The Occidental Arts and Ecology Center [OAEC] is a nonprofit organizing and education center and organic farm in Northern California’s Sonoma County. OAEC was founded in 1994 by a group of biologists, horticulturists, educators, activists, and artists seeking innovative and practical approaches to the pressing environmental and economic crises of our day. Much of the Center’s work addresses the challenges of creating democratic communities that are ecologically, economically and culturally sustainable in an increasingly privatized and corporatized economy and culture. OAEC`s programs combine research, demonstration, education, and organizing to develop collaborative, community-based strategies for positive social change and effective environmental stewardship. In 2004, we celebrated the tenth anniversary of our shared commitment to this work and this land.  For more information please visit our website at www.oaec.org.



The Center is located in western Sonoma County on 80 acres that encompasses wildlands of meadows and mixed oak, fir and redwood forests. The Center’s bio-intensive organic gardens and orchards have been a source of inspiration and training for thousands of gardeners, farmers and landscapers over the past 30 years. In a typical year, the Center receives over 3,000 visitors. Many attend one of our courses, others come to site tours or to volunteer in the garden. Bay Area social justice and environmental organizations use the OAEC facility for strategy retreats and workshops for their staff and boards. Many thousands more benefit from our organizing campaigns, public presentations, heirloom seed swaps, and consulting services.



The Center`s 2004 organizational budget is $897,000, including very significant in-kind contributions. To insure our financial viability, over the past 10 years we have developed a very diverse funding base. In 2004 we project our income sources to include 29% from program fees and plant sales, 25% from in-kind donations and work-exchange intern labor, 28% from foundation grants, and 18% in contributions from individuals. In addition to the above economic activity, OAEC serves as the fiscal sponsor of several major projects, including a $300,000 grant from the Coastal Conservancy to conduct a study of Salmon Creek Estuary and associated watershed, and the statewide coalition Californians for GE-Free Agriculture, which raised $243,000 in 2003.



Programs of OAEC

We have created nine core programs at OAEC. They are designed so that the health and success of each OAEC program is enhanced by interdependence with the learning, teaching and relationships cultivated within the other programs.



OAEC Site-Based Programs:

Mother Garden Biodiversity

Wildlands Biodiversity

Permaculture

Intentional Communities

Arts

Chautauqua Series



OAEC Community-Centered Programs:

Ecological Agriculture & Sustainable Food Systems

WATER Institute

School Garden


For more information please visit our website at www.oaec.org