Sambazon / Warrior Up!

Fri, September 10th, 2010 at 12:00 AM

Join our founder Evan Marks, and Warrior Up! Warrior Up highlights the positive social, environmental and economic change made possible by Sambazon and their Sambazon Warriors. These warriors are athletes, entrepreneurs and social activists who have used their expertise to make an impact. Through their causes, Sambazon is looking to empower everyday warriors. We invite you to join our tribe. Make your own warrior headdress on Facebook, learn about Sambazon's Warriors and their causes, and get involved – start creating positive change in your world.

Green Feast

Sat, September 11th, 2010 at 3:30 PM

A big thank you to Chefs Rich Mead (Sage Restaurant), Azmin Ghahreman (Sapphire Laguna Beach), and Justin Monson (Vine), for an unforgettable evening celebration of local food and community.

Over 200 guests (and 60 volunteers), gathered to support The Ecology Center's efforts to empower ecological literacy throughout Orange County. The OC Register has published a few of the evenings recipes, as well as photos.

Gift a Membership

Mon, November 1st, 2010 at 12:00 AM

Supporting your community has never been so easy! Gift a membership of The Ecology Center today and support eco-educational programming for all ages, all year-long. Best of all, when you give, we give. For every gift membership you order, you will receive 50% off the price of attendance at one of our upcoming Backyard Skills workshops.
 

Join Us! December 4th 3-6pm

Sat, December 4th, 2010 at 3:00 PM

The Ecology Center is founded on the principle that people can make a difference. Individual actions can transform the community, elevating the health of our environment for future generations. We can create a diverse, safe, and healthy world.

Become a member today, and help spread the word of our goal for 500 new members.

Apprentice Pack

Mon, January 31st, 2011 at 12:17 PM

Be part of the solution!

Give and receive.

Throughout the season of giving, The Ecology Center is making it possible for you to give the gift of inspiration, knowledge and community.

Introducing The Ecology Center Apprentice Pack - $50!

Inspire a loved one to be part of the solution! Purchase your apprentice pack today at The Ecology Center or at SEED People's Market at The Camp in Costa Mesa.

The Ecology Center’s Apprentice Pack includes:

- Backyard Skills DIY sustainability handbook
- an organic cotton tote bag
- our The Ecology Center re-usable water bottle
- To-Go Ware re-usable utensils
- organic vegetable seeds
- organic teas
 

2011 Calendar: Plan to Make a Difference

Mon, February 28th, 2011 at 2:43 PM

In 2011, plan to make a difference. Our annual calendar features countless ecological engagements and a seasonal veggie calendar to remind you of what's in season and when to plant what.

Stop by The Ecology Center for your FREE 2011 Calendar!

Down with Juggy Design Challenge

Tue, March 22nd, 2011 at 1:00 AM

What would you do with 365, 5-gallon bottles?

The Ecology Center is launching a community design challenge with prizes (from Hurley and The Ecology Center) for winners announced on World Water Day, March 22nd.

Here's the challenge: Design a product or project using at least 300, 5-gallon bottles to inspire your community to decrease their water footprint. It could be 300 products or 1 large one. Most importantly, it has to promote water awareness and be part of the solution!
Stay tuned, full contest details will be announced February 18th on TheEcologyCenter.org and Hurley.com.

You saw what we did to represent the average southern Californian's daily water footprint of 1,800 gallons, thus 365, 5-gallon bottles. What would you do? What will you do to make a difference? Submit entries to mailto:info@theecologycenter.org.

Earth Day / April 16th

Sat, April 16th, 2011 at 10:30 AM

Earth Day at The Ecology Center - April 16th

Start with your garden.

While every day is Earth Day at The Ecology Center, on April 16th we're opening our doors to the community for a special celebration.

Bring your family and friends for a full day of eco-education fun!

2010 Year in Review

Sat, April 16th, 2011 at 1:00 PM

The seasons of  2010 seemed to blur into one, as they often do in Southern California. Maybe it was the cold-dreary Summer or that one record breaking hot day in October. Most likely it was the non-stop pace we committed ourselves to for a second year in a row. Dedicated to growing Orange County’s innovative eco-education center, The Ecology Center still has a lot of work to do.
      

We’re extremely proud of our progress in making the dream of inspiring a community to participate in everyday ecological solutions that make a difference. We thank you for your support. That’s right; you can make a difference. Thank you for being part of the solution!

