EvolveA QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF OBTAINABLE & SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS curated by THE ECOLOGY CENTER

In this issue:BASIC NEEDS Summer Speaker Series

INSIDE THE BOX Container gardens for small spaces. P.14

PROFILESDarrin Nordahl talks truly local food. Greg MacGillivray harnesses filmmaking for positive environmental change. P.06+08

FEATURE Mark Plotkin and The Amazon Conservation Team compile an ethnobotanical database in Suriname. P.04

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BOARD OF DIRECTORSHarry H ellingChairman,Crystal Cove Alliance

Jamie WelshCo-Chairman,10% Solution

Dale HoweTreasurer, CPA

Maxwell IslesSecretary, TransitionLaguna Beach

Cristina CherpasChanging Lanes

Kimberly KrantzThe Boeing Company

Shaheen SadeghiLAB Holding, LLC

Evan MarksExecutive Director

FOUNDING MEMBERSKris Linn &David BronnerMary Cook & Jerry ElliottThe Joseph HoytFoundationDonna & Ken FriessMarjorie LesovskySylvia MarksVicki & David MarksJan & Warren SiegelSambazonThe SegerstromFoundationQuiksilver FoundationVolcom

TRANSFORMATIVEAnonymousThe Boeing CompanyHurley InternationalSDG&E VISIONARYHexberg Family FoundationSwayne Family FoundationCarl & Dotty HagmierAnton & Jennifer SegerstromJamie Welsh and Sabrina Ericastilla

GUARDIANCox CommunicationsFarmers & Merchants BankJames Tyler GuitarsNew Belgium BrewingVolcomRoger & Helen AbramsonChuck & Terri BensonErin H. BrownCristina CherpasBill & Shannon CookBrian DunnDale & Rita HoweMarcy PattinsonKate & Buz RobertsCelina & Steve Stratton

SUSTAINERSix Degrees LAAnne BowlusMartin & Karen DiedrichBryon FreezeRoy & Holly HeineNorm & Theola KirschenbaumThelma MachlinBruce & Barbara MatsuiStephanie RayJim RileyLinda & Marty WeissThe Winkler Family

STEWARDSan Clemente Junior Woman's ClubShirley AbbottBrad & Joanne AllenLora AllisonJohn & Donna AmetteEdie BarvinChristopher BlankStacey BlaschkeMike & Debbie BosseBarry CampbellRandy & Sandy DavisStevette Del ColElaine DeutschMariah DoyleAndrea DrexeliusMarty EnnissMarissa FloydSheryl GillettDick & Nancy GrayTom & Nancy HawkinsHarry & Kathy HellingDouglas HibbardCharlene HuddlestoxMaxwell IslesEvette JaegerMichael & Trudy JoyceJeff & Jennifer KirschenbaumLarry & Christine KramerKimberly KrantzMark & Vickie KruhminMaria LaniganJeanne Congdon LeonardFrancoise LevineBarbara LorenzGreg & Barbara MacGillivrayShaun & Katie MacGillivrayManuella MelchertJon & Danielle MorrisChristiana Nibbe & Richard RookJohn Nikelsky & Jeannie BlilieLisa & Russell ParksJohn PaulIsobel PelhamScott PringleAmy RasmussenKen & Judy RavitzRobert & Vicki ReddingDeAnna ReposaDebby RightmireThe Rothman FamilyShaheen & Linda SadeghiAdelia SandovalJoe SandsDani SellersStuart & Cheryl ShapiroAndrew Sieger & Lori MarmolejoRobert & Marina Sindik

Elisa SleeGraham & Bahara StapelbergLisa StevensKathy TanakaDylan & Kimberly TaylorConnie TerranovaAndrew & Jessica WatkinsNatalie WeissJohn & Dee WhiteJean & Tom WilsonDolores & Gary WrightKelley & Heidi York

ADVOCATEJohn K. AdamsMarjorie AustinAdrian BarryKate BartholomewIngrid BeatyBrian BlackJanette & Stan BradenJennifer BradshawCharles BuckAnne CaringellaCorrainne CarrollSteve CarterKerry & Dean CassillGlenn ClarkeJean ConnellyPam DreverTeri EichenauerMary EngstromDaniel & Elizabeth EvansHeidi FiggeBrett FlahertyJohn FrinkTammy GlossipEd GonzalesGreg GoranNeil Clemmons HarrisonCraig & Teresa HebererBecky HeinzenTeresa HoweBarbara HoytEric HuberSue JacksonSusana JonesBetty Lou KellyJoyce KielNia KielJessica KoenenCharles LenzChristine MacleanSoo MalchowThe Manfredi FamilyWelton & Beata MansfieldSean MatslerJanet MiscioneCristie MontgomeryNoël MoreCarlene MyersLeslie NelsonMayra NoveronJean OppligerDale PalasDebbee & Steve PezmanJohn & Jody PikeDick & Shar PulicePamela QuigleyLisa RosenArne & Lynn RosencrantzJane RyanPat RyanDerek & Sibley SaboriTirzah SchmaltzAlice SchreinerScott SporlederTupper SpringTherese B. Sullivan

