Seed Swappin’
One of the goals of our Mother Garden Biodiversity & Nursery program is to conserve agricultural biodiversity and share it with the broader public through seed saving and Plant Sales. At the … Read more
Greywater Policy Innovation Goes to Sacramento
The Decentralized Water Policy Council (DWPC), a project of OAEC and the California Onsite Water Association, was one of three finalists in the Imagine H2O Policy Challenge. Finalists were selected from over 100 applications … Read more
In Memory of OAEC’s Friend Doug Tompkins
Above: Kris & Doug Tompkins. Photo by Dave Henson, Dec. 2014. The staff and extended family of the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center would like to honor our friend, mentor … Read more
Connecting to Place Through Art: Painting the OAEC Pond
Co-founder and resident artist Adam Wolpert is in his seventh month of a yearlong project to paint the southwest corner of the OAEC pond. He has created 45 oil paintings–all … Read more
Nov. 2-7: Week of Action to Protect Pollinators
For the last two years, OAEC’s Executive Director Dave Henson has been facilitating a network of U.S. organizations that are developing strategies to protect pollinators such as bees, bats, birds, … Read more
Speak Out to Keep Glyphosate (Roundup) a Prop 65 Chemical
The use of glyphosate has surged dramatically since the 1990s, when genetically engineered (GE) “Roundup Ready” corn and soybean crops were introduced. According to the Pesticide Action Network of North America (PANNA), … Read more
Water Budgeting at OAEC and in Your Community
Above: Alana records weekly potable water use at OAEC outside the Main Office, which all staff members see throughout the day. You, too, could do this at your workplace, church, child’s … Read more
Join the “Chautauqua Circle”
Thank you to everyone who attended our 13th Annual Chautauqua Revue this past weekend! Despite the heavy lifting required to bring into the theater two dozen performers, light and sound equipment, costumes, props, … Read more
OAEC Daughter Garden for People Living with HIV/AIDS
What if a food bank distributed not just canned and donated goods, but fresh, organic produce grown right onsite? The Food For Thought (FFT) Food Bank in Forestville, one of … Read more
Perennials You Can Plant Now
If you’re an avid gardener, you are probably about to get your Fall and Winter annuals into the ground, or have already done so. However, there are also many perennial food crops, … Read more
OAEC Publishes Wildlands Preserve Stewardship Plan
Pictured: Harold Appleton, registered professional forester, co-authored the plan with Lindsay Dailey and Jim Coleman (pictured) as well as Brock Dolman. Harold spent many hours onsite inventorying mixed conifer forests and guiding OAEC … Read more
OAEC Cookbook: Summer Recipe & Civil Eats Article
Pictured: Flower Petal Pestos. Edible flowers, such as sunflower and nastutium, volunteer in legions in OAEC’s temperate gardens. These brightly colored sauces in small quantities are most efficiently used as a … Read more
New OAEC Guest Housing
We are thrilled to announce the completion of our three new guest housing units, built to provide beautiful and comfortable accommodations for a more diverse array of our constituents. Being a demonstration site, … Read more
WATER Institute Reviews Beaver Restoration Guidebook
The WATER Institute was invited to review the 200-page comprehensive Beaver Restoration Guidebook written by NOAA Fisheries, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service and Portland State University to … Read more
Drought Action
These are extraordinary times in California–especially in the Dutch Bill Creek Watershed, where OAEC is located, and the watersheds surrounding it. The water in our creeks is so low that … Read more
OAEC Nursery Staff Spotlights
Behind the scenes at OAEC are dozens of talented hourly and part-time staff members. Here are some of the wonderful people who give their time, energy and love to the OAEC Nursery, our 100% California Certified … Read more
WATER Institute Helps Caltrans Steward Beaver
A great example of beaver stewardship recently occurred in Caltrans District 5. A beaver had dammed a drainage, which was beginning to flood the adjacent roadbed of a new freeway … Read more
Storytelling for Social Change
Social change is inspired by effective storytelling. Our allies in the Climate Justice Alliance (CJA), a group of organizers that includes our Strategic Partners with the Movement Generation Justice & … Read more
Removing Barriers to Ecological Water Management
The drought highlights the need for some common sense water saving and reuse practices such as composting toilets and integrated greywater systems that not only irrigate landscapes but reuse water indoors … Read more
North Bay Woman Magazine Interviews Olivia Rathbone
OAEC Cookbook Co-Author Olivia Rathbone on growing a farm-to-table garden for the home gardener: North Bay Woman (NBW)*: What does a good farm-to-table garden include? Rathbone: A diverse garden with a good mix … Read more
Last Summer Plant Sale Weekend
Saturday and Sunday are the last two days of the Summer Plant Sale until our Plant Sales resume for our Fall Plant Sale! We still have an incredibly wide array of beautiful … Read more
The OAEC Cookbook is Here! Plus: Sample Recipe
We are thrilled to announce that the long-awaited Occidental Arts & Ecology Center Cookbook has arrived! Published by Chelsea Green and with a foreword by Alice Waters, the Cookbook shares the … Read more
WATER Institute contributes to Canadian report on Beaver Restoration Across Boundaries
WATER Institute Director Kate Lundquist was one of seven American beaver advocates interviewed for this report put together by the Miistakis Institute in Alberta, Canada. The report shares the experiences and … Read more
It’s Spring! What To Be Planting Now
Annuals Gardeners — the days are getting longer and warmer, so we know you’ve got the itch to start playing in your garden beds! There are many crops that you can … Read more
Why California Is Localizing Its Waters
The Connection Between Energy and Water — Water conservation and reuse aren’t just about water quantity, but about dramatically reducing the energy requirement of our water systems. Did you know that nearly … Read more
Beaverpalooza 2015
The WATER Institute Beaver Campaign Hits The Road! In late February and early March, Kate Lundquist and Brock Dolman of the WATER Institute made great headway in forwarding their Bring … Read more
Carbon Farming Benefits Soil, Water and Climate
Ranching and farming practices can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing atmospheric carbon into soil. Last week, 50 soil scientists, ranchers, farmers and carbon farming advocates from around the United … Read more
Highlights from EcoFarm
Last week’s 35th annual EcoFarm Conference gathered nearly 2000 sustainable agriculture experts and allies for education, rejuvenation and celebration with a new twist: the Permaculture Track! Thanks to EFA’s Executive … Read more
OAEC Cookbook Release: April 2015!
The Occidental Arts & Ecology Center Cookbook, by the OAEC Staff Collective and Kitchen Manager Olivia Rathbone, is a collection of inventive recipes from OAEC — a renowned farm, educational retreat center, … Read more
Welcome to the New OAEC Website
Welcome to the new OAEC.org! We have spent the past year redesigning our website to better tell the story of the world that we envision and how that vision shapes our projects and partnerships. … Read more
