Evolving Objects

Have you ever wondered how our everyday household products come to be? Or where these products go once they leave our homes? Our first-ever exhibition, Evolving Objects, attempts to tell the story of how humans have evolved with the everyday services of lighting, cleaning and clothing - from the construction of the Congdon House, circa 1877 to the present.

Evolving Objects provides a critical perspective on the way in which our everyday products evolve to match our changing lifestyle. Along the way, we find, many of our design criteria have changed: Where we once designed our products for longevity and practicality, have we now prioritized convenience and economy? Once we defined community as falling within a day's travel; today, we include the entire globe.
 
The question is, is it possible to design products and systems where the future health of our environment and our communities are key design criteria?

Imagine a world in which all the things we make, use, and consume provide nutrition for nature and industry—a world in which growth is good and human activity generates a restorative ecological footprint.
 
Evolving Objects will launch in August 2009–open weekends 11am-5pm.

Basic Needs / Summer Speaker Series

How do the choices we make to satisfy our basic needs for food, water, shelter, and clothing impact the health of our communities and our environment?

To foster dialogue around some of today’s most pressing - and most tangible - environmental issues, The Ecology center is proud to announce our first Summer Speaker Series, to be held in San Juan Capistrano, California.

The purpose of the series is to provide a foundation for making decisions that have a positive ecological impact. To that end, we are providing a forum where the residents of Orange County can explore these crucial topics with cutting-edge thinkers from a variety of backgrounds.

May 11 / Water

Brad Lancaster author of "Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands"

"Since 1993 I’ve run a successful permaculture consulting, design, and education business focused on integrated and sustainable approaches to landscape design, planning, and living. And as I live in the dryland environment, rainwater harvesting has long been one of my specialties and a passion. At home my brother and I harvest over 100,000 gallons of rainwater a year on a 1/8-acre urban lot and adjoining right-of-way. This harvested water is then turned into living air conditioners of food-bearing shade trees, abundant gardens, and a thriving landscape incorporating wildlife habitat, beauty, edible and medicinal plants, and more.

I started writing the Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond series as a way to empower my clients and my community to make such positive change in their own lives and back yards by harvesting rainwater.

I wanted to provide an accessible resource that explains what water harvesting is, how to do it appropriately, and how to modify it to the unique conditions of everyone’s own site. I believe we all can become beneficial stewards of the land, and partners in the ecosystem in which we live, and I believe that by harvesting rainwater sustainably we can all begin to transform our households from consumers of resources to producers of resources"

Basic Needs / Summer Speaker Series

How do the choices we make to satisfy our basic needs for food, water, shelter, and clothing impact the health of our communities and our environment?

To foster dialogue around some of today’s most pressing - and most tangible - environmental issues, The Ecology center is proud to announce our first Summer Speaker Series, to be held in San Juan Capistrano, California.

The purpose of the series is to provide a foundation for making decisions that have a positive ecological impact. To that end, we are providing a forum where the residents of Orange County can explore these crucial topics with cutting-edge thinkers from a variety of backgrounds.

July 15th / WASTE

Dr. Sandra Steingraber; author of “Living Downstream”

About Dr. Sandra Steingraber

A world renowned ecologist, Sandra Steingraber is an expert on the links between cancer and the environment; reforming chemical policy and contamination without consent.

Ecologist, author, and cancer survivor, Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D. is an internationally recognized expert on the environmental links to cancer and human health. Steingraber’s highly acclaimed book, Living Downstream: An Ecologist’s Personal Investigation of Cancer and the Environment presents cancer as a human rights issue. Originally published in 1997, it was the first to bring together data on toxic releases with data from U.S. cancer registries and won praise from international media including The Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, The Lancet, and The London Times. 

Join us for an evening conversation, wine, beer and light fare from 6:30pm-9pm. Registration for this unique events is $15 for members/$25 for non-members. Guests can purchase tickets online or by calling 949.443.4223.

Not sure if you have enough knowledge on these topics to participate? This year, we’re pairing the Summer Speaker Series with a sister Summer Film Series. An award-winning documentary will be shown one week prior to each speaking engagement. All films start at 7:30pm and attendance is FREE.

July 8th: Selections from the E2 Series

Possible only in partnership with:
Hurley, Volcom V.Co-logical, Whole Foods, New Belgium Brewery, Guayaki, VitaCoco, The City of San Juan Capistrano, Sambazon, and Meridian Graphics.

• SSS SHELTER Set Up
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• The First Arrive!
• SSS Veggie Beds
• Palm Ready for Dr. Steingraber
• The Congdon House
• Evan, Vicki & Congdon House
• Evan & Vicki
• Chickens Getting Ready to Meet Dr. Steingraber
• Cheers!
• Kristin & Harry
• Speaker Series Set Up!
• Vicki, Kristin & David
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• Sunlight Reception
• Evan, Kristin, Ryan & Jeremy
• Evan & Dr. Steingraber
• Evan & Dr. Steingraber - Thank You!
• Dr. Sandra Steingraber
• The SSS Steingraber Setting
• Dr. Steingraber & Congdon House
• Dr. Steingraber & Other End of the Rainbow

Element / Backyard Skills Collaborative

Element D.I.Y. sustainability workshops for youth:

May 29th. Wind - make and fly your own kite
June 12. Water - rainbarrel design and construction
July 24. Fire - solar oven construction and baking
August 28. Earth - build your composting worm bin

In an effort to empower today’s youth to be tomorrow’s environmental leaders, The Ecology Center and Element have collaborated on a fun and ecologically enriching D.I.Y. Summer workshop series.

With the intention to transform our community and environment, much hard work is needed. Therefore, our hope is that this is the first of many workshops and collaboratives between Element Skateboards and The Ecology Center.

• Kite Coloring Table
• Alyssa Leading the Team
• Kingman Colors
• Kites in the Sky!
• Adult Kite Flying - So Rad!
• The Girls Flying
• Morgan, Her Kite & a Fat Tire
• Sibley & Her Kite!
• The Saboris: His and Hers Kites
• D Admires His Work
• Up, Up and Away!
• Derek at the End of His Line
• It's So Easy!
• Kristin Flying
• BYS - Rain Barrel Class!
• Proud Rain Barrel Constructors
• Maya & Brook Working the Jigsaw
• Caulking the Outflow!
• Papa Kerrigan Gettin' Barreled
• Maya in the Barrel
• Fitting the inflow screen to keep bugs out!
• Maya & Morgan Holding her Steady
• The Rain Barrel Tools
• Brook Talking Rainwater Harvesting

Thank you to all those who participated in this weekends Farm to Fork workshop for kids, including Meg of Earthroots Field School and the OC Register.

"Where does food come from? Young visitors to The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano got to answer that question for themselves Saturday and make a meal of what they found in a program called "Farm to Fork." The goal of the course, instructor Meg Hiesinger said, is to teach children how to eat healthy and appreciate their food."Regardless if you are a hands-on learner or like to learn through reading, cooking has aspects for all types of people," Hiesinger said."

Please see the OC Register for full story.

Basic Needs / Summer Speaker Series

How do the choices we make to satisfy our basic needs for food, water, shelter, and clothing impact the health of our communities and our environment?

To foster dialogue around some of today’s most pressing - and most tangible - environmental issues, The Ecology center is proud to announce our first Summer Speaker Series, to be held in San Juan Capistrano, California.

The purpose of the series is to provide a foundation for making decisions that have a positive ecological impact. To that end, we are providing a forum where the residents of Orange County can explore these crucial topics with cutting-edge thinkers from a variety of backgrounds.

August 26th / Community

Shaheen Sadeghi, local design visionary of The Lab and The Camp

Creator and founder of LAB enterprise, Shaheen Sadeghi, transferred a well respected career in the fashion industry into a revolutionary community for local culture. His visionary projects, The Lab + The Camp, weave community, culture and commerce into real estate innovation and place making.

Join us for an evening conversation, wine, beer and light fare from 6:30pm-9pm. Registration for this unique events is $15 for members/$25 for non-members. Guests can purchase tickets online or by calling 949.443.4223.

