January 14, 2020 This week we celebrated a huge milestone in the progression of OAEC’s Compost Toilet Research Project.… Read More >
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.
January 14, 2020 This week we celebrated a huge milestone in the progression of OAEC’s Compost Toilet Research Project.… Read More >
Dear Friends and Supporters, We are proud of the work we have done this year, advancing bold and successful… Read More >
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 >
Shifting the Narrative from Straws to Pipelines All images courtesy of #breakfreefromplastic. Since its launch in September 2016, nearly… Read More >
A powerhouse group of some of the leading thinkers on land access came together at OAEC for the Bay Area… Read More >
Happy Spring! We are so thankful for the generous rains that have invigorated our gardens and promise an explosive Spring… Read More >
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 >
Legitimizing Ecological Sanitation via Scientific Research After 2 years of negotiations, OAEC is excited to partner with county and regional agencies… Read More >
by Janel Healy. Photos by Brock Dolman. 35% of the palm oil produced in the world comes from Malaysia, and… Read More >
One of the goals of our Mother Garden Biodiversity & Nursery program is to conserve agricultural biodiversity and share it with… Read More >
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 >
We’re thrilled to announce that OAEC’s former School Gardens Program Director Tina Poles will be leading our two flagship School… Read More >
Above: Kris & Doug Tompkins. Photo by Dave Henson, Dec. 2014. The staff and extended family of the Occidental… Read More >
Co-founder and resident artist Adam Wolpert is in his seventh month of a yearlong project to paint the southwest corner… Read More >
For the last two years, OAEC’s Executive Director Dave Henson has been facilitating a network of U.S. organizations that are… Read More >
The use of glyphosate has surged dramatically since the 1990s, when genetically engineered (GE) “Roundup Ready” corn and soybean crops were introduced.… Read More >
Above: Alana records weekly potable water use at OAEC outside the Main Office, which all staff members see throughout the… Read More >
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 >
What if a food bank distributed not just canned and donated goods, but fresh, organic produce grown right onsite? The… Read More >
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 >
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 >
Pictured: Flower Petal Pestos. Edible flowers, such as sunflower and nastutium, volunteer in legions in OAEC’s temperate gardens. These brightly colored… Read More >
We are thrilled to announce the completion of our three new guest housing units, built to provide beautiful and comfortable accommodations for… Read More >
These are extraordinary times in California–especially in the Dutch Bill Creek Watershed, where OAEC is located, and the watersheds surrounding… Read More >
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 >
Social change is inspired by effective storytelling. Our allies in the Climate Justice Alliance (CJA), a group of organizers that… Read More >
Thanks to decades of collaboration between dedicated teachers and school garden support organizations (OAEC, Life Lab, Edible Schoolyard, Center for… Read More >
The drought highlights the need for some common sense water saving and reuse practices such as composting toilets and integrated greywater… Read More >
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 >
Saturday and Sunday are the last two days of the Summer Plant Sale until our Plant Sales resume for our Fall Plant… Read More >