Now Hiring 2 Positions!
Applications for all positions will be considered on a rolling basis – early application is encouraged! Communications Manager 40 hrs per week. On-site position. Application Deadline: 5:00 PST, March 23rd, … Read more
OAEC
Sign Up for 2025 Permaculture Design Courses
We’re offering two Permaculture Design Courses (PDC) and a NEW Food Forests Course at OAEC in 2025! Permaculture Design Certifications include 4 weeks online self-paced learning + 8 days residential … Read more
2024 Process-Based Restoration Year In Review
2024 has been a hugely successful year for beaver and process-based restoration (PBR) in California. Working with many partners, including members of the California Process-Based Restoration Network, we successfully trained … Read more
Process-based restoration workshop with the Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance and Robinson Rancheria
Brock and Kate recently had the great pleasure of working with our long-time partners at Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance (TERA) to carry out a process-based restoration (PBR) workshop on Robinson Rancheria … Read more
Report Back from BeaverCON 2024
WATER Institute Co-Directors Kate Lundquist and Brock Dolman are feeling truly inspired after attending BeaverCON 2024 in Boulder, Colorado, last month. This renowned international gathering of beaver and process-based restoration … Read more
2024 Process-Based Restoration Year In Review
Participants gather for the third-annual Build Like a Beaver Training at Clarks Creek on the Plumas National Forest (Photo: Brock Dolman/OAEC)2024 has been a hugely successful year for beaver and … Read more
Celebrate and Support OAEC
As we close out this special anniversary year, we thank you for supporting the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center (OAEC). Over the past 30 years, we’ve had the privilege of … Read more
Report Back From Another Successful Build Like a Beaver Training (BLAB)
Participants gather for the third-annual Build Like a Beaver Training at Clarks Creek on the Plumas National Forest (Photo: Brock Dolman/OAEC)The WATER Institute’s Kate Lundquist and Brock Dolman have returned … Read more
Nursery Plant Sale Oct. 26th-27th
Take 30-75% off during our end-of-season sale October 26th-27th! We’re open two more weekends: October 19-20 & 26-27 10am – 5pm 15290 Coleman Valley Rd (upper driveway), Occidental CA Don’t … Read more
Residential Rainwater & Fire Resilience Workshop Nov. 2nd
Join us Saturday, November 2nd from 10AM-1PM for a Residential Rainwater and Fire Resilience Workshop co-hosted by the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, Gold Ridge RCD and Sonoma County Ag + … Read more
California’s “Beaver Bill” Signed by Governor
Photo: Rusty Cohn / Napa BeaversAssembly Bill 2196 codifies the state’s new Beaver Restoration Program. SACRAMENTO – Unanimous votes of both the California State Assembly and Senate propelled Assembly Bill … Read more
Hiring: Beaver Coexistence Program Manager
Beaver Coexistence Program Manager 40 hrs per week. Three-year, remote position (must be based in CA) Application Deadline: 5pm PDT, October 13, 2024 (or until position is filled) Start Date: … Read more
Permaculture Design Course – Nov 7-16
Exciting news! For the first time in years, we actually have a few spots open in our upcoming Permaculture Design Certification this fall!Our popular hybrid Permaculture Design Course offers a … Read more
Apply for 2025 Internships
Applications are now open through October 16th! Each year, OAEC hires a cohort of enthusiastic interns to live and learn at OAEC for 11 months. Interns work 24 hours per … Read more
Tending the Land for Fire Resilience in Sonoma County
Online Resource Launched for Land Stewards September 11, 2024 (Sonoma, CA) – Three trusted nonprofit partners launched a new, free in-depth online resource for Sonoma County land stewards. Tending the … Read more
21st Annual Chautauqua Revue
Tickets sales begin Tuesday, July 16th at 10AM. Evening shows run September 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th at 7:30PM. Family Matinee is Saturday, September 7th at 2PM. Go to our … Read more
Upcoming WATER Institute Events
Upcoming events on watershed, beaver, and process-based restoration.
It’s OAEC’s 30th Anniversary!
This year, the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center (OAEC) is celebrating our 30th anniversary! As we take a moment to pause and reflect, we want to share our deep gratitude … Read more
OAEC chosen as nonprofit of the year for 2nd senate district!
The Occidental Arts & Ecology Center (OAEC) is immensely humbled to be chosen by Senate Pro Tempore Mike McGuire as the 2024 Nonprofit of the Year for Senate District 2. … Read more
Check out our new Beaver web portal!
As we celebrate OAEC’s 30 years, we think back to 2009 when the WATER Institute was scoffed at for having the audacity to suggest that beaver, then considered a ‘nuisance,’ … Read more
End the Siege on Gaza: Permanent Ceasefire Now!
OAEC (The Occidental Arts and Ecology Center), in its 30th year, continues to be dedicated to fostering self-determination in communities and participating in social justice and environmental movements that challenge … Read more
Beaver Welcomed Home on Tule River Tribal Lands
Members of the Tule River Tribe and CDFW officials released three adult beavers, one subadult, and three babies, or “kits,” on Eagle Creek. (Image: CDFW) We’re pleased to announce that … Read more
Brock Dolman Featured in San Joaquin Valley Water Video
Image courtesy of CDFWSan Joaquin Valley Water, an independent, nonprofit news site dedicated to covering water issues in the San Joaquin Valley, produced a video titled “Beavers Reintroduced on the … Read more
People Over Plastic Now Counterstream Media
People Over Plastic, a fiscally sponsored project of OAEC, is now Counterstream Media! From the Counterstream team: “Our new name reflects our mission to center the stories and perspectives that … Read more
Brock Dolman Featured on Two Podcasts
WATER Institute Co-Director and OAEC Co-Founder Brock Dolman has been busy! He recently participated in two podcasts which we recommend listening to! In the first, Permaculture Perspectives, Brock speaks with … Read more
Nursery Featured in Made Local Magazine
Happy Birthday and congratulations to the Mother Garden turning 50 years old this summer! The Mother Garden, and its offspring, the Nursery were featured in the May/June 2024 issue of … Read more
Overwhelming Support for the “Beaver Bill”
Photo: Rusty Cohn / Napa BeaversAssembly Bill 2196 to codify the state’s new Beaver Restoration Program heads to Senate Amazing news! Assemblymember Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael) is authoring a “beaver … Read more
Beaver and Process-Based Restoration Trainings in France
Happy (and muddy) training participants and instructors Kate Lundquist and Kevin Swift (center) gather around one several successful structures installed on the Charlet River. (Photo: Association Rivière Rhône Alpes Auvergne … Read more
Can beavers help Sonoma County lower wildfire risk?
Photo: Public Policy Institute of California Our hyper local news outlet, the Sonoma County Gazette, penned a great article outlining beaver as nature’s engineers, important for fire prevention, flood mitigation, … Read more