Possible only in partnership with:
Hurley, Volcom V.Co-logical, Whole Foods, New Belgium Brewery, Guayaki, VitaCoco, The City of San Juan Capistrano, Sambazon, and Meridian Graphics.

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Back by popular demand, The Ecology Center is once again offering Sourdough Bread Baking with Chris Blank. Yes, sourdough bread will be baked (and enjoyed) during class and all students will take home prepped started to apply their new backyard skill at home. Tuition is $30 for non-members and $27 for members of The Ecology Center. 

What past sourdough bread students have said:

"I have baked bread with the starter and several times have made pancakes, too. I love to cook and as a kid my dad made sourdough pancakes every Sunday morning for us so I was excited to get a new starter again."

"Yesterday I made some really great bread. I took fresh basil, english thyme, and lemon thyme. I chopped them up pretty fine. The bread was the best bread i have ever tasted."

"My neighbors are in love my bread and think that I am the best cook ever. I don't know about, that but I am so happy to have learn my new skills of bread making."

Please register in advance as space is limited. You may register online (click here) or call 949.443.4223 to sign up!

Join our founder Evan Marks, and Warrior Up! Warrior Up highlights the positive social, environmental and economic change made possible by our 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.

Warrior Up is Sambazon's new campaign celebrating the individuals who strive every day to make the world a better place while inspiring others to do the same. Based on the same sustainable business model that made Sambazon the market leader in organic Amazon superfood açaí. 

For a full report on the Warrior Up launch, visit: Sambazon Warrior Up Campaign Launch Party

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A Communal Celebration of Local Food

From all over Southern and Central California, organic farmers, ranchers, wine makers and renowned chefs contributed their expertise and their foods, to serve up The Ecology Center’s second annual Green Feast on Saturday, September 11, 2010.  Two hundred supporters of The Ecology Center sampled hors d’oeuvres and enjoyed a six-course meal served on 25 tables set up end to end outdoors at South Coast Farms.  

The Feast took place from 3:30 p.m. until after dark.  Dinner was served on tables dressed in white linens and candles, set up communal-style in a farm field in back of The Ecology Center.  Before dinner, guests were invited to tour South Coast Farms and The Ecology Center’s downstairs exhibits.  They were able to mingle with donating farmers and ranchers, all attending as honored guests.

After a pre-dinner reception featuring a variety of wines and cob oven roasted treats, Chefs Mead, Ghahreman and Monson prepared 6 dinner courses on outdoor wood-burning grills.  As each course was served, the rancher, fisherman or farmer responsible for the main ingredient spoke to guests about his or her special approach to organic, pasture-raised and sustainable farming.

Donated foods served at Green Feast will include oysters and mussels from Carlsbad Aquafarm of Carlsbad; wild caught fish from Santa Monica Seafood of Santa Monica;  pasture-raised lamb from MM Livestock in Wildomar; pasture-raised game birds from Rainbow Ranch Farms of Pinon Hills; wild boar from Homegrown Meats of La Jolla; vegetables from South Coast Farms; organic peaches from Tenerelli Orchards of Littlerock; artisanal breads from Sadie Rose Baking Co. of San Diego; artisanal cheeses and organic wines from several Central California vintners; handcrafted beers from In the Closet Brewing Co. of Ventura and hand-crafted limoncello liqueur from Ventura Limoncello.  

• Green Feast 2010
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• Green Feast 2010
• Green Feast 2010
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• Flower Power
• First Course.
• Cheers 2nd Course
• Cheers to The Ecology Center.
• Looking down the table.
• Green Feast 2010, Jeff Kirschenbaum.
• Green Feast 2010
• Green Feast 2010. Thank you chefs!
• Green Feast 2010. Elijah, Kristin, and Lili.
• Green Feast 2010. Toasting.
• Green Feast 2010. Kristin Morrison.
• Green Feast 2010. Evan Marks.
• Green Feast 2010
• Green Feast 2010

The Ecology Center & The Center for Living Peace present

Backyard Skills at The Center for Living Peace

By providing the environment, classes and programs that help people develop the skills to bridge their positive intentions to conscious and responsible action, The Center for Living Peace aims to help people discover their own wisdom and gifts and to then share those gifts with the world. The Ecology Center is very proud to announce an off-site offering of our popular Backyard Skills series, made possible by The Center for Living Peace.

September 25th at 1pm: Learn how to make and fly your own Kite with Alyssa Duhe. Sign up here.

Please note: all ages are welcome and encouraged to sign up for this class where students learn to harness the power of the wind in a fun, creative and peaceful way.

Whether purposefully planted in a backyard garden or naturally growing in the wild, edibles are everywhere! Join Caroline Colesworthy on this nature walk where you'll learn about edibles that exist all around the places we live, work and play. Join us, Saturday, October 2nd from 11:30 am to 1:00pm. Cost is $27 for members and $30 for non-members. Sign up online, or by calling 949.443.4223.

About Caroline Colesworthy: Holding a Master's in Environmental Studies from Brown University, Caroline Colesworthy teaches for both Earthroots Field School and Anneliese's School. Her mission in life is to connect people to the Earth and to each other- this often involves food. 'The difference between you and anything else is really just a matter of time and perspective.' 

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.
 

Are you ready for the Fall and all of the seasonal fruits, nuts and veggies it brings? We are, too! Join us as Sur La Table Culinary Instructor and Personal Chef Elizabeth Montez Fazai offers a lesson in seasonal cooking featuring the goodies found inside a CSA Basket from South Coast Farms! $30 for non-members, $27 for members of The Ecology Center. Space is limited, pre-registration is highly recommended.

The Ecology Center & The Center for Living Peace present

Backyard Skills at The Center for Living Peace

By providing the environment, classes and programs that help people develop the skills to bridge their positive intentions to conscious and responsible action, The Center for Living Peace aims to help people discover their own wisdom and gifts and to then share those gifts with the world. The Ecology Center is very proud to announce an off-site offering of our popular Backyard Skills series, made possible by The Center for Living Peace.

11/20/2010: Pine Needle Baskets with Jodi Levine of Earthroots Field School.

Weaving with natural materials awakens us to the intricate and inextricable web of life we are all woven into. From material collection to creation, basket making is a tradition that opens our hearts to feel gratitude for the gifts of the earth and the creative expression of those around us. Participants will use locally harvested pine needles, raffia and needles to start a basket, which may be completed at home.  $25, plus $10 materials fee

Click here to sign up.

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.

Be part of the solution! Only together can we create a healthy community; one with clean soil, air, water and power, for current and future generations. Your generous contribution ensures continued programming here at The Ecology Center, including:
    
- Produce Backyard Skills – a monthly DIY series of workshops featuring creative solutions and strategies for green living
- Offer Farm to Fork – a children’s program that begins with a garden tour and ends with the preparation of simple, small plate meals
- Build our Eco-Labs – a collection of outdoor interpretive stations providing hands-on educational activities and field trip programming
And, of course, we’ll be bringing back favorites like the Summer Speaker Series, Green Feast, Earth Day Celebration and Plant Sale and Halloween Ho-down.

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

opens August 28th!

Join us for a provocative, one-of-a-kind exhibition exploring our daily water footprint. Do you know your water footprint?

Our Juggernaut: The average Southern Californian's water footprint exceeds 1,800 gallons per day.

While the world's poorest survive on less than five gallons a day, we continue to feed the Juggernaut monster. Since a 950-gallon daily footprint is considered a sustainable global standard, we still have some work to do. Visit The Ecology Center for 10 simple ways to do your part in defeating the Juggernaut.

