January 14, 2020 This week we celebrated a huge milestone in the progression of OAEC’s Compost Toilet Research Project.… Read More >
First Compost Toilet Research Samples Sent to the Lab!
Thursday, January 16th, 2020
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Occidental Arts & Ecology Center
2019 Update
Tuesday, December 17th, 2019
Dear Friends and Supporters, We are proud of the work we have done this year, advancing bold and successful… Read More >
Listening to the Land with The Cultural Conservancy
Friday, August 30th, 2019
The Cultural Conservancy’s Vision for a Biocultural Renewal Project in Graton There is a one-of-a-kind indigenous land project happening right… Read More >
#breakfreefromplastic – from straws to pipelines
Saturday, August 31st, 2019
Shifting the Narrative from Straws to Pipelines All images courtesy of #breakfreefromplastic. Since its launch in September 2016, nearly… Read More >
Who’s at OAEC? Bay Area Land Justice Convening
Tuesday, April 30th, 2019
A powerhouse group of some of the leading thinkers on land access came together at OAEC for the Bay Area… Read More >
Nursery Season Opens April 6th!
Saturday, March 30th, 2019
Happy Spring! We are so thankful for the generous rains that have invigorated our gardens and promise an explosive Spring… Read More >
Bring Back the Beaver Campaign: Spring 2019 Events
Monday, January 14th, 2019
Want to learn about all the amazing benefits of beaver for California watersheds? Join WATER Institute Directors Kate Lundquist and/or Brock Dolman… Read More >
OAEC Receives Groundbreaking Compost Toilet Permit
Monday, September 26th, 2016
Legitimizing Ecological Sanitation via Scientific Research After 2 years of negotiations, OAEC is excited to partner with county and regional agencies… Read More >
WATER Institute Supports Borneo Watersheds Affected by Palm Oil Plantations
Tuesday, March 15th, 2016
by Janel Healy. Photos by Brock Dolman. 35% of the palm oil produced in the world comes from Malaysia, and… Read More >
Seed Swappin’
Thursday, February 4th, 2016
One of the goals of our Mother Garden Biodiversity & Nursery program is to conserve agricultural biodiversity and share it with… Read More >
Greywater Policy Innovation Goes to Sacramento
Thursday, January 28th, 2016
The Decentralized Water Policy Council (DWPC), a project of OAEC and the California Onsite Water Association, was one of three finalists in the Imagine… Read More >
Former School Garden Program Director to Teach 2016 Teacher Trainings
Thursday, January 14th, 2016
We’re thrilled to announce that OAEC’s former School Gardens Program Director Tina Poles will be leading our two flagship School… Read More >
In Memory of OAEC’s Friend Doug Tompkins
Wednesday, December 9th, 2015
Above: Kris & Doug Tompkins. Photo by Dave Henson, Dec. 2014. The staff and extended family of the Occidental… Read More >
Connecting to Place Through Art: Painting the OAEC Pond
Tuesday, November 24th, 2015
Co-founder and resident artist Adam Wolpert is in his seventh month of a yearlong project to paint the southwest corner… Read More >
Nov. 2-7: Week of Action to Protect Pollinators
Thursday, October 22nd, 2015
For the last two years, OAEC’s Executive Director Dave Henson has been facilitating a network of U.S. organizations that are… Read More >
Speak Out to Keep Glyphosate (Roundup) a Prop 65 Chemical
Friday, September 25th, 2015
The use of glyphosate has surged dramatically since the 1990s, when genetically engineered (GE) “Roundup Ready” corn and soybean crops were introduced.… Read More >
Water Budgeting at OAEC and in Your Community
Saturday, September 19th, 2015
Above: Alana records weekly potable water use at OAEC outside the Main Office, which all staff members see throughout the… Read More >
Join the “Chautauqua Circle”
Monday, September 14th, 2015
Thank you to everyone who attended our 13th Annual Chautauqua Revue this past weekend! Despite the heavy lifting required to bring into the… Read More >
OAEC Daughter Garden for People Living with HIV/AIDS
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2015
What if a food bank distributed not just canned and donated goods, but fresh, organic produce grown right onsite? The… Read More >
Perennials You Can Plant Now
Tuesday, August 25th, 2015
If you’re an avid gardener, you are probably about to get your Fall and Winter annuals into the ground, or have already… Read More >
OAEC Publishes Wildlands Preserve Stewardship Plan
Monday, August 17th, 2015
Pictured: Harold Appleton, registered professional forester, co-authored the plan with Lindsay Dailey and Jim Coleman (pictured) as well as Brock Dolman. Harold spent… Read More >
OAEC Cookbook: Summer Recipe & Civil Eats Article
Tuesday, August 4th, 2015
Pictured: Flower Petal Pestos. Edible flowers, such as sunflower and nastutium, volunteer in legions in OAEC’s temperate gardens. These brightly colored… Read More >
New OAEC Guest Housing
Thursday, July 23rd, 2015
We are thrilled to announce the completion of our three new guest housing units, built to provide beautiful and comfortable accommodations for… Read More >
Drought Action
Tuesday, July 14th, 2015
These are extraordinary times in California–especially in the Dutch Bill Creek Watershed, where OAEC is located, and the watersheds surrounding… Read More >
OAEC Nursery Staff Spotlights
Friday, July 10th, 2015
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… Read More >
Storytelling for Social Change
Thursday, June 18th, 2015
Social change is inspired by effective storytelling. Our allies in the Climate Justice Alliance (CJA), a group of organizers that… Read More >
From School Gardens to Living Learnscapes: Resilient Schools
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2015
Thanks to decades of collaboration between dedicated teachers and school garden support organizations (OAEC, Life Lab, Edible Schoolyard, Center for… Read More >
Removing Barriers to Ecological Water Management
Thursday, May 21st, 2015
The drought highlights the need for some common sense water saving and reuse practices such as composting toilets and integrated greywater… Read More >
North Bay Woman Magazine Interviews Olivia Rathbone
Tuesday, May 12th, 2015
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… Read More >
Last Summer Plant Sale Weekend
Tuesday, April 28th, 2015
Saturday and Sunday are the last two days of the Summer Plant Sale until our Plant Sales resume for our Fall Plant… Read More >