Olivia SurrenaMarianne SusongLinda S. ThomasShannon ThurstonMary TiltonCarol TuchJanice TurnerJudy TylerLaura WaiteSue WinterhoffJamie Wood

COMMUNITY/STUDENTAlexandra AntonopoulosAlex BalazsDeborah ChristensenSandi HambricSolstice B. HurstLeah JollyKristin KerriganAndrew KlimkowskiScott McGregorSamantha McIntoshRiley & Jessica PrattErica RubinMegan Schley

IN-KIND SUPPORT118 Degrees370 CommonAndrei's Conscious CuisineAoSA, LLCArmstrong GrowersBeach Blossom HoneyBonterra VineyardsThe CellarCarlsbad AquafarmChomp Chomp Nation Food TruckCity of San Juan CapistranoCR&RCreekside Apple RanchCrow Bar & KitchenDoheny PlumbingDrake Family FarmsElement SkateboardsFive Crowns/Sidedoor RestaurantFlow Foods ChocolatlGanahl Lumber Co.Guayaki Yerba MateHidden Haven FarmsI Love BagelsKangan GreenKéan CoffeeKlean KanteenLa Sirena GrillMeridian GraphicsMM LivestockMontage ResortNative Grow NurseryNew Belgium BrewingNew Leaf PaperPascal RestaurantPortola CoffeePCH Sheet MetalPrimal AlchemySage RestaurantSambazonSanta Monica SeafoodEdward Sellers Vineyard and WinesSierra Soil Products, Inc.Simply StrawsSoledad Goats Goat CheeseSouth Bay Salt WorksSouth Coast FarmsTablas Creek Vineyard

Tamarind LondonTierra Verde IndustriesTree of Life NurseryTrue Foods KitchenTubular Technology PlumbingVine RestaurantVita CocoWeiser Family FarmsWhat a Dish Café & CateringWhole Foods MarketWildflower Floral San ClementeYogaWorks Laguna BeachJeremy Black

VOLUNTEERSLaura AubuchonNisreen AzarStacey BlashkeJennifer BradshawMarek CantorShannon, John & Hannah ClarkeColleen CowellGeorge& Inez CuzakisDolores DangAlyssa DuheJane EdelmanAshley EichenauerDon EslickRebecca GatesHeather HartKathy & Harry HellingDoug HibbardKatie HibbardKirsty HibbardDominique HiebRita HoweJeffrey KirschenbaumKim KrantzBridget LaniganJackson LaniganShannon LattingChristine MacleanBarbara MatsuiTeddy McKayGiusi MeiliIrene & Steve MesserliRama NayeriScott & Fe NemethAlan OswaldGillian PoeKimberli PortilloAlena PowersdavisJessica & Riley PrattAaron PricemanAnna & David RagerLaila & Nessa RiaziLauren RobinsonRichard RookElliott SchwartzGeorgina SeekJen & Casey SenftenSara SmithElizabeth StephensCelina StrattonShannon SwanJill ThomasMary TiltonSammy TookeyJamie WelshDiane Wyzga

CONTENTS

June 2012Issue #6

03. Director’s Notes

04. PROFILES: DR. MARK PLOTKIN Christian Beamish

06. PROFILES: DARRIN NORDAHL

07. EARTH DAY FESTIVAL IN PHOTOS

08. PROFILES: GREG MACGILLIVRAY

10. SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT: DR. SANDRA STEINGRABER

11. BOOK REVIEWS: “THE URBAN HOME-STEAD”, “VOYAGE OF THE CORMORANT”

12. BASIC NEEDS SPEAKER RECAP 2009-2011

14. BACKYARD SKILLS: CON-TAINER GARDEN BOX

15. SUMMER CALENDAR

CONTRIBUTORS

Evan MarksWRITER/EDITOR

Christian BeamishWRITER/EDITOR

David RagerART DIRECTOR

Jessica WatkinsWRITER/EDITOR

MISSIONThe Ecology Center seeks to educate, inspire and involve people in practical environmental solutions and stewardship of Southern California’s environment.

Powered by

MastheadISSUE #6 / SUMMER 2012

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In the language of international development, the words “basic needs” reference the three core criteria for healthy human life: food, water, shelter. In creating peak ecological systems around the world, ecological designers always start with defining and understanding access and connection to water, food, and shelter. And, believe it or not, the same starting points are true when redefining ecological systems for Orange County. While we are privileged to have easy access to water, food, and shelter, the health of these systems needs work.

During my own years living/working in international ecological development through-out Latin America and West Africa, the idea of developing healthy human settlements, communities, and farms always revolved around these basic needs. Arriving to a new project or site, the first thing to do was to familiarize myself with the landscape, un-derstanding climate/weather patterns, soil, and, of course, where water and food comes from. What is the health of the water source? What is upstream from from our homes, our community? What is downstream that we affect? Where does our food come from? What is the condition of our soil? What are the native or indigenous foods of the area?