1. Grow your own food or buy organic from your local farmer's market when in season. GALLONS SAVED: 150 gallons/day

2. Purchase - and use - a reusable water bottle. To-go ware too! GALLONS SAVED: 6 gallons/day

3. Turn off unnecessary lighting and replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs or LEDs. GALLONS SAVED: 5 gallons/day

4. Thirsty toilet; Fill a used bottle with sand, screw the cap back on and place it in the tank to displace some of the water.  GALLONS SAVED: 2 gallons/day

5. Install a drip irrigation system, plant natives and apply mulch. GALLONS SAVED: 150 gallons/day

6. Laundry; Only wash full loads and consider retrofitting your clothes washer to irrigate your lawn. GALLONS SAVED: 40 gallons/wash

7. Turn the faucet off while brushing. GALLONS SAVED: 8 gallons/day

8. Products/technology; Take care of the things you have so they last longer. GALLONS SAVED: 100’s of gallons/day

9. Swap a meat-based meal (or two) for a veggie-based meal each week. GALLONS SAVED: 2,000 gallons/week

10. Wash your car at a commercial car wash. GALLONS SAVED: 50 gallons/wash

Powered by Hurley's H2O Initiative

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Just in time for the holidays, you can learn to make the perfect homemade gift! Made of natural materials, beeswax candles burn clean and much longer than candles derived from petroleum. Did we mention their fantastic smell? Get ready to pour and get giving! Call 949.443.4223 to reserve your space.

The Ecology Center & the Center for Living Peace present

Backyard Skills at the Center for Living Peace

By providing the environment, classes and programs that help people develop the skills to bridge their positive intentions to conscious and responsible action, The Center for Living Peace aims to help people discover their own wisdom and gifts and to then share those gifts with the world. The Ecology Center is very proud to announce an off-site offering of our popular Backyard Skills series, made possible by The Center for Living Peace.

Join us, January 15th, 1-3pm with Sasha Ritter and Shannon Lindsey-Frugis from LoveArt& for journal-making 101. Why not make your 2011 Journal! Create your own mini-journal or sketchbook using hand-made mulberry bark paper, natural hand-made cotton paper and recycled materials. Using your hands, your heart and natural materials connects you to the simple, peaceful rhythm of our planet and our community. Keeping a journal or sketchbook provides a way for us to reflect, contemplate and appreciate our lives and the things around us.

Please note: all ages are welcome and encouraged to sign up for this class where students learn to harness the power of the wind in a fun, creative and peaceful way. Workshops highlight creative strategies and solutions that foster sustainability in our everyday lives. 

All events are held at the Center for Living Peace, on the third Saturday of each month. 4139 Campus Dr., Irvine, CA 92612

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
 

Come one, come all, Saturday February 12th, 2pm to defeat the Juggernaut. Many of you’ve met this water-wasting beast. Some haven’t. This is your last chance, he’s been defeated!

Designed to overwhelm just about anybody, this 13’ tall plastic monster represents the average southern Californian’s daily water footprint. That’s 365, 5-gallon bottles or 1,800 gallons/day!

The exhibition Splash! How Good Water Works has a simple mantra - defeat the Juggernaut. Within The Ecology Center you’ll find 10 fairly simple ways to defeat this water beast, dropping your daily water footprint from 1,800 to 950 gallons/day.

It’s been done, thanks in part to all of our neighbors, and the City of San Juan Capistrano. Juggy has been defeated!

Come celebrate Juggy’s defeat - Saturday February 12th, 2pm. We’ll be firing up the cob oven for pizzas (Juggy’s favorite), cold drinks and family fun!

What's next for Juggy?

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.

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

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It's about time to get planting and caring for your fruit trees. Join us, for a special Backyard Skills with Doug Hibbard on fruit tree care 101. In this special Backyard Skills, we'll be learning all about fruit tree grafting and pruning.

Workshop includes taking home your grafted tree. $10 + $10 materials fee if you sign up before 2/26.  $25 + $10 materials fee if you sign up day of class.  

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!

Our Challenge /
Every generation is given a challenge. Our generation faces social and environmental impacts on an unprecedented scale. As these problems become ever more complex, there is a pressing need for individuals to mount a cooperative effort. As as community we can effect change.

Our Solution /
The Ecology Center seeks to bring all members of the community together in a hands-on solutions-based educational setting to create a healthy and abundant future for all of Orange County.
The Center highlights empowering and cutting-edge environmental perspectives that can be applied to the way we live our lives, making it possible for us to coexist with a thriving environment.

Be part of the solution! /
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.

Join Us!
 

Day in and out, The Ecology Center operates on the principle that together we can create a diverse, safe, and healthy world with clean air, water and power enjoyed by all. Accordingly, our programs, workshops and events are all designed to inspire and involve people in the realization of this vision. People like you, for example, because we believe that you, your family and your friends are a critical part of the global sustainability solution and we want to get you to get on with it already.

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

The Ecology Center is launching our first 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.

Backyard Skills is our monthly D.I.Y. workshop series, delivered in conjunction with The Ecology Center's demonstrations in Green Living. Workshops highlight creative strategies and solutions that foster sustainability in our everyday lives. All events are held at The Ecology Center, on the first Saturday of each month.

In partnership with Hurley's H20 initiative, our Backyard Skills Water Workshops provide the skills to design water systems which preserve this precious resource.

All events are held at The Ecology Center, 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano.
Register online in advance or call The Ecology Center for more info at 949.443.4223. Sign up for our 4 class pack for $75 plus materials fee.
 

FEB 5TH / 1:00PM
WATER PURIFICATION/SAND FILTRATION.
TOOLS FOR CLEAN WATER.
$25 + $15 MATERIALS FEE.

MARCH 5TH
RAIN BARREL CONSTRUCTION.
EVERY DROP COUNTS.
$25 + $55 OPTION FOR RAINBARREL.

APRIL 2ND
GREYWATER SYSTEMS.
CREATIVE WATER RE-USE.
$25 + $200 OPTION FOR GREYWATER KIT.

MAY 7TH
XERISCAPING/DROUGHT-TOLERANT LANDSCAPING.
MORE GARDEN, LESS WATER.
$25 + $5 MATERIALS FEE.

Powerd by Hurley's H2O

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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!
 

All-day offerings -  10:30 - 4:00
    The Eco Shop
        Including: worm bins, greywater kits, terrariums, rainbarrels, and more!
    Plant Sale
        Organic Seedling/Seeds

Food - 11:30 - 1:30
    The Flip truck
    Chomp Chomp Nation truck

Workshop offerings - 1:00 - 3:00
    kite making
    potted herb gardens
    garden/herb salve
    seed balls

Workshops sponsored by Killer Dana, 10% Solution, and Armstrong Nursery.
 

• Sambazon loves Earth Day!
• Welcome Table
• Live Music on Earth Day
• Sprouting Table at Earth Day
• Fresh Salads!
• Earth Roots teaches life skills!
• Chocolatl = Delish.
• Sambazon beads!
• Ziad & Mary Jo
• They're part of the solution.
• Tie-dyed tees - a tradition!
• Compost Table
• Tees all around!
• Family Time on Earth Day
• The Booths!
• A little shade on a sunny Earth Day!
• Shopping at the Eco Shop!
• Don Miguel in the kitchen!
• Veggies for sale!
• A table full of veggie starts.
• Tim Stocking the Eco Shop.

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

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 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.

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Join us, May 7th, 1pm, for a Garden Design 101 on drought-tolerant landscaping. The first half of the workshop we'll explore all the basics in what it means to garden "California Friendly". The second half we'll be learning some simple plant propagation techniques and making a potted succulent garden to take home.

Backyard Skills is our monthly D.I.Y. workshop series, delivered in conjunction with The Ecology Center's demonstrations in green living. Workshops highlight creative strategies and solutions that foster sustainability in our everyday lives.
All events are held at The Ecology Center, 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano.

Register online at theecologycenter.org or in advance by calling The Ecology Center at 949.443.4223.

The Ecology Center was invited to teach a Backyard Skills workshop in Brooklyn by Holiday Matinee. For our first event in NYC, we were greeted by over 100 eager participants ready to make the perfect urban garden, terrariums!

Thank you again to Holiday Matinee and Ford for your support in making this happen. We met many incredible friends along the way, and can't wait for our return. See you soon NYC!

View all the photos on our Flickr, as well as Holiday Matinee's.

Backyard Skills Brooklyn from Holiday Matinee on Vimeo.

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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.

