2018 End of Year Update
When you close your eyes and imagine a more just and sustainable future, what does it look like to you? We bring this question to life every day, at OAEC … Read more
Living with Lions: Event FULL – Please carpool!
This event is FULL due to limited parking (Our overflow parking area is too soggy.) If you have already RSVP’ed, please consider carpooling! Downtown Occidental is a great place to … Read more
Tending the Oaks
What’s wrong with this picture? The beautiful view of the OAEC backcountry from our new Meeting Hall deck is a lovely place to enjoy the sunset, but seen through a … Read more
OAEC at Bioneers
Join us at the Bioneers Conference – Oct 19th – 20th At the upcoming Bioneers Conference, OAEC’s Program Manager Cooper Freeman will discuss the evolutionary wheat breeding project he is leading … Read more
Nursery – only a few weeks left in the season!
Above: Of the two species of Patchouli grown for it’s essential oils, Java Patchouli is more common to find in cultivation and can be grown as a beautiful container plant, as … Read more
New Meeting Hall Complete – now booking 2019 retreats
After an extensive master planning process, capital campaign, renovations and new construction of several key buildings including new Guest Houses, we are thrilled to announce the completion of our latest project … Read more
Being Salmon, Being Human: The Performance
Join us in the North Garden Theater on Wednesday August 15th 7-9pm BEING SALMON, BEING HUMAN is a unique storytelling performance from Norway combining traditional tales, original music, and … Read more
Busy Beavers
WATER Institute co-directors Kate Lundquist and Brock Dolman have fully embodied their busy mascot this summer as they hit the Bring Back the Beaver Campaign trail! The past few weeks … Read more
OAEC Nursery joins Fibershed
The OAEC Nursery is a new member of Fibershed, a consortium of growers, ranchers, artisans, and retailers working to create a culturally, socially, economically and ecologically viable local textile industry. … Read more
Bring Back the Beaver Campaign: Upcoming Events
Like busy beavers, the WATER Institute staff is jamming this spring! Hope you can join us for these upcoming events: WATER INSTITUTE BEAVER EVENTS Partnering With Beaver To Restore Rivers … Read more
Compost Toilet Project Update
Our composting toilet project is up and running! Two of our three new systems are fully installed and operational in the guest housing accommodations – the third will come on … Read more
Summer crops are here!
Well, the weather has changed from deep winter to summer in just a day, like a light switch turning from off to on, as it always seems to do every … Read more
Nursery Now Open! Fri-Sat-Sun, 10-5
As you may have heard, the Climate is Changing and so is the OAEC Nursery! > In the interest of long term sustainability of our business, we are moving away … Read more
Friends of the Nursery Preview Sale – April 1st
Friends of the Nursery Preview Sale April 1st 10am-5pm As you may have heard, the Climate is Changing and so is the OAEC Nursery! > In the interest of long term sustainability … Read more
The climate is changing and so is the OAEC Nursery
The OAEC non-profit nursery is the outward face of our 45-year-old esteemed Mother Garden and represents an outreach into the community from the experience, work and wisdom we’ve gained by … Read more
Seed Swap, Feb 13th at Sebastopol Grange
Join us for our FAVORITE seed swap (and we go to a lot of seed swaps!) on Tuesday February 13th, 2018 at the Sebastopol Grange 6000 highway 12, Sebastopol CA … Read more
3rd edition of Basins of Relations guidebook now available!
Basins of Relations: A Citizen’s Guide to Protecting and Restoring Our Watersheds 3rd edition, 2018 by Brock Dolman and Kate Lundquist of the OAEC WATER Institute “Now and in the … Read more
Mending the Wild at OAEC
A controlled prescribed fire being used at OAEC for the ecological and habitat goals of our coastal prairie… December 2017 In the context of the North Bay fires this fall and … Read more
Inspire your holiday feasts with the OAEC Cookbook
Order your copy today! The Occidental Arts & Ecology Center Cookbook: Fresh-from-the-Garden Recipes for Gatherings Large and Small, by the OAEC Staff Collective and former Kitchen Manager Olivia Rathbone, is … Read more
Afterburn – Response to North Bay Fires
Afterburn, photo by Jim Coleman October 2017. In the middle of a tightly scheduled month of strategic planning retreats at OAEC, an unprecedented wildfire ripped through our region, consuming 300,000+ … Read more
Meet the OAEC Board
OAEC is proud to introduce our new Board of Directors members, the amazing “dream-team” that supports and oversees our self-governing staff collective. We are so grateful for the wealth of experience … Read more
CCOF cost share program
This year the OAEC nursery and gardens were able to waive 75% of our organic certification fees through the Federal Organic Cost Share program. Why is Cost Share Important? Historically, farm bill … Read more
Localizing California Waters Conference
Localizing California Waters Conference November 1 – 3, 2017 Yosemite CA For the 3rd year, OAEC will help to convene onsite water advocates, practitioners and regulators under one roof for … Read more
Wheat Breeding Experiment for Climate Adaptation
What will the climate be like 20 years from now? How can we breed food crops that will thrive and adapt to change? With an increasingly unstable climate … Read more
Chautauqua SOLD OUT!
Sorry, all three evening performances and the matinee are SOLD OUT! There will be no tickets available at the door.
Fall Plant Sale Aug 19-20 & 26-27
Fall Crops Plant Sale, Art Show & Garden Tours August 19 – 20 & August 26 – 27 Sat & Sun, 10am – 5pm Join us for the Member Preview – August 18th, 4-6pm – … Read more
Haiti Hurricane Seed Donation
In early October 2016, the Category 4 Hurricane Matthew devastated Haiti. With maximum sustained winds of up to 150mph, Matthew was the strongest storm to hit Haiti since Hurricane Cleo … Read more
New Meeting Center Construction Begins
After 15+ year master planning process, capital campaign, and successful completion of numerous other construction projects and renovations, we were thrilled this spring to break ground on our final capstone project – a … Read more
2017 Chautauqua tickets on sale now!
The 15th Annual Chautauqua Revue is now open for business! Tickets are on sale for the most unique show to be found this side of the Russian River. This … Read more