No matter where you live, food, water and shelter are the key criteria for sustainable human settlement. Day in and day out, The Ecology Center provides programming that seeks to create greater awareness of these basic needs in a sustainable manner in both the local and global contexts. Our ultimate goal is to create sustainable permaculture—a regionally contextual ecological design system for sustain-ability that integrates all the interconnections between humans and the environment. To be a student of permaculture, one learns how to build natural homes, grow our own food, restore diminished landscapes and ecosystems, catch rainwater, build communities and much more.

To advance our permaculture education, each summer we host our summer speaker series, Basic Needs, with the intention to inspire each other and our communities. In the three previous years, we have been able to bring renowned global thought leaders on sustain-ability to this series (see pages 12-13)—and this year is no exception. In our fourth year of Basic Needs, we are thrilled to welcome three individuals who are truly changing the world around us:

· Mark Plotkin- ethnobotanist, conservationist, and author- reveals cultural and indigenous wisdom of the tropics, most importantly of the Amazon Basin.

· Darrin Nordahl- urban designer, educator, and author- redesigns our relationship to our communities by inspiring practical ideas like edible urban landscaping and sensible forms of transportation.

· Greg MacGillivray- filmmaker, surfer and activist- opens our eyes both literally and figuratively to the intelligence of the oceans, and raises the collective voice for the obvious need to protect them.

With these three global sustainability leaders, we'll analyze our relationship to culture, ecosystems, communities, neighbors, art, education and the oceans. It is my hope that this series creates tangible connections to how we are connected to our own basic needs. Read about them on the following pages, join us for these special events, participate in the conver-sation, and deepen your hunger for creating sustainable permaculture in Orange County and beyond. I look forward to seeing you this summer!

Evan Marks, Executive Director

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

Basic NeedsNo matter where you live, food, water and shelterare the key criteria for sustainable settlement.

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For more than twenty years, eth-nobotanist Mark Plotkin has worked with indigenous people in the forests

of Northeast South America, in the country of Suriname, to gain an under-standing of traditional uses of plants for medical and spiritual healing. The challenges of this work are many and varied: the distance from his home in the United States, cross-cultural misunderstandings and suspicions, and the pervasiveness of Western popular culture and its impact upon native practices. This last point – the importation of social constructs from the “developed” world to indigenous populations – is perhaps the most problematic of the challenges that Dr. Plotkin faces.

With media comes the suggestion of economic opportunity and the idea of another, more exciting kind of life, and the effect is particularly great on youth. The idea of remaining in the jungle and going through the ardu-ous process of a shaman’s apprentice-ship, and then continuing to live in an

ancient mode, when the rest of the world seems to be soaring in jet planes and working on computers, becomes a hard sell. Yet the knowledge of the ancient ways is of vital importance, not only for the cultures that have cultivated this knowledge, but also for the rest of humanity because of the raw potential for medical and indus-trial discoveries in the myriad plant communities of the Amazon.

One might say we need only deploy a battalion of botanists to survey every plant and tree, catalogue their chemical compounds, and in this way extract the knowledge of the forest. But Dr. Plotkin points out that it is the cultural interaction that the indigenous people have had with their immediate environment for tens of thousands of years, that gives the most complete and nuanced picture of how the disparate parts of the forest work together. Yet in this fast-paced world, the painstaking work of the ethnobotanist – the true human relationships that must be forged and maintained – seems so gradual as to be of little value. On the one hand, the people Dr. Plotkin works with face cultural extinction when

any of their traditional healers die, because each shaman represents a deep repository of very specific, very local knowledge that vanishes in orally based societies if a successor, or an “appren-tice” has not been trained. On the other hand, within the tribes them-selves there can be reluctance to embrace and continue the old ways in

the face of globalized, popular culture and the promise of economic oppor-tunity. Indeed, the pleasures of west-ern culture, its music and fashion, appeal to youth everywhere, equally – geography is all that separates “tweens” at South Coast Plaza and Paramaribo, the coastal capital of Suriname.

But even deep in the interior, where tribal societies still function in their forest setting, the allure of television, film, and music draws what might otherwise be the next generation of shamans away from the hard and slow work of acquiring knowledge of traditional practices. However, Dr. Plotkin is quick to point out that it is not the place of someone from out-side these traditional cultures to “decide what people get and what they don’t get” [from what the modern world has to offer], adding, “None of these shamans can cure or prevent polio as far as I know. I don’t think we have the right to deny them polio vaccine.” But the crisis facing these tribes, and by extension, the world beyond the rain-forest, is that all knowledge, be it “indigenous” or “scientific,” is significant for its potential service to humanity.

Working with shamans in traditional communities, Dr. Plotkin has established “The Shaman’s Appren-tice Program,” to document the uses of plant medicine, not only for west-ern science, but as a cultural resource

PROFILES

The forests of Suriname hold limitless potential for pharmaceutical and industrial base-products.

Indigenous knowledge, honed over centuries, is key to learning how the forest provides for its human inhabitants.

A Rainforest PerspectiveSeeking relevance in a distant land

The Amazon Conservation Team, led by ethnobotonist Dr. Mark Plotkin, records the work of indigenous societies who are mapping their physical and cultural worlds in the rainforests of Suriname, preserving ancient wisdom.