This book, The Ecology Center’s first, was inspired by our local community’s response to the launch of our workshop series, Backyard Skills. The popularity of this DIY adult education program reinforced our belief in and hopes for an existing appetite for knowledge of practical sustainability strategies. Now, the belief in Backyard Skills the book is that it can be an invaluable tool, whether used as a starting place, a reference document or something in between. The hope is that you will bring the tools, strategies and practices featured in Backyard Skills into your home and then - and here’s where you can really make a difference - share them with your community. Why? The Ecology Center operates on the principle that, only collectively, can we recreate a diverse, safe and healthy environment. We are thrilled that you brought a copy of Backyard Skills into your home. Now - use it, get it dirty and pass it on!

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.

Sound good? Turn the page, then, and let’s become the solution!

$11.95

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Grow your own veggies.

Join us, Saturday June 4th, 1pm for a special Backyard Skills workshop - design and build your own container garden. In collaboration with furniture designer Elliott Marks, we'll be designing unique new container gardens. The workshop will run through the entire process from construction through planting basics. Everyone will leave with their very own garden!

$15 + $20 MATERIALS FEE (MEMBERS)
$25 + $20 MATERIALS FEE (NON-MEMBERS)

Backyard Skills is a D.I.Y workshop series delivered in conjunction with The Ecology Center’s demonstrations in green living. Workshops highlight creative strategies and solutions that foster sustainability in our everyday lives. All workshops are held at The Ecology Center.

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

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Due to a family emergency, Tinker Hatfield will be unable to join us Thursday. We are more than excited to announce that Mark Smith, Global Creative Director of the Jordan Brand and 20-year Nike Creative will be sitting in. You won't want to miss it!

To continue the dialogue around some of today’s most pressing – and most tangible – environmental issues, The Ecology Center is pleased to announce season three of Basic Needs.

How do the choices we make to satisfy our basic needs impact the health of our community and our environment? Find out all summer long in an open-forum to explore and discuss critical topics with cutting-edge thinkers.

June 16th
    Mark Smith - Global Creative Director Jordan, Nike Inc.

About Mark Smith

Mark Smith is the Creative Director for Jordan Brand, a division of NIKE, Inc., where he is responsible for leading the creative vision for all product and brand design initiatives and ensuring alignment with the brand’s strategy and athletic heritage.

Smith has been with Nike for 20 years working in various leadership roles and disciplines ranging from product design, apparel design, graphic identities, retail design, custom athlete promotional systems and brand communications. Most recently as Creative Director of Special Projects for NIKE, Inc., he was responsible for bringing to life innovative and unique concepts for Nike product, imagery and technology. Working alongside Nike’s Vice President of Creative Design, Tinker Hatfield, he began working on Air Jordan footwear in 1993 with the Air Jordan IX and contributed through to the Air Jordan XIV. He was also co-designer for the Air Jordan XX and XX3. Additionally, Mark has served as the Creative Director of Michael Jordan Motorsports since it was formed in 2003.

Smith was first hired in 1989 by now Nike President Mark Parker to design museum-quality letterman jackets—very much like movie prop styles, yet authentic and futuristic concept jackets. Before joining Nike, Smith was a designer for Maui and Sons Surf, and he also served as Vice President of Design for Vans in 2000-2001.

Originally from San Diego, Smith earned a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising from the United States International University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic/packaging from The Art Center College of Design. Smith is the proud father of two teenagers, an avid musician, artist and writer.

Upcoming:
July 21st
    Tyler Valiquette - Founder, COO, Catapult Design
August 18th     
    Christian Beamish - Author, "By Sail and Oar—the Cormorant Journeys"

Join us for an evening conversation, wine, beer and light fare from 6:30pm-9pm. Registration for these unique events is $10 for members/$25 for non-members. Guests can purchase tickets online or by calling 949.443.4223.

Possible only in partnership with:
Hurley H20, New Belgium Brewing, Whole Foods Market, GOOD, Sambazon, Vita Coco, Guayaki

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Plan for the future.

Join us, Saturday July 9th, for a comprehensive garden fertility workshop including two hands-on DIY skills; seedballs and homemade compost teas. Seedballs are fun guerilla gardening accessories but also work great teamed up with cover crop seed to help bring fertility to your organic garden soils. Compost teas might be the cheapest and easiest way to fabricate your own homemade garden fertilizers!

$15 (MEMBERS)
$25 (NON-MEMBERS)

Backyard Skills is a D.I.Y workshop series delivered in conjunction with The Ecology Center’s demonstrations in green living. Workshops highlight creative strategies and solutions that foster sustainability in our everyday lives. All workshops are held at The Ecology Center.

To continue the dialogue around some of today’s most pressing – and most tangible – environmental issues, The Ecology Center is pleased to announce season three of Basic Needs.

How do the choices we make to satisfy our basic needs impact the health of our community and our environment? Find out all summer long in an open-forum to explore and discuss critical topics with cutting-edge thinkers.

Join Us!
July 21st
    Tyler Valiquette - Founder, COO, Catapult Design

About Tyler Valiquette

Having lived, worked, and traveled extensively in Latin America in his mid-twenties, Tyler returned to the US determined to devote the rest of his career to tackling the problems of human inequality and environmental degradation that had played such a major role in his travels. In 2007 he joined Engineers Without Borders and became very active in the San Francisco Professionals Chapter, particularly the Appropriate Technology Design Team, where he has led the development of a small wind turbine for rural Guatemala. Inspired by the role that technology can play in addressing social injustice and the ongoing global environmental crisis, he was one of the founders of Catapult Design. Tyler has worked both as an industrial mechanical engineer for Chevron and as a project manager for a premier commercial construction company in San Francisco. He prospers most in collaborative, team-oriented environments and thrives on creative problem solving. He has his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Idaho.

About Catapult Design

The majority of our world's population lacks access to life's basic needs. We develop and implement human-centered products that help them thrive.

Upcoming:
August 18th     
    Christian Beamish - Author, "By Sail and Oar—the Cormorant Journeys"

Join us for an evening conversation, wine, beer and light fare from 6:30pm-9pm. Registration for these unique events is $10 for members/$25 for non-members. Guests can purchase tickets online or by calling 949.443.4223.

Possible only in partnership with:
Hurley H20, New Belgium Brewing, Whole Foods Market, GOOD, Sambazon, Vita Coco, Guayaki

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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
Participants will engage in a series of outdoor learning stations that collectively demonstrate the cyclical nature of humans’ impact on the environment in five focus areas: water, food, waste, energy, and shelter. Some activities include rainwater harvesting, graywater systems, seed germination, container gardening and harvesting, cooking, shelter construction, composting and alternative energy technologies.

DAY 1: WATER
Activities include learning about harvesting rainwater, graywater usage, The Watershed (an interactive narrative on where our water comes from, how we use it and where it goes when we are done with it), water-carrying competitions and ways to reduce our water footprint.
DAY 2: WASTE
Activities include composting with worms, chickens husbandry, creating less waste, closing the waste cycle and screen printing on an old t-shirt to make it new.
DAY 3: ENERGY
Activities include an energy audit, solar oven cooking, alternative energy education and kite making.
DAY 4: SHELTER
Activities include fort building 101, debris-hut building, shelter design, fire safety, useful and edible native plants and gourd canteen making.
DAY 5: FOOD
Activities include germination, harvesting, cooking and planting a container garden. Participants will take in our Farm to Fork experience where they will harvest veggies from our garden and prepare their own lunch.

Become a member today to register early and be a part of the solution!
Registration begins April 30, 2011.  Early registration for members begins April 23, 2011.

Work with Worms.

Join us and construct your very own worm bin. Worm bins make composting vegetable scraps very easy, yielding a high quality organic fertilizer for your indoor and outdoor plants. This Backyard Skills workshop is FREE for San Juan Capistrano residents.

$15 + $20 MATERIALS FEE (MEMBERS)
$25 + $20 MATERIALS FEE (NON-MEMBERS)

Backyard Skills is a D.I.Y workshop series delivered in conjunction with The Ecology Center’s demonstrations in green living. Workshops highlight creative strategies and solutions that foster sustainability in our everyday lives. All workshops are held at The Ecology Center.

To continue the dialogue around some of today’s most pressing – and most tangible – environmental issues, The Ecology Center is pleased to announce season three of Basic Needs.

