Food
Meals at the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center are a vibrant expression of our close relationship with the land. Prepared with fresh, organic ingredients, much of it grown right here in our gardens, or sourced from local farms. Each meal is delicious, seasonal, thoughtfully curated, and prepared by professional chefs. Shared meals offer a chance to connect and enjoy the bounty of the land in a warm, communal setting.
Food Philosophy
Our food is seasonal and closely tied to our work in OAEC’s Mother Garden Biodiversity Program. The gardens allow us to provide delicious organic fruit, vegetables, herbs, and flowers for meals prepared onsite as we continue to grow food and eat together in a changing climate. We’re committed to preserving biocultural diversity by curating, propagating, and sharing thousands of heirloom, open-pollinated annuals and edible, medicinal, and ornamental perennials. We avoid waste by taking advantage of the bounty of the gardens and making sure that everything is used. Food scraps feed our chickens and goats, or are turned into beautiful, fluffy compost to feed the next cycle of produce. To meet the cultural and dietary needs of the communities we serve through our movement-building retreats, we occasionally incorporate ethically sourced, organic meat into our meals.
Retreat Meals
- We provide three meals a day featuring delicious and plentiful mostly vegetarian dishes prepared by our professional chefs using fresh, organic produce from our gardens and local farms.
- With advance notice, we can accommodate vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free diets. However, we cannot accommodate the many other individual food preferences. Those with food allergies should notify us immediately so that we can accommodate and plan meals accordingly.
- The Kitchen is the hub and hearth of the OAEC community. Normally, meals are shared with residents, staff, garden volunteers, and visitors in our large indoor dining room and outside on picnic tables in nice weather.
- Meals are generally served buffet style at the following times: Breakfast at 7:30, Lunch at 12:30, and Dinner at 6:30.
- Organic coffee and a wide variety of teas are always available in the dining room and in the Meeting Hall.
- We offer basic organic snacks, including chips and salsa, fresh fruit, dried fruit, and nuts, as well as a daily toast bar. You are welcome to bring supplemental snacks and store them in the Meeting Hall fridge.
- We do not serve alcohol with our meals, but you are welcome to bring it. Beer, wine, and spirits can be purchased at the local markets close by in the town of Occidental.