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for indigenous people of the region as well. His efforts are well received by the people he works with, as he has long- established relationships within the tribal communities he focuses on. The success of the Apprentice Program in a volatile area of Colombia gives him great hope for the project in the peaceful, lightly populated nation of Suriname. While the world’s appetite for timber, food, gold, and oil presents a massive challenge for the sustainable management of the country’s resources, Dr. Plotkin believes that the benefits of preserving traditional knowledge is crucial to the survival of Suriname’s indigenous cultures, and holds the potential for fantastic discover-ies for the wider world as well. “Malaria’s killed more people than cancer and AIDS combined,” he notes. “The front-line treatment for malaria is quinine, which was taught to us by South American Indians… some of the hottest leads in the laboratory come from nature, right now.”

The differences between the experi-ence of a family living in, say, Mission Viejo and one in a remote village in the rainforest of Suriname, may seem greater even than the thousands of miles that separate the two. But at this time, as perhaps never before in history, the opportunity to learn some-thing from traditions that are radically different from our own is not only available to us, but also of tremen-dous importance. As the developed world hurtles along its technological trajectory, it risks losing its own myths and defining stories to ever-more “immediate” bits of information. Perhaps the role of shaman – that mediator between human and non- human (that is to say, plant and ani-mal) worlds – becomes increasingly necessary in a digitized society. This says nothing of religious faith, which, no matter the specific tradition, functions as a foundation to the believer’s world. Yet what we in the developed world do “religiously” (in the sense of daily practice), is drive cars and live and work

mostly indoors, at a significant remove from the elements that have formed us as a species. The people of the forest retain a connection to a long memory of human experience and develop-ment – a radically different experience than what most of us have known for the past five generations. There is the risk, of course, of idealizing the for-est dweller, pulling Rousseau’s “noble savage” (though he never used that exact term). But a subtler mind finds that the work of people like Dr. Plot-kin offers a window to new interpreta-tions of the relation between ourselves and the natural world – a relationship that for all its alterations, remains essentially unchanged. Our challenge is to examine that relationship with all the ways of knowing that are available to us.

In partnership with local populations, Dr. Plotkin has been documenting and helping to preserve the hard won wisdom of shamen from the Suriname Amazon.

The Amazon Rainforest provides the essential environmental world service of continuously recycling carbon dioxide into oxygen. More than 20 percent of the world oxygen is produced in the Amazon Rainforest.

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Christian: You’re coming home to California?Darrin: I grew up in Berkeley, and about six-years ago there was an interesting opportunity in Davenport, Iowa. It was amazing… I knew a lot about the West Coast and the East Coast, but I didn’t know much about the Midwest. I was an urban designer for the munici-pality of Davenport. But now I’m going to focus more on my writing.

Are you working on a book?Yes, and I think it’s something The Ecology Center would be interested in. It’s called, “Eating Deluth”. It’s about foods that are native to cities and regions of America. I’m arguing that our defini-tion of American Cuisine is not a good reflection of the word, “cuisine,” because although it may involved local ingredients in their cultural tradition, almost everything that we consider “local” food here [in America] is an immigrant, brought in by European settlers. In writing “Public Produce” [Nordahl’s previous book], I discovered what city officials were doing to increase what I call “food literacy,” was planting fruit trees that native Iowans had never heard of. It was ironic because they were trees and plants that were actually native to Iowa – we’ve forgotten so much of what used to be our landscape. I began thinking about what foods tell stories that are actually native to their region… that if you’re eating a meal in, say, Portland, Oregon it’s very different from one in Portland, Maine. Not because the conditions are different, but because of the conditions in and around the communities.

So that’s making food really local, in all senses.Everyone loves a local tomato. But there are many areas of our country where it takes a lot of effort to grow a decent tomato. They just don’t thrive in certain environments. They take a lot of human care, they take a lot of supplemental water; at times they might even need pesticides and herbicides – organic or other-wise. Whereas, if you’re using ingredients that are local to your community, they thrive with minimal effort.

It’s sounds as if you’re bring-ing a fundamental element of design thinking to cuisine. I’ve always urged for companion planting… design your gardens and small farms not like you would typical agriculture – big patches of crops without much thought to the overall design of it. Every plant has a role: some ward off insects and critters, others help adjacent plants grow (we’ve learned this from Native Americans with their “three sisters” planting). When we begin to understand composition and more about the plants themselves, beyond the fact that we might happen to love, say, cucumbers, then we make better informed decisions on our gardens.

As space becomes an ever-more precious commodity in urban and suburban areas, it’s thinking like this that will enable greater yields. One of the arguments I’ve heard about turning over your yard, or turning over public space to food production, is that it looks un-kept. What I’m trying to get people to think about – especially municipalities and city officials – is to looks at trees and plants in their overall characteristics. You begin to plant and organize amazingly beautiful and entirely edible gardens – not just landscapes where you say,

“oh you can eat this if you want to,” but edible plants that everyone recognizes.