How do the choices we make to satisfy our basic needs impact the health of our community and our environment? Find out all summer long in an open-forum to explore and discuss critical topics with cutting-edge thinkers.

Join Us!
August 18th     
    Christian Beamish - Author, "By Sail and Oar—the Cormorant Journeys"

About Christian Beamish

Christian Beamish, Senior Writer at Surfer Magazine, former Associate Editor at The Surfer's Journal, and author of an upcoming book from Patagonia,"By Sail and Oar—the Cormorant Journeys", on his adventures in his self-built, 18-foot, Shetland Isle beach boat, looks for connections to his essential humanity in "full wilderness immersion surf travel." With an M.A. from SFSU in Creative Writing, Beamish has practiced his craft for the past decade in numerous print publications internationally.

Join us for an evening conversation, wine, beer and light fare from 6:30pm-9pm. Registration for these unique events is $10 for members/$25 for non-members. Guests can purchase tickets online or by calling 949.443.4223.

Check out the video of this year's Basic Needs with Mark Smith!

Possible only in partnership with:
Hurley H20, New Belgium Brewing, Whole Foods Market, GOOD, Sambazon, Vita Coco, Guayaki

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Organic farmers, ranchers, fishermen, vintners, and notable chefs team up to donate cooking talent and locally-grown, artisanal foods at The Ecology Center’s third annual outdoor farm-based fundraising dinner, Green Feast.

From all over Southern and Central California, organic farmers, ranchers, wine makers and renowned chefs will contribute their expertise and their foods, to serve up The Ecology Center’s third annual Green Feast on Saturday, September 10, 2011. Over two hundred supporters of The Ecology Center will sample hors d’oeuvres and enjoy a five-course meal served on tables set up end to end outdoors at The Ecology Center. For a look at the full menu, click here.

The Green Feast generates funds for educational programs at the South Orange County non-profit, housed in an historic farmhouse. Conceived by founder Evan Marks, the three-year-old learning facility offers programs for school children, families and adults interested in learning practical ways to grow organic gardens, conserve water and energy, and design environmentally responsible living environments.  

The Feast will take place from 4:00 p.m. until after dark.  Dinner will be served on tables dressed in white linens and candles, set up communal-style next to The Ecology Center.  

Before dinner, guests will be entertained by the Eco App Off where they will be sampling appetizers from 10 stations spaced around The Center. Guests will be asked to vote for their favorite appetizer. Chefs participating in The Eco Ap Off are Ryan O’Melvey Wilson (Five Crowns Side Door), Casey Overton (Loft at Montage Resort), Nathan Coulon (True Foods), Ryan Adams (Sorrento Grill),  Gina Galvan (Chomp Chomp Naition), Justin Monson (Vine), Paul Buchanan (Primal Alchemy),  John Cuevas (Crow Bar and Kitchen), Scott Brandon, Ryan Carson (Anqui), Pascal Olhats (Pascal), and Cathy McNight (What a Dish).

After The Eco Ap Off, Chefs Cathy McNight (What a Dish), Jenny Ross (118 Degrees), Rich Mead (Sage and Canyon), Rob Wilson (Montage Resort), and Yves Fournier (Andre’s Conscius Cuisine) will prepare the remaining four courses. All food is prepared in an outdoor kitchen.  As each course is served, the rancher, fisherman or farmer responsible for the main ingredient will speak to guests about his or her special approach to organic, pasture-raised and sustainable farming.

Among the purveyors participating in this year’s Green Feast are Santa Monica Seafood, Carlsbad Aqua Farm, MM Livestock, South Coast Farms, Weiser Family Farms, Hidden Haven Farms, Tablas Creek Vineyards, Bonterra Vineyards, and Edward Sellers Vineyard.

Tickets for the event are $180 per person for members of The Ecology Center.  Tickets for non-members are $225.  Persons wishing to become members, at a minimum price of $50 per person, can telephone The Ecology Center at (949) 443-4223.  Non-members can purchase tickets either by calling The Ecology Center, or online at TheEcologyCenter.org.  

The Ecology Center is located at 32701 Alipaz Street in San Juan Capistrano. For additional information, please contact Vicki Marks at The Ecology Center, 949-443-4223 or vicki@TheEcologyCenter.org.

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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

Second Course prepared by Shachi Mehra of Tamarind of London
Chili Rubbed White Seabass 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

The Eco App Off

New to this year's Green Feast is the Counties first sustainable appetizer competition. 11 celebrated Chef's have teamed up with local farmers and fishermen to battle it out for the crown. Guests will decide live at the event! For a full menu, click here.

Cathy McKnight - What a Dish (mussels)
Carlsbad Mussel Fritters: Carlsbad mussels: Carlsbad AquaFarm, Challenge butter: Challenge Sellers white wine, Bread: dough ingredients (Creekside apple farm flour: Santa Barbara), Stone brewery yeast: Carlsbad, Hal’s Honey from Dana Point, San Diego salt: Carlsbad

Casey Overton - The Loft, Montage (peppers)
Weiser Farms Heirloom Pepper  “Otter Pop”, local pepper sorbet and frozen Soledad chevre, jalapeño powder

Robert Zuetell and Gina Galvan - Chomp Chomp Nation (eggs)
Lavender Smoked Duck Egg Tea Sandwich with Berry Lemon Spice Preserve, dusted with House Cured Bacon Salt

Justin Monson - Vine (melons)
Weiser Family Farms Summer's Best Melon Skewers with Grilled Meyer Lemon and Basil Chimichuri. ( Basil and Meyer lemons from Monson backyard farm).

Ryan O' Wilson - Five Crowns Side Door (eggplant)
Ratatouille with dried sungold tomatoes and grated Soledad Goat cheese

Scott Brandon (tomatoes, cumcumbers)
Cucumber and crudo “poppers” (backyard pickled citrus cucumbers, local halibut ‘crudo’, heriloom tomato, haas avocado,thia basil salsa

Paul Buchanan - Primal Alchemy (carrots, radishes, beets)
Weiser Farm Nantes Carrot & Chioggia Beet Oreos filled with Drake Family Farms Chevre, Long Beach Citrus Zest, finished with Vanilla Salt

Ryan Adams - The Common Table Kitchen + Drink (southern peas)
Weiser Farms Stewed Southern Peas on toast with housemade bacon and braised local greens with glazed apples.

Nathan Coulon - True Food Kitchen (oysters)
TBD

Pascal Olhats - Pascal's (sardines)
Sauteed sardine filet with duck sausage. Sage and fennel cream in a lettuce cup.

John Cuevas - Crow Bar and Kitchen (honey)
House-made honey comb agnolotti, crispy pork belly and burnt corn nage

Thank you to the generous support of these dedicated purveyors: Santa Monica Seafood, Carlsbad Aqua Farm, MM Livestock, South Coast Farms, Weiser Family Farms, Hidden Haven Farms, Bonterra Vineyards, Tablas Creek Vineyards and Edward Sellers Vineyard. Without their vision and support of a sustainable future, Green Feast would only be an idea. See you September 10th!

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• First Course.
• Cheers 2nd Course
• Cheers to The Ecology Center.
• Looking down the table.
• Green Feast 2010, Jeff Kirschenbaum.
• Green Feast 2010
• Green Feast 2010. Thank you chefs!
• Green Feast 2010. Elijah, Kristin, and Lili.
• Green Feast 2010. Toasting.
• Green Feast 2010. Kristin Morrison.
• Green Feast 2010. Evan Marks.
• Green Feast 2010
• Green Feast 2010

The Eco-Labs are a series of outdoor learning stations that collectively demonstrate the cyclical nature of humans’ impact on the environment in five focus areas: water, food, waste, energy, and shelter. Designed to be experienced sequentially, each Eco-Lab station promotes participatory learning, systems thinking, experimentation, and observation. The lab activities and curriculum are intended to offer enough flexibility so that The Ecology Center docents and/or teachers themselves can tailor the Eco-Lab experience to age groups ranging from 5 to 18 years old, making our message of environmental stewardship relevant to visitors of all ages.

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Powerd by Hurley H20, Splash! How Good Water Works, a provocative, one-of-a-kind exhibition exploring our daily water footprint was shown at The Ecology Center from August 2010-September 2011. In that time, nearly 7,500 visitors explored the exhibition, pledging over 400,000 gallons in daily water savings.

