Connecting to Place Through Art: Painting the OAEC Pond
Co-founder and resident artist Adam Wolpert is in his seventh month of a yearlong project to paint the southwest corner of the OAEC pond. He has created 45 oil paintings–all … Read more
Occidental Arts & Ecology Center
Nov. 2-7: Week of Action to Protect Pollinators
For the last two years, OAEC’s Executive Director Dave Henson has been facilitating a network of U.S. organizations that are developing strategies to protect pollinators such as bees, bats, birds, … Read more
Speak Out to Keep Glyphosate (Roundup) a Prop 65 Chemical
The use of glyphosate has surged dramatically since the 1990s, when genetically engineered (GE) “Roundup Ready” corn and soybean crops were introduced. According to the Pesticide Action Network of North America (PANNA), … Read more
Water Budgeting at OAEC and in Your Community
Above: Alana records weekly potable water use at OAEC outside the Main Office, which all staff members see throughout the day. You, too, could do this at your workplace, church, child’s … Read more
Join the “Chautauqua Circle”
Thank you to everyone who attended our 13th Annual Chautauqua Revue this past weekend! Despite the heavy lifting required to bring into the theater two dozen performers, light and sound equipment, costumes, props, … Read more
OAEC Daughter Garden for People Living with HIV/AIDS
What if a food bank distributed not just canned and donated goods, but fresh, organic produce grown right onsite? The Food For Thought (FFT) Food Bank in Forestville, one of … Read more
Perennials You Can Plant Now
If you’re an avid gardener, you are probably about to get your Fall and Winter annuals into the ground, or have already done so. However, there are also many perennial food crops, … Read more
OAEC Publishes Wildlands Preserve Stewardship Plan
Pictured: Harold Appleton, registered professional forester, co-authored the plan with Lindsay Dailey and Jim Coleman (pictured) as well as Brock Dolman. Harold spent many hours onsite inventorying mixed conifer forests and guiding OAEC … Read more
OAEC Cookbook: Summer Recipe & Civil Eats Article
Pictured: Flower Petal Pestos. Edible flowers, such as sunflower and nastutium, volunteer in legions in OAEC’s temperate gardens. These brightly colored sauces in small quantities are most efficiently used as a … Read more
New OAEC Guest Housing
We are thrilled to announce the completion of our three new guest housing units, built to provide beautiful and comfortable accommodations for a more diverse array of our constituents. Being a demonstration site, … Read more
Drought Action
These are extraordinary times in California–especially in the Dutch Bill Creek Watershed, where OAEC is located, and the watersheds surrounding it. The water in our creeks is so low that … Read more
OAEC Nursery Staff Spotlights
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 time, energy and love to the OAEC Nursery, our 100% California Certified … Read more
Storytelling for Social Change
Social change is inspired by effective storytelling. Our allies in the Climate Justice Alliance (CJA), a group of organizers that includes our Strategic Partners with the Movement Generation Justice & … Read more
Removing Barriers to Ecological Water Management
The drought highlights the need for some common sense water saving and reuse practices such as composting toilets and integrated greywater systems that not only irrigate landscapes but reuse water indoors … Read more
North Bay Woman Magazine Interviews Olivia Rathbone
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 garden include? Rathbone: A diverse garden with a good mix … Read more
Last Summer Plant Sale Weekend
Saturday and Sunday are the last two days of the Summer Plant Sale until our Plant Sales resume for our Fall Plant Sale! We still have an incredibly wide array of beautiful … Read more
The OAEC Cookbook is Here! Plus: Sample Recipe
We are thrilled to announce that the long-awaited Occidental Arts & Ecology Center Cookbook has arrived! Published by Chelsea Green and with a foreword by Alice Waters, the Cookbook shares the … Read more
WATER Institute contributes to Canadian report on Beaver Restoration Across Boundaries
WATER Institute Director Kate Lundquist was one of seven American beaver advocates interviewed for this report put together by the Miistakis Institute in Alberta, Canada. The report shares the experiences and … Read more
It’s Spring! What To Be Planting Now
Annuals Gardeners — the days are getting longer and warmer, so we know you’ve got the itch to start playing in your garden beds! There are many crops that you can … Read more
Beaverpalooza 2015
The WATER Institute Beaver Campaign Hits The Road! In late February and early March, Kate Lundquist and Brock Dolman of the WATER Institute made great headway in forwarding their Bring … Read more
Carbon Farming Benefits Soil, Water and Climate
Ranching and farming practices can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing atmospheric carbon into soil. Last week, 50 soil scientists, ranchers, farmers and carbon farming advocates from around the United … Read more
Highlights from EcoFarm
Last week’s 35th annual EcoFarm Conference gathered nearly 2000 sustainable agriculture experts and allies for education, rejuvenation and celebration with a new twist: the Permaculture Track! Thanks to EFA’s Executive … Read more
Welcome to the New OAEC Website
Welcome to the new OAEC.org! We have spent the past year redesigning our website to better tell the story of the world that we envision and how that vision shapes our projects and partnerships. … Read more
“Appropriate” Technology at OAEC: Communities Magazine Article
“Is a renaissance in land-based living possible without the technologies that empower us to design more sustainable, regionally based societies and economies—or the online technologies that help us instantly fan … Read more
Brock Dolman & Eve Ensler at Bioneers 2014
At the 2014 Bioneers Conference, OAEC’s Brock Dolman joined forces with renowned author and V-Day founder Eve Ensler to present about the City of Joy, a recovery center and permaculture farm … Read more
The Benefits of Prescribed Fires
In a time of climate change and drought, California’s forests are increasingly under the threat of catastrophic fires. While the state spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year on … Read more
Our 20th Anniversary
This year, OAEC celebrates two decades of work in cultivating community-scale sustainability and resilience! The Evolution and Impact of OAEC In the summer of 1994, a small group of inspired friends … Read more
Fostering Successful Social Movements: OAEC Consulting
Photo courtesy of Hawai’i SEED Social movements may be sparked by passion, but their longevity depends upon planning and clear goals. In our experience, successful movements start with a methodical … Read more
Joining Forces with the California Farm to School Network
The California Farm to School Network recently formed a steering committee of 20 stakeholders to help guide the Network as it continues to organize and align farm-to-school efforts across the state. … Read more
Cap-Haitien
We arrived by bus in Cap-Haitien, the second largest city in Haiti located on the north shore. The bus ride was a 6-hour journey in which the bus barreled on … Read more