It requires one to look at things like an artist – look-ing in terms of shape, color, texture… like a palette. How does this thinking play out in your work in urban design? I have a degree in Landscape Architecture and a Master’s in Urban Design. What I do is one part planning, one part archi-tecture, one part landscape architecture, a little bit of sociology, with transit and traffic engineering mixed in. We’ve found that even in housing projects with high rates of crime, if you go back to the way people used to live, where instead of putting everybody in one big building, by putting up smaller build-ings and giving them a little bit of land where they have to go outside a little more, by increasing the lighting, lower-ing the height of shrubbery so that people can see into and out of property, and you provide sidewalks for people from outside the neighbor-hood to walk by, you drastically reduce crime. Now there are more eyes on the street, more

surveillance, and it’s just actu-ally a more pleasing and more humane way of living.

Even aside from a “Law and Order” standpoint, design impacts the way culture unfolds.My last book, “Making Transit Fun,” [reflects my interest in] transit and cities. I’m really into cities, and if you’re really into cities you have to be into density and public transit. My argument is that you can browbeat people – tell them mass transit is better for the environ-ment, will save them money, is safer than driving (by far) – but unless we make the tran-sit environment (the bicycle lanes, the bus stop, and the bus itself ) better, people won’t use it. You’re not going to change people’s behavior until you design environments that are comfortable and appealing. An example is [to build] a better bus stop. A better bus stop involves a shelter. You have to provide plenty of places for people to sit or stand, provide great lighting – inevitably people take the bus at night, after work. People don’t mind train stations because there’s a lot of other things to do while

you’re waiting. [For bus stops] you don’t have to provide retail for each one, but you do have to provide people the opportunity for conversation, or to read a book. These are the sorts of things that you ordinarily do while you’re lounging at home, only this time you’re waiting for the bus. The bus itself has to be redesigned. In Davenport, the whole ceiling of the bus is glass. Just the addition of natural light is unreal. People ride downtown just to look at the skyscrapers. They would pay just to ride that bus, just to check it out.

Tasteful DesignUrban Agriculture with Darrin Nordahl

PROFILES

From food to transit, city designer and urban agricul-ture advocate Darrin Nordahl approaches community building in a holistic way.

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April 14 marked our annual earth day festival and seedling sale for 2012. This year’s theme was (and is!) “We Are Earth Day!” to recognize our communities’ combined actions to make earth day everyday. Hundred s gathered to learn, play, and pledge simple ways to make a difference. The Ecology Center loved welcoming so many friends - old and new - and we hope you will be sure to join us next year!

This year’s festival would not have been possible without the kind support from Hurley International, Hobie Surf Shops, La Sirena Grill, YogaWorks, Guayaki Yerba Mate, Vita Coco, Flow Foods Chocolatl, Sambazon, along with all of our members, volunteers, and friends.

Photos © Scott Sporleder 2012

1. Cheerful sandwich boards proclaimed “We Are Earth Day!”

2. Guests pinned their pledges to the clothesline that meandered through the various activity stations in the Eco-Labs.

3. This girl knows that gardens are for all ages!

4. Smiling volunteers were making magic around every corner and under every tree.

5 . Evan welcomes pro surfer Pat O’Connell and friend Janet outside the Tools for Change exhibition and general store.

6. The Eco-Hunt got kids scavenging through the Eco-Labs; at this stop, everyone learned about ecosystem cycles by dissecting owl pellets.

7. Set in front of our Bucky Dome greenhouse, bluegrass group Moonsville Collective got us toe-tapping & hand-clapping in the gardens.

We are Earth Day AT THE ECOLOGY CENTER

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MacGillivray Freeman Films, the Laguna Beach-based production company behind the acclaimed Imax movies The Living Sea, Dolphins, To Fly!, Everest, and most recently, Into The Arctic (along with many others), is an almost perfect expression of its founder’s earliest inspirations.

Greg MacGillivray began shooting 8mm films at Newport Harbor High School in the early 1960s, focusing on the burgeoning West Coast surfing scene. By 1972 he had directed and produced one of the sport’s most cherished films, Five Summer Stories, and from there his filmmaking took on a broader scope with the films, To Fly! (1976) and Speed (1984), both docu-mentaries that explore the human quest to utilize technology to go beyond our physical limitations.

Of course, it is the human quest to utilize technology to go beyond our physical limitations that is devastating ecosystems across the planet, and in the interest of countering these effects, MacGillivray Freeman Films has creat-ed One World One Ocean – “a multi-platform campaign using the power of film, television and new media to inspire, educate and connect millions of people worldwide in a common purpose: protect and restore the health of the ocean.” Advocating sustainable seafood harvesting, a reduction in plastic pollution, and a greater number of ocean protected areas internation-ally, One World One Ocean asks 3 pragmatic (as well as sobering) questions: “Why is this important to me; Is this goal realistic; and, How will One World One Ocean help achieve this goal?”