Defeating Juggy

An installation to represent our daily water footprint, welcomed guests to The Ecology Center. Designed to overwhelm just about anybody, a 13’ tall plastic monster (Juggy) represented the average southern Californian’s daily water footprint. That’s 365, 5-gallon bottles or 1,800 gallons/day! Thanks to all of our visitors pledged savings and the City of San Juan Capistrano, Juggy has been defeated!

Juggy and Splash! How Good Water Works recieved Gold at the 2011 IDSA Awards in Environment. A special thanks to Muriel Degerine and Manuel Toscano from ZAGO, Andrew Seiger and Gerard Basil for making Juggy and Splash! a reality at The Ecology Center.

For a recap on the exhibition please visit the exhibition homepage, video recap, or below for 10-simple ways to defeat your daily water wasting beast.

Our Juggernaut: The average Southern Californian's water footprint exceeds 1,800 gallons per day.

While the world's poorest survive on less than five gallons a day, we continue to feed the Juggernaut monster. Since a 950-gallon daily footprint is considered a sustainable global standard, we still have some work to do. Visit The Ecology Center for 10 simple ways to do your part in defeating the Juggernaut.

1. Grow your own food or buy organic from your local farmer's market when in season. GALLONS SAVED: 150 gallons/day

2. Purchase - and use - a reusable water bottle. To-go ware too! GALLONS SAVED: 6 gallons/day

3. Turn off unnecessary lighting and replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs or LEDs. GALLONS SAVED: 5 gallons/day

4. Thirsty toilet; Fill a used bottle with sand, screw the cap back on and place it in the tank to displace some of the water.  GALLONS SAVED: 2 gallons/day

5. Install a drip irrigation system, plant natives and apply mulch. GALLONS SAVED: 150 gallons/day

6. Laundry; Only wash full loads and consider retrofitting your clothes washer to irrigate your lawn. GALLONS SAVED: 40 gallons/wash

7. Turn the faucet off while brushing. GALLONS SAVED: 8 gallons/day

8. Products/technology; Take care of the things you have so they last longer. GALLONS SAVED: 100’s of gallons/day

9. Swap a meat-based meal (or two) for a veggie-based meal each week. GALLONS SAVED: 2,000 gallons/week

10. Wash your car at a commercial car wash. GALLONS SAVED: 50 gallons/wash

Powered by Hurley's H2O Initiative

Pledge to make a difference!

If you’ve always wanted to learn the age-old process of making one of the earth’s tastiest beverages, then this is the workshop for you. Join us for a Backyard Skills all about brewing beer at home.
Jeff Williams of O’Shea Brewing Company will be here to teach us the ins and outs of becoming the brewmaster of your own home. Home brew kits will be available to purchase at the workshop.

Cost: $25 non-members, $20 members

Please note: You must be 21 to attend this workshop. Pre-registration is required.

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

Tickets include all tastings, light fare and a take-home pint glass made exclusively for the event.
Sign up at theecologycenter.org or by calling 949.443.4223

All ages are welcome, but you must be 21 or older to participate in the tasting.

*Become a $100 member and receive 2 free tickets to the Ecotoberfest!

Beginning with an exploration of The Ecology Center’s veggie garden and ending with the preparation of small-plate meals alongside professional local chefs, this children’s program emphasizes the journey real food takes from “Farm to Fork”.
Parents may choose to stay through the duration of class or drop students off. Recommended for children ages 6 to 12.

In this month's Farm to Fork backyard baker, Chris Blank, will be teaching the kids how to make puff pastry meals, both savory and sweet.

Cost: $25 per child. $20 for members. 

Call 949.443.4223 for more information.

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Preserving the bounty of fall.

Known for its innovative approach to environmental education, The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano collaborated with the design firm Zago and surf apparal brand Hurley to create the Splash! How Good Water Works water conservation exhibit located at the Center through August 2011.  The Splash! exhibit has now received a Gold Award in the category of Environments for the 2011 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) from the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), showing how good design can do more than look good; it can drive positive changes in the world.

The Splash! exhibit originated when Evan Marks, the director of The Ecology Center, saw a provocative exhibit on climate change at the United Nations that ZAGO had created in New York.  The exhibit featured bean bags representing the greenhouse gas emissions of different countries, challenging visitors to get involved in solutions for climate change.

The Zago climate change exhibit at the UN represented for Marks the power of good design to drive positive social change.  “It was amazing,” said Marks.  After talking, Marks and the Zago team developed a plan to work together informing people about solutions for another important problem. “A year and a half later, we said we should do something on water.”

To make the water exhibit a reality they teamed up with surf brand Hurley and their recently launched H20 initiative as the beginning of a partnership to inspire water literacy and access.

Throughout 2009 Zago and The Ecology Center collaborated closely on the development of the Splash! exhibit, finding captivating ways to show visitors the large impact of everyday choices on water conservation.  There were many challenges along the way, with different priorities challenging all involved at the center and their community, but in the end the resulting exhibit encourages visitors to rethink how they live.
    
Open on weekends for visits, the Splash! exhibit features a self guided walk through the solutions we can use to slash our water use.  As you walk through the exhibit you find that the typical Southern Californian uses 1800 gallons of water a day, often in surprising ways.  Electronics that we buy require enormous quantities of water to produce, and eating less meat can save 2000 gallons of water a week as well as saving money and boosting our health.  

"We rarely have the opportunity to work on projects that have both a local focus and a global reach,” said Manuel Toscano, principal at Zago.  “With the exhibition "Splash! how good water works" under the creative and content partnership we forged with Evan Marks and his organization The Ecology Center, we successfully created an exhibition that covers the challenges and opportunities associated with water quality and conservation in the Orange County, while still putting these challenges in a global context. We are very proud and exited to have been recognized by the IDSA with a gold award for one of our favorite and most enjoyable projects of 2010."

The unique design of the Splash exhibit that earned it the Gold IDEA award helps its message to connect with people.  Although water is a pressing challenge around the globe, the exhibit and everything else at The Ecology Center are optimistic.  Rather than lecturing, the exhibit draws us in, welcoming us as guests into the 1878 farmhouse that has become a center of 21st century environmental solutions.  

The IDEA award ceremony for the Splash! exhibit took place at the 2011 IDSA International Conference September 14 to 17 in New Orleans. 

Check out the video recap of Splash! How Good Water Works and pledge to make a difference!

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The Ecology Center’s new interactive exhibition that explores the myriad instruments—literal and figurative—that can be used to achieve positive ecological change and a culture of sustainability at the household and community level.

Healthy Home, Sustainable Community.

Tools For Change promotes healthy homes and a sustainable community by connecting people, products, ideas, and resources in five areas:
1.     Connect the Drops: How water conservation and water recycling at home helps protect our local watersheds and ensures an abundant future supply.
2.     Grow Your Own: Whether you grow your own food or shop from local farmers, there are many ways to feed your family in a way that’s healthy for them, good for the environment, and economical.
3.     Waste Free: Reduce waste, recycle, and repurpose to achieve a household that is truly modeled after nature.
4.     Good Energy: Consider simple retrofits to harness renewable energy and efficient technologies.
5.     Healthy Home: Ways to create a haven that’s safe and clean for the people who live in it, furnished by sustainably made goods and products, and maintained with practices that are ecologically sound.

Tools For Kids

The Kids’ Zone is a play area and learning space for young people that encourages creativity, curiosity and ecological awareness.  The space features a robust library of children’s books, videos, and other educational resources that celebrate sustainability and impart simple things kids can do to make a difference.

Pledge. Do. Share.

Tools For Change is a highly interactive experience that offers opportunities for anyone to make a difference, big or small.  The exhibition challenges visitors to:

·       pledge to make simple, positive changes in daily tasks and choices,

·       do what they promise by implementing or adopting their pledge, and

·       share their new skills and knowledge with friends and neighbors.

In addition to being interactive and educational, Tools For Change is a self-sustaining social enterprise venture.  The sales of featured household tools, products, and books will directly benefit The Center’s expansive portfolio of unique eco-educational programming.

