OAEC supports diverse communities to design their own regenerative systems at the regional and local scale.
Our cookbook is a collection of inventive recipes inspired by seasonal eating from our biodiverse Mother Garden, orchards and Wildlands Preserve.
Experience the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center through beautiful slideshows of our Guest Houses, Meeting Hall, Kitchen, Garden, Wildlands and more.
OAEC serves as a retreat center for networks, public agencies, foundations and other groups working towards social and environmental change.
Our 100% Certified Organic plant nursery specializes in open-pollinated perennials including edible landscaping plants, rare and endangered food crops, drought tolerant ornamentals and habitat plants - all tested in our onsite gardens and appropriate for our bioregion.
OAEC offers the longest consistently running two-week Permaculture Design Certification course in the West. Immerse yourself in information, ideas and inspiration on how to design sustainable, regenerative systems in balance with your home ecosystem.
We offer tours, courses, Plant Nursery, Volunteer Days and other events during which you can visit OAEC.
Open seasonally April – October
Saturdays & Sundays, 10am-5pm
Main Office Phone: (707) 874 – 1557 x 101
OAEC Nursery Phone: (707) 874-9591
15290 Coleman Valley Road*
Occidental, CA 95465
For Nursery and Parking, please use the second/upper driveway. See box below.
*CLARIFICATION We are located about a 1/2 mile up Coleman Valley Road, west of the village of Occidental. There is another organization with a similar name located in the village called the “Occidental Center for the Arts” which is not affiliated in any way with OAEC. Very confusing! If using GPS, make sure it is set to Occidental Arts & Ecology Center and our address at 15290 Coleman Valley Road.
Occidental is off the path of convenient public transit, though buses do come to Occidental from Santa Rosa. You can get bus information from Sonoma County Transit.
We encourage and will help to facilitate carpooling, particularly among course participants.
Airport Information
Taxis
It costs about $45-55 to get from the Airport Express drop-off in Santa Rosa to Occidental via taxi.
Uber and Lyft charge about $125 for a one way direct trip from SFO airport to Occidental.
Guest parking is in our Upper Lot, the 2nd OAEC entrance on your right when driving up from the town of Occidental.
Main/Lower OAEC driveway. Pull in here to check in, drop off passengers & gear, or for ADA parking. After unloading, please move your car to the upper lot.
Upper Parking Lot and Nursery, located on Coleman Valley Road just uphill from the main driveway. Park here and walk down the gravel path to the OAEC core area.