEC the past few weeks, we havenāt forgotten that California is still on the heels of a devastating wildfire season (amidst … Read more
Lottie Cunningham Wren wins “Alternative Nobel Prize”
We are thrilled to announce that OAEC partner Lottie Cunningham Wren, Miskito women and human rights lawyer for indigenous Nicaraguans, has won the 2020 Right Livelihood Award, often referred to … Read more
A Message from Wysteria McBrylcream
Last year, after seventeen consecutive years of producing the Chautauqua Revue, OAEC decided that we would take a year off in 2020 to freshen things up and take a long … Read more
Covid Update
OAEC’s Response to Covid-19 updated August 2020 We at the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center are working to make a safe, proactive, and appropriately-scaled response andĀ are committed to following state … Read more
Updated Coho Recovery Display in Downtown Occidental
Now that the Occidental Farmers Market is up and running for the season, we invite you to come check out the newly updated watershed literacy display case near the picnic … Read more
Juneteenth Call to Action
OAEC aligns with the following demands and principles that come directly from the Movement for Black Lives (M4BL) around the upcoming Juneteenth weekend. We urge you to read and get … Read more
Nursery to Reopen 6/13
The Mother Garden Nursery will re-open for physically distanced shopping June 13 & 14 returning to our normal weekend business hours for the season Sat & Sun 10am – 5pm … Read more
The Story of Plastic – Virtual Film Screening
Pre-Covid-19, we had planned to hold a screening of this new film at OAEC, but we hope you’ll join us instead for a free on-line screening andĀ Q&A discussion. Watch TheĀ Story … Read more
Fire destroys OAEC’s historic barn
Dears, We are so sad to report that our beloved and historic barn at OAEC burned to the ground last night. Everyone, including the animals, is safe albeit devastated. The … Read more
Nursery Open for Take Out!
YES, we are selling plants – take out style! Ā The Mother Garden Nursery is open for pick up of online pre-orders.Ā Now more than ever, spending time in the … Read more
Nursery Updates
YES, we are selling plants – take out style! Ā The Mother Garden Nursery is open for pick up of online pre-orders.Ā Now more than ever, spending time in the … Read more
OAEC’s Response to COVID-19
OAEC’s Response to COVID-19 updated March 16, 2020 We at the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center are working to make a safe, proactive, and appropriately-scaled response to the spread of … Read more
Listen to Dave Henson on Flipping the Table podcast
In this Roots of Change Flipping the Table podcast episode, OAEC co-founder Dave Henson talks about the problems of economy and governance that prevent our social movements, including the food … Read more
Sonoma County Seed Swap – Feb 23rd
Did you know that OAEC hosts three of the biggest seed exchanges in California every year? Ā Learn more about our seed saving program here.