Tools For Change is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays, from 11 AM – 5 PM, and by reservation for school groups Monday through Friday.

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Tools of the Trade: Sustainable Chocolate Talk and Tasting

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.

About Tools of the Trade
In collaboration with our new exhibition Tools for Change, Tools of the Trade is a FREE roundtable series in which local experts in a variety of fields will share useful skills and unique insights related to sustainable living.
Join us one Saturday a month to learn about topics such as beekeeping, backyard chickens, greywater systems, sustainable chocolate and more.

Be sure to sign up for your FREE ticket!
 

Winter is the time of the year for fruit tree, both for pruning and planting new trees. This year we've teamed up both activities in a general fruit tree care 101. In this February's Backyard Skills, you'll learn the basic principles of fruit tree grafting, pruning, and care with our local fruit tree expert Doug Hibbard.

All participants will take home their very own grafted apple tree!

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Backyard Skills at Center for Living Peace

Learn how to eliminate toxins in the home by making your own cleaning products from materials that won’t harm your health. Some products include glass cleaner, furniture polish, and yoga mat cleaner. Fun for the entire family!

For more info and signups, visit the Center for Living Peace.
The Center for Living Peace is located at 4139 Campus Drive, Irvine, CA 92612

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Tools of the Trade: Beekeeping and Honey Tasting

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

About Tools of the Trade
In collaboration with our new exhibition Tools for Change, Tools of the Trade is a FREE roundtable series in which local experts in a variety of fields will share useful skills and unique insights related to sustainable living.
Join us one Saturday a month to learn about topics such as beekeeping, backyard chickens, greywater systems, sustainable chocolate and more.

Dye your own, this Saturday.
A special Backyard Skills workshop on plant-based dyes.

Would you believe that the very plants or even bugs in your own backyard could produce the most intense color dyes? They can! Rich colors have been given to us from the most unexpected things around us. It truly is a wonder of the garden.

Join us, Saturday March 17th from 1-3pm and learn how to dye fabric naturally by using plants in season. In this special Backyard Skills workshop, plant-alchemist Kristin Morrison of Colour Plantae, will lead us through the process of dyeing fabric naturally- from harvest to dye. Intrigued? Read our latest Q and A with Kristin to really get an idea of what’s to come.

Sign up now! Member Price $20, Non-Member Price $25
Workshop includes harvesting, processing and dyeing your own handkerchiefs

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Tools of the Trade: Household Water Retrofitting

In celebration of World Water Day (March 22), we're hosting a FREE Tools of the Trade on how to design simple water re-use strategies for the home. Specifically, we learn how to install both a rainwater catchment system and a greywater system with The Ecology Center’s Evan Marks.

About Tools of the Trade
In collaboration with our new exhibition Tools for Change, Tools of the Trade is a FREE roundtable series in which local experts in a variety of fields will share useful skills and unique insights related to sustainable living.
Join us one Saturday a month to learn about topics such as beekeeping, backyard chickens, greywater systems, sustainable chocolate and more.

"We believe that Earth Day is a state of mind, especially when we celebrate our interconnection between our daily actions and the environment around us.”

-Evan Marks, Executive Director

Join us, April 14th, 10am-4pm, and pledge to make everyday Earth Day.

As we enter our fourth year at The Ecology Center, we have come to understand that Earth Day is not just a day, but a way of life.  We have had the honor to partner and collaborate with local friends and advocates to make this Earth Day unforgettable. It is our goal to bring the community together, to celebrate, educate and pledge to make everyday Earth Day.  Learn and implement practical ecological solutions, enjoy porch-side music, fresh, local food and our annual Spring Plant and Seed Sale. Whether you are new to implementing earth friendly practices, been on the eco-path for awhile or somewhere in between, The Ecology Center offers everyone new ways to deepen and share your knowledge, while having a good time.

We have planned an exciting scavenger hunt that will be fun for the whole family.  Beginning at the palm tree where a Barn Owl lives, friends and family can dissect the pellets to better understand the lives and habits of our winged friends. The rambling journey proceeds through all five of the Center’s Eco Labs to give you a chance to play with cob (a mixture of mud, straw, sand and water used to build ancient and modern homes and other structures), plant seeds, feed the chickens, discover aqua culture and bio remediation, observe a working farm and much more.

To celebrate and support our collective effort, each participant will be asked to pledge an action like growing a veggie garden, conserving water, or riding a bicycle. From there, The Ecology Center will help make these pledges a reality by keeping in touch with you, offering solutions and encouragement throughout the year.

To top it off, organic food and drinks will be offered, including a mouth savoring menu of “Mex-eco” from La Sirena Grill and other goodies like refreshments from Sambazon, VitaCoco, Guayaki and Kéan Coffee. Moonsville Collective will play their lively Bluegrass music that will be sure to get you up on your feet. Just in time for the gardening season, the Spring Plant and Seed Sale features organic heirloom vegetable and herb starts, available exclusively at The Ecology Center.

A special membership drive with added value is also offered. Hurley International, an influential and important advocate in water education, will donate t-shirts to those who sign up for The Ecology Center membership on Earth Day.  Yoga Works in Laguna Beach will offer a free yoga pass to all new members. Typical of their unique and supportive method to spread the word through community, The Ecology Center will also sponsor eco-educational installations at Hobie Sports and the Yoga Works Laguna Beach location, sending the empowering message that We Are Earth Day.

With support from you and our community, The Ecology Center is planning to celebrate Earth Day like never before.

Don't miss it!

FREE.

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

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

Join us, this Sunday, April 22nd at 4pm for garden Yoga with Yoga Works finest LB Iddings. Following our solar powered sun salutations, will be a community potluck to celebrate Earth Day everyday.

FREE

In this Tools of the Trade, you'll learn about the production, benefits and many uses of compost with Organics Alive’s Erik Sykes.
Erik produces a high quality organic compost in San Diego County called Organics Alive.

This workshop will act as a primer to our Backyard Skills workshop on August 18th, where you'll get the opportunity to build your very own worm bin.

About Tools of the Trade 
In collaboration with our new exhibition Tools for Change, Tools of the Trade is a FREE roundtable series in which local experts in a variety of fields will share useful skills and unique insights related to sustainable living.
Join us one Saturday a month to learn about topics such as beekeeping, backyard chickens, greywater systems, sustainable chocolate and more.

Supported by the City of San Juan Capistrano. FREE for all guests.

In this Tools of the Trade, you'll learn everything you need to know about caring for and keeping backyard chickens with The Ecology Center’s Vicki Marks.

About Tools of the Trade
In collaboration with our new exhibition Tools for Change, Tools of the Trade is a FREE roundtable series in which local experts in a variety of fields will share useful skills and unique insights related to sustainable living.
Join us one Saturday a month to learn about topics such as beekeeping, backyard chickens, greywater systems, sustainable chocolate and more.

Build and grow your very own container garden.

In this Backyard Skills workshop, you'll learn everything you need to know to get started growing your own container garden full of veggies and herbs. As in all Backyard Skills workshops, you'll get your hands dirty and construct you're own redwood garden box.

Watch the video from last year's workshop!

Please sign up in advance, space is limited. $10 members, $15 non-members + Material Fee: $35 (optional) 

A Community Bicycle Festival

Join us for FREE bicycles workshops and hand-made screen-printed bicycle flags.

A group ride and picnic will follow the workshops heading from The Ecology Center down the river trail to Doheny State Park for FREE Chipotle burritos!

Powerd by New Belgium Brewing and Chipotle

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Hosted by Erika Tucker of The Cellar in San Clemente



Beginning with an exploration of The Ecology Center’s veggie garden and ending with the preparation of small-plate meals alongside professional local chefs, this children’s program emphasizes the journey real food takes from “Farm to Fork”. Parents may choose to stay through the duration of class or drop students off. Recommended for children ages 6 to 12.

Space is limited, please sign up in advance - $15 members, $20 non-members.

Farm to Fork classes happen each first Saturday of the month!