The difference we've made all year looks like this.

Download the digital book of our 2010 Year in Review

Westways Magazine loves Juggy

Sat, April 16th, 2011 at 10:30 PM

Water World

(As seen in AAA's Westways Magazine, March/April 2011)

“The Juggernaut Monster,” a sculpture made of 365 five-gallon water bottles, greets you at “Splash! How Good Water Works,” the latest exhibit at The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano. Like most art, it’s designed to make you think—in this case, about the 1,800 gallons of water the average Southern Californian uses daily.  

“We believe that people can make a difference, and our programming is designed to provide the public with the tools to do just that,” says executive director Evan Marks. “‘Splash!’ seeks to inspire visitors to conserve water use through simple solutions.”

To wit, the exhibit, which runs through the end of August, offers ideas for reducing your “water footprint,” like turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth (eight gallons a day) and going to a car wash instead of washing your car at home (50 gallons per wash).

The center, which opened in 2008 in the 132-year-old Congdon House, has hosted more than 18,000 visitors, many of whom have participated in field trips and workshops that teach do-it-yourself skills for sustainable living. Upcoming events include Backyard Skills classes on water conservation and workshops on World Water Day (March 22) and Earth Day (April 22). 32701 Alipaz Street, San Juan Capistrano. 1-949-443-4223.

For more info on how to defeat this water wasting beast, aka our daily water footprint, visit our water resource pages.

Lend a Hand

Sat, April 30th, 2011 at 1:00 PM

Lend a hand and volunteer at The Ecology Center, every bit counts.

We are an organization that believes that people can make a difference and we need your help! Volunteer opportunities include gardening, general maintenence and support, chicken care, and more.

Our garden team meets on Monday at 2pm, join us! The last Saturday of the month we host a full-on work party, 1-4pm.

For more info, contact David Marks: davidm@theecologycenter.org or call 949.443.4223.

Dinner with a Purpose

Wed, May 25th, 2011 at 5:00 PM

Make dinner a selfless act by joining us for a fundraiser at Dana Hills Chipotle, May 25th 5-8pm. 50% of sales benefit The Ecology Center.

Please spread the word and bring a copy of this flyer with you to dinner.

Backyard Skills a DIY Handbook

Tue, May 31st, 2011 at 3:00 PM

This first edition of Backyard Skills offers a collection of 19 Do-It-Yourself solutions, practices and projects to help get you going. Divided up into five themed chapters – WATER, ENERGY, FOOD, SHELTER and WASTE – Backyard Skills was inspired by The Ecology Center’s Do-It-Yourself workshop series held on site in 2009-2010.

This means that real-life folks, members of our local and your global community, have already gotten a taste of how these simple projects can make a big difference. And, now, it’s your turn to put these ideas to work on a bigger scale.

In fact, our hope is that this manual becomes dog-eared and faded from so much use, and that, when you’ve worked your way through it, you pass it on down to one of your friends over a bottle of your organic beer under your newly planted shade tree.

Pedal Power Video

Sat, June 11th, 2011 at 10:30 AM

We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly at our first annual Pedal Power. Check out the video for a glimpse.

Pedal Power is about building bicycle literacy in our community with some basic bicycle workshops, a family ride and a picnic.

Join us for FREE bicycle workshops including maintenance 101 and hand-made screen-printed bicycle flags. A group ride and FREE Chipotle picnic will follow the workshops and raffle. Did we mention that we’re raffling off a special New Belgium Brewing custom bicycle and more!

Sponsored by:
New Belgium Brewing
Chipotle Mexican Grill
The Bicycle Tree
Buy My Bikes

Summer Eco-Camps

Mon, August 1st, 2011 at 11:00 AM

Join The Ecology Center this summer as we launch our first ever Summer Camps!  We are offering two sessions, one for kids aged 6 to 9 and the other for kids 9 to 12.  Both camps are centered around our outdoor, interactive Eco-Labs and promote participatory learning, systems thinking, experimentation, and observation.  On the last day of camp participants will take part in our Farm to Fork experience where they will harvest and prepare their own lunch. Each camp includes a take-home Eco-Kit.
Registration begins April 30, 2011.  Early registration for members begins April 23, 2011.