A synthesis of the documentaries MacGillivray has made about the natural world, and his own commit-ment to marine preservation, One World One Ocean is a natural outgrowth from 5-decades of full immersion filmmaking in the most pristine, as well as fragile environ-ments on earth. The campaign asks its members to participate in spark-ing “a global movement to protect

the ocean,” by examining daily practices on a personal level, and by becoming involved locally in clean up and advocacy efforts. The success of MacGillivary Freeman Films’ IMAX movies provides an ideal platform for promoting ocean conservation on a massive, consumer-based level – not

in a confrontational sense, but through entertainment. As MFF’s Director of Photography, Brad Ohlund notes, “We approach all of our films with three goals in mind: we want to educate, inspire, and entertain. But we don’t always do it in that order.”

Confrontational or not, the statistics from the current state of the world’s oceans are grim. From the One World One Ocean website: “90% of the big fish are gone. Tuna, swordfish, halibut, cod, and flounder populations have been devastated by overfishing. The average size of the remaining big fish

Entertainment Complex Greg MacGillivray of MacGillivray Freeman Films creates environmental awareness on a massive scale

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PROFILES

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has been cut in half or less in the last 50 years. The average weight of a swordfish caught today is 90 lbs., down from 266 lbs. in 1960. Discarded plastic bags and other trash have formed a toxic "plastic soup" that is gathering in five massive ocean gyres around the world. There are a reported 405 ocean "dead zones" – areas where there is little to no oxygen due to fertilizer run-off and nitrogen pollution, and dead zones are doubling every ten years. Our oceans account for 71% of the planet, but less than 2% of our oceans are protected.” Yet we who are concerned, who choose not to throw up our hands, who have decided that what we do as individu-als matters – we have multiple avenues of influence, as well as the means of effecting real-world change. It might not take a lifetime spent filming the sea for a person to feel the impetus to ecological action, but fortunately Greg MacGillivray, having spent his life precisely this way and having enjoyed great success in so doing, is utilizing the resources of film and media to show the wonders of the world and create that spark in audiences to make a differ-ence, one viewer at a time.

01: Greg MacGillivray on location. 02: MacGillivray’s early passion for surfing and filmmaking produced one of the surf-world’s most cher-ished movies, Five Summer Stories, and laid the foundation for (03) the major IMAX features he went on to produce. 04, 05: On location for Into the Arctic. Multiple trips to the far North led to the central story for the film. 06: MacGillivray honing his filming technique, circa 1965. 07, 08: Extreme locations are a perennial aspect of the MacGillivray Freeman Films experience, which, at its core, is about ocean conservation.

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Dr. Sandra Steingraber is an ecol-ogist, author, and cancer survivor. An enthusiastic and sought-after public speaker on human health and the environment, Sandra has been invited to lecture and keynote at many universities, medical schools, and hospitals throughout the United States and Canada. A mother, wife, and avid activist, Sandra enjoys serving as a trans-lator b etween activists and scien-tists and has testified before and briefed a variety of heads of state around the world on the critical effects of environmental toxins on the human condition.

Her many books include Living Downstream: An Ecologist’s Personal Investigation of Cancer and the Environment (released and updated and also turned documen-tary film), Having Faith: An Ecolo-gist’s Journey to Motherhood - a memoir of her own pregnancy and an investigation of fetal toxicology; and most recently, Raising Elijah: Protecting Our Children in an Age of Environmental Crisis.

She is married to the artist Jeff de Castro, lives in rural New York in a 1000-square-foot house with a push mower, a clothesline, a vegetable garden, and two beloved children. Her current plight surrounds the issue of hydrof-racking - a practice she calls “the environmental issue of our time” - and she has been very active in the fight to stop the practice and save the shale deposits in central New York state.

Prior to her basic needs talk in 2010, Dr. Steingraber sat down with The Ecology Center for a Q&A:

TEC: Here at The Ecology Center, we encourage people to be part of the environmental solution by taking individual actions that build into systemic change. How are you “Part of the Solution”?As an environmental author, I see writing and art as part of the intermediary between recognition of

a social problem and the execution of a meaningful solution. Just as aboli-tionist writing played a role in ending slavery, I believe environmental writing can play a role in ending unsustainable economic practices. TEC: Are you directly responsible for any of your basic needs? How? (i.e. food production, rainwater harvesting, building, etc.)I leave food production to the experts. Happily, my CSA--the organic farm in which I am a shareholder-- is located only a half mile from my house. I ride my bicycle to the barn and pick up my weekly food share every Friday. My own shady yard is dedicated to tree houses, sandbox play, and soccer games. I'm a fulltime breadwinner; I travel at least 100 days of the year, give dozens of interviews, and I'm forever on dead-line for one writing project or another. I'm also cancer survivor who spends a lot of time in hospitals and radiology waiting rooms. I run four miles a day. I'm not out there harvesting rainwater. I'm analyzing data on drinking water contamination by pesticide run-off and drycleaning establishments. I take an upstream approach to envi-

ronmental problems: I'm focused on public health policy and changing the rules of the game so that sustainable solutions to housing and food become available and affordable to all people. I'm not interested in trying to create a non-toxic bubble around my kids. You can't live safely in a toxic world. That's a myth. TEC: What does sustainability mean to you?Ending our century-long dependency on fossil fuels for both energy and as a feed-stock for making things (plastics, pesti-cides, anhydrous ammo nia, and so on). TEC: What’s worth fighting for?The above. I follow California envi-ronmental attorney Joe Guth who said, in an article in The Vermont Law Review, that “nothing is more important to human beings than an ecologically functioning, life sustaining biosphere on the Earth. . . . We cannot live long or well without a functioning biosphere, and so it is worth every-thing we have.” The environmental crisis is a human rights crisis. It is the struggle of our age, in the same way, for previous generations, abolishing slavery, women's suffrage, and defeat-ing global fascism were defining strug-