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THE ECOLOGY CENTER PRESENTS THE FOURTH SEASON OF ITS SUMMER SPEAKER SERIES: BASIC NEEDS 2012.
To advance the dialogue around some of today’s most pressing – and most tangible – environmental issues, The Ecology Center is pleased to host three renowned global thought leaders in season four of Basic Needs:

Friday, June 22nd
    MARK PLOTKIN
    Ethnobotanist, Conservationist, Author -Tales of a Shaman’s Apprentice
Thursday, July 26th
    DARRIN NORDAHL
    City Designer, Professor, Author - Public Produce: The New Urban Agriculture
Thursday, August 23rd
    GREG MACGILLIVRAY
    Filmmaker, Surfer/Diver, Founder - One World One Ocean

Join us for these unique evening conversations with wine, beer and light fare from 6:30pm-9pm. Admission to each event is $10 for members/$20 for non-members. Purchase online at TheEcologyCenter.org or by calling 949.443.4223.

BasicNeeds2012Poster.pdf
 

In this Tools of the Trade, we'll welcome Los Angeles based homesteaders Erik Knutzen and Kelly Coyne for a booksigning and talk on homestead tips and D.I.Y. skills.

Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen are the authors of The Urban Homestead (Expanded and Revised Edition): Your Guide to Self-Sufficient Living in the Heart of the City (2008) and Making It: Radical Home Ec for a Post-Consumer World (2011), and founded the Root Simple blog, which was formerly known as Homegrown Evolution, in 2006.  They live in the heart of Los Angeles, in a little bungalow set on a 1/12 acre lot where almost all of their land is devoted to growing edible or otherwise useful plants and trees. Their obsessions include bees, bikes, beer, chickens, dogs, healthy cities, healing herbs, simple living and good food.

About Tools of the Trade
In collaboration with our new exhibition Tools for Change, Tools of the Trade is a FREE roundtable series in which local experts in a variety of fields will share useful skills and unique insights related to sustainable living.
Join us one Saturday a month to learn about topics such as beekeeping, backyard chickens, greywater systems, sustainable chocolate and more.

• Connect the Drops
• Grow your own
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• Organic seedlings

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Eco-Camp Series at The Ecology Center
Join The Ecology Center this summer as we launch our second season Eco-Camp Series! Both eco-educational camps are centered around our outdoor, interactive Eco-Labs and promote observation awareness, inspire systems thinking and engage hands-on learning.

ELEMENTAL AWARENESS CAMP / Ages: 8-13
Learn important survival skills and explore positive ways to live in connection with nature around the themes of shelter, water, fire and food. Taught in partnership with Elemental Awareness.

DAY 1: SHELTER
Activities include shelter basics 101, debris-hut building, shelter design and screen-printing on an old t-shirt to make it new.
DAY 2: WATER
Activities include emergency water filtration and purification, solar still and dew collection, gourd canteen making, treadle pump and education on global water issues.
DAY 3: FIRE
Activities include fire 101 and safety, making bow-drill kits to take home, coal burnt spoons and ways to build a fire.  The day’s snack will also be prepared over the fire.
DAY 4: FOOD
Activities include harvesting local, wild edibles, stalking movement games, harvesting for seed and preparing an herbal tea.  Participants will take in our Farm to Fork experience where they will harvest veggies from our garden and prepare their own lunch.
 

THE ECOLOGY CENTER PRESENTS THE FOURTH SEASON OF ITS SUMMER SPEAKER SERIES: BASIC NEEDS 2012.
To advance the dialogue around some of today’s most pressing – and most tangible – environmental issues, The Ecology Center is pleased to host three renowned global thought leaders in season four of Basic Needs:

Friday, June 22nd
    MARK PLOTKIN
    Ethnobotanist, Conservationist, Author -Tales of a Shaman’s Apprentice
Thursday, July 26th
    DARRIN NORDAHL
    City Designer, Professor, Author - Public Produce: The New Urban Agriculture
Thursday, August 23rd
    GREG MACGILLIVRAY
    Filmmaker, Surfer/Diver, Founder - One World One Ocean

Join us for these unique evening conversations with wine, beer and light fare from 6:30pm-9pm. Admission to each event is $10 for members/$20 for non-members. Purchase online at TheEcologyCenter.org or by calling 949.443.4223.

BasicNeeds2012Poster.pdf

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Eco-Camp Series at The Ecology Center
Join The Ecology Center this summer as we launch our second season Eco-Camp Series! Both eco-educational camps are centered around our outdoor, interactive Eco-Labs and promote observation awareness, inspire systems thinking and engage hands-on learning.

ECO-LABS CAMP / Ages: 7-12
In this outdoor learning series, engage in hands-on ecological solutions around food, water, enegy, waste, and shelter.

DAY 1: WATER
Activities include learning about harvesting rainwater, graywater usage, The Watershed (an interactive narrative on where our water comes from, how we use it and where it goes when we are done with it), water-carrying competitions and ways to reduce our water footprint.
DAY 2: WASTE
Activities include composting with worms, chickens husbandry, creating less waste, closing the waste cycle and screen printing on an old t-shirt to make it new.
DAY 3: ENERGY
Activities include an energy audit, solar oven cooking, alternative energy education and kite making.
DAY 4: SHELTER
Activities include fort building 101, debris-hut building, shelter design, fire safety, useful and edible native plants and gourd canteen making.
DAY 5: FOOD
Activities include germination, harvesting, cooking and planting a container garden. Participants will take in our Farm to Fork experience where they will harvest veggies from our garden and prepare their own lunch.

THE ECOLOGY CENTER PRESENTS THE FOURTH SEASON OF ITS SUMMER SPEAKER SERIES: BASIC NEEDS 2012.
To advance the dialogue around some of today’s most pressing – and most tangible – environmental issues, The Ecology Center is pleased to host three renowned global thought leaders in season four of Basic Needs:

Friday, June 22nd
    MARK PLOTKIN
    Ethnobotanist, Conservationist, Author -Tales of a Shaman’s Apprentice
Thursday, July 26th
    DARRIN NORDAHL
    City Designer, Professor, Author - Public Produce: The New Urban Agriculture
Thursday, August 23rd
    GREG MACGILLIVRAY
    Filmmaker, Surfer/Diver, Founder - One World One Ocean

Join us for these unique evening conversations with wine, beer and light fare from 6:30pm-9pm. Admission to each event is $10 for members/$20 for non-members. Purchase online at TheEcologyCenter.org or by calling 949.443.4223.

The Eco-Labs are a series of outdoor learning stations that collectively demonstrate the cyclical nature of humans’ impact on the environment in five focus areas: water, food, waste, energy, and shelter. Designed to be experienced sequentially, each Eco-Lab station promotes participatory learning, systems thinking, experimentation, and observation. The lab activities and curriculum are intended to offer enough flexibility so that The Ecology Center docents and/or teachers themselves can tailor the Eco-Lab experience to age groups ranging from 5 to 18 years old, making our message of environmental stewardship relevant to visitors of all ages.

The Eco-Labs serve as the focus of our school field trips, for general visitors during public open hours, and for other special events throughout the year.

The Eco-Labs consist of five learning stations:                                                           

The Water Lab demonstrates the hydrologic cycle, including a greywater system, rainwater harvesting catchment and a bioswale as opportunities to complete the cycle at home. The Water Shed serves as our mobile, interactive, water education piece that compliments the outdoor lab.   

The Food Lab features a greenhouse, raised vegetable beds and an outdoor classroom, where participants learn about seed germination, soil quality, the life cycle of plants, and food harvesting and preparation.          

The Waste Lab, which includes a chicken coop, orchard, vermicomposting bins, and a recycling demonstration—shows participants how waste is an important part of natural cycles.  Students feed worms and scraps to the chickens, and then collect manure to fertilize the trees in the orchard.

The Energy Lab encourages participants to explore the different energy sources and needs of The Ecology Center’s home, the historic Congdon House. Participants learn about passive solar orientation, energy efficiency and alternative technologies, such as our solar panel system.

The Shelter Lab is the final station of the Eco-Labs series, and includes native plants and a traditional kiiche shelter. Here, participants learn about the historical relationship between people and plants and how those living in the area before us relied on their knowledge of native landscape and environmental cycles for survival.              

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