Eco-Labs Camp
5 days $185 – August 1st-5th 11am-3pm
Age: 6-9

Green Feast 2011

Sat, September 10th, 2011 at 4:00 PM

From all over Southern and Central California, organic farmers, ranchers, wine makers and renowned chefs will contribute their expertise and "the fruits of their labor", to serve up The Ecology Center’s third annual Green Feast on Saturday, September 10, 2011.
This year's Green Feast kicks-off with the first-annual Eco-App-Off, a sustainable appetizer competition pairing 10 renowned local chefs with renowned local farmers and fishermen.

Green Feast tickets are on sale! Members only, $180, $225 (non-members).

More about the dinner here.

Tickets Extremely Limited

Sat, September 10th, 2011 at 4:00 PM

With Green Feast only one month away, our mouths are watering with excitement! We think you'll agree when you take a look at the menu for the year's most elegant dinner feast. If you love locally grown, organic food and the idea of dining alongside sustainable farmers and purveyors, then buy your tickets now. Seats are extremely limited, reserve yours today!

First Course prepared by Jenny Ross of 118 Degrees
Farm Fresh Crudite (As shown in the photo)

Second Course prepared by Shachi Mehra of Tamarind of London
Chili Rubbed Thresher Shark with Grilled Vegetables and Cilantro Pesto

Third Course prepared by Rob Wilson of Montage Laguna Beach
Pig, Three Ways: Cider Glazed Braised, Smoked, and Grilled, with Homemade Sauerkraut and Warm Pee Wee Potato Salad
 
Vegetarian Course prepared by Jenny Ross of 118 Degrees
Vegetable Lasagna with Marinated Mushroom Chutney

Fourth Course prepared by Yves & Elyssa Fournier of Andrei's Conscous Cuisine
Wood Grilled Flat Breads, cooked in The Ecology Center's Cob Oven, Tree Ripe Plum Tarts with Almond Cream, served with Kendall Creme Fraiche and Backyard Bee's Honey

New to this year's Green Feast is Orange County's first-ever sustainable appetizer competition, The Eco App Off. Eleven of the region's most celebrated chefs have teamed up with local farmers and fishermen to battle it out for the crown. Guests will decide live at the event!

Ecotoberfest

Sat, October 29th, 2011 at 3:00 PM

Join us Saturday, October 29th from 3-5pm, for an exclusive beer talk and tasting with New Belgium Brewing's own Matty Gilliand.

Hear from an expert about making award winning, sustainably produced beers and taste a unique collection of New Belgium Brewing's finest. Ryan Wilson of SideDoor is providing the perfect Ecotoberfest pairing of pretzels and mustard.

Ticket prices:
Members - $15
Non-Members - $25

Food Preservation 101

Sat, November 5th, 2011 at 1:00 PM

Chocolate Talk and Tasting

Sat, February 11th, 2012 at 1:00 PM

For February's Tools of the Trade, learn about the sustainable methods of growing, processing and preparing chocolate, from seed to mouth, with Chocolatl’s creator Deanna Moore.

Tools of the Trade are FREE community events.

Beekeeping Talk and Tasting

Sat, March 10th, 2012 at 1:00 PM

Tools of the Trade: Beekeeping and Honey Tasting

Learn the basics of beekeeping from our resident beekeeper Diane Wyzga.

Tools of the Trade are FREE events.

We Are Earth Day!

Sat, April 14th, 2012 at 10:00 AM

Join us, April 14th, and pledge to make everyday Earth Day.

With support from our community, The Ecology Center is planning to celebrate Earth Day like never before. It takes a village!

Special happenings include:

Earth Day plate by La Sirena Grill
Homegrown music with Moonsville Collective
Heirloom veggie seedlings to help you grow your own
Eco-Lab Exploration and Scavenger Hunt for the entire family

FREE.

Made possible with the generous support of: Hurley H20, Hobie Surf Shops, Yoga Works, and La Sirena Grill.

TEC + Yoga Works Events

Sun, April 22nd, 2012 at 4:00 PM

The Ecology Center and Yoga Works are teaming-up to bring you a series of Free collaborative workshops.
From Yoga classes on an organic farm to garden basics in a yoga studio, we invite you to join us for one or all of our upcoming offerings.

at The Ecology Center
32701 Alpaz, San Juan Capistrano

April 22nd at 4pm
Yoga and Potluck with LB Iddings

FREE