gles. In this, I don't want to be a Good German. I want to be a member of the French Resistance. Borrowing a line from Audrey Schulman, I often tell my readers and my audiences, "If you want to be a hero, here's your chance. This is our moment." I believe that our grandchildren will look back on us and marvel that our economy was once dependent on chemicals that were killing the planet and killing ourselves... if we win. (If we don't, they won't be marveling at much of anything.) TEC: If you could ask the President one favor, what would it be?I don't ask for favors. I make human rights arguments, I lay out the scien-tific evidence for harm, and I propose alternative visions for the future. I met with White House staff in May 2010 to discuss the results of the President's Cancer Panel's new report that finds that the environmental contribution to human cancers is more significant than previously appreciated. The Panel called on the President to use the power of his office to remove carcinogens from air, food, and water. That's an approach already underway in the EU. I came away from that meeting

Dr. Sandra Steingraber “The environmental crisis is a human rights crisis...”

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT

11

very discouraged and convinced that speaking truth to power--as noble as it sounds--is sometimes a waste of time and an exercise in vanity. Sometimes the more crucial activity is speaking truth to powerless: to take the scien-tific evidence for harm into commu-nities located at the tailpipe end of the production, use, and disposal of toxic chemicals. When scientists part-ner with communities, we can create cultures of resistance. TEC: What’s the most exciting happening in your community?Here in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, the most exciting human rights struggle is taking shape in the form of organized, local resist-ance to the most powerful corporate powers in the world: namely, the oil and gas industries that are poised to shatter the shale bedrock of upstate New York with chemical-laced water in order to extract natural gas. If hydrof-racking for shale gas goes forward--and right now, thanks to citizen activism, there is a fragile moratorium in New York state--it will represent the massive industrialization of a rural landscape and foodshed here in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Shale gas extrac-tion has already devastated the ecology of northern Pennsylvania, added carcin-ogens to the air in the form of soot, released radioactivity from geological strata, and destroyed drinking water. It's totally unregulated by the federal government. We are trying to draw the line here in New York. The most powerful forces are arrayed against us, and much of the land is already leased to the frackers. But my feeling from traveling through rural communities and meeting with with people in vari-ous forums is that there are folks will-ing to lay down on the roads, if neces-sary, to stop this obscenity. TEC: Who/what are you inspired by?Rachel Carson, who, like me, was a wildlife biologist turned writer and who also struggled with cancer. She had no patience with scientists who knew the evidence for harm (about pesticides) and refused to speak out. She liked say, "To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards out of men."

Urban Homesteadby Sarah Fisher - Community Programming

Oftentimes the idea of becoming more sustainable seems so unat-tainable, too hard, even costly. I buy organic vegetables, I make my own cleaning supplies, I carry a reusable water bottle and I always (okay, almost always) have my reusable grocery bags in hand. But let’s be serious, becoming an urban homesteader seems completely out of my realm and certainly not

something I could convince my family members to take part in. Sure, raising my own chickens or harvesting my own vegetables sounds great in theory, but considering carpool, working part-time, volunteering for talent show decorations and just trying to keep up with life, I don’t exactly see where there is time to start vermicomposting or building rain barrels.

Obviously skeptical when asked to do a book review on the The Urban Homestead, written by Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen, I internally cringed at yet another how-to book in which I would find myself somehow disappointed in my lack of consciousness or so-called “Urban Homesteadi-ness.” To my surprise, the book is more than just a How-to guide. Erik and Kelly somehow gently hold your hand and seamlessly guide you through endless ways to success. There is no hand-slapping, no sense of self-righteousness. It is just a collection of simple attainable ways to get you started. This book is not just a How-to, but a Go-to. Every-one needs a copy - a copy with folded corners, fruit splat-tered on page 184 from canning cherries for holiday gifts, perhaps a pressed leaf between pages 120-121 from your first venture in foraging, and of course page 202 marked with a craft beer label you gently peeled off to remind you that you are a brewmaster in the making.

My final thought to share…everyone needs to start some-where. The Urban Homestead gives its readers a solid start-ing point for all walks in sustainability. For myself, I am going to start a compost bin, and it will not be something that cuts into my carpool time. I am, one day, going to fill the empty raised beds in my garden with organic soil and actually commit to growing my own. And on another day, maybe further in the future, I will harvest rainwater. (As for keeping chickens, that may take a sequel to convince me...)

Join us for our free special engagement,Tools of the Trade, Book Signing and Discussion with both Erik Knutzen and Kelly Coyne on June 30th, 4-6pm. The Urban Homestead is available in our Tools for Change shop as well as their second book, Making It- Radi-cal Home Ec for a Post-Consumer World. You can also follow their blog: Rootsimple.com

Voyage of the CormorantAn exerpt from the book by Christian Beamish

Whitecaps were running all across the bay at dawn, and Cormorant rocked even more heavily with an added diagonal roll. The sky was dark all the way across, with charcoal-bellied clouds piling up from the horizon and stretching northward. The air smelled of rain. I took the boat tent down and stowed the battens, moving quickly now, having decided that

I needed to get ashore. Pulling the anchor line in hand-over-hand, I piled the line, chain and anchor haphazardly in the bow. Once the hook let go of the bottom, the wind drew us quickly across the bay, blowing us towards the corner where the surf converged on the rocks.

The waves were a disorganized smear along the whole stretch of beach, and I held myself off, back-pedaling with the oars outside the farthest breakers and surveyed a land-ing spot amid the chaos of the rising storm. I glanced over to the surfers’ camp and saw the men scurrying about, taking down their tents, stowing armfuls of gear in the backs of their trucks. Three fishermen stood on the berm of the beach straight in from where I sat aboard my boat. One of them waved his arms overhead, then brought them down in a sweeping motion before him, indicating that I should run ashore right there.

With no perceptible break in the frequency of the waves, I brought Cormorant around and started in. A slightly bigger wave stood outside of me and I back-paddled to crash through the top of it and let it pass. I then pulled hard on the oars to move forward again, chopping with short, hard strokes to ride the whitewater wake just behind, where the other waves could not reach me. But Cormorant cut too swiftly through the water and the wave drew us tumbling over it, the boat plunging down on her bows then swing-ing hard over, broadside to the crashing whitewash. I had no control over any of this, but Cormorant seemed to take over, and we rode sideways into shore, rolling back on her rounded sides until the keel met the wet sand of the beach.

To be published mid-July, by Patagonia Books. The story of Christian Beamish’s vision for a traditional sailing voyage in the mode of John Muir by sea in the 18-foot Shetland Isle beach boat the author built in his garage in San Clemente. Chronicling three years of trips to the Santa Barbara Channel Islands, and down the Pacific coast of Baja, “The Voyage of the Cormorant,” is a tale of old time adventure in the modern era.

REVIEWS

By Land or By Sea The Urban Homestead and Voyage of the Cormorant

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A look back at three years of Basic NeedsCatching up with our past speakers

Food for ThoughtMichael Besançon, ‘09: Entrepreneur, Environmentalist, Godfather of natural foods Michael has been in natural foods since 1970 when he built, owned, and operated Follow Your Heart Natural Foods in Canoga Park, CA through rising to the position of Senior Global Vice President of Purchasing, Distribution and Communications for the Whole Foods Market, Inc. in 2008. Since he spoke at TEC, Michael has retired and directs his energy as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Earth University Foundation in Costa Rica.

Prime Time HumanityEmily Pilloton, ‘09: Designer, Educator, Co-founder of Project H DesignSince speaking at TEC, Emily has appeared as a speaker on human-itarian design and about Studio H at TED Global 2010 and The Colbert Report. And, most recently, as UC Berkeley’s commence-ment speaker on May 13, 2012, she challenged new design gradu-ates to “start now!” and not wait for circumstances to seem perfect or opportunity to come to them.

Community PoweredMatthew Miller, 09: Architect, Fabricator, Co-founder of Project H DesignPartnered with Emily Pilloton, Matt has been hard at work as a professor of humanitarian design and as project architect for Project H’s Studio H campus in Bertie County, North Carolina - the poorest county in the state. Since speaking at TEC, Studio H launched in late summer 2010, providing a high school design/build curriculum for rural community benefit empowering under-priviledged youth to learn critical life skills while building up their communities.

It’s ElementaryJohnny Schillereff, ‘09: Skateboarder, Dreamer, Founder & President – Element Skateboards

As part of our panel on sustainability in the surf industry, Johnny Schillereff represented skater cul-ture through the evolution of Element Skateboards. In October 2008, he led Element’s Power to the Planet initiative to “make a positive different in the world” through social and environmental awareness. Through the Elemental Awareness Foundation’s in-ternational camps and workshops, Element contin-ues to educate and inspire young people to develop self-esteem, social and environmental awareness and the tools to lead successful lives.

Now in its fourth year, Basic Needs brings powerful thinkers and activists to speak and inspire in Orange County. Our past speakers have made tremendous contributions in food, water and shelter, and The Ecology Center is dedicated to supporting their ongoing work. Find out more about each one below.

BASIC NEEDS 2009-2011

Making WavesDerek Sabori, ‘09: Surfer, Children’s book author, Sustainability guru – Volcom As Senior Director for Sustainability, Derek man-ages Volcom’s piece in the sustainability revolution that is taking place within the surf industry. Since the Speaker Series, Volcom has had Sustainability awareness rise to the board level, including com-mitments to comprehensive annual Environmental Reports and completing an Environmental Profit & Loss statement by 2015. Derek and his team focus on the reduction of CO2, waste and water, sourcing of raw materials, hazardous chemicals and materials, paper and packaging, and tuning up Vol-com’s supply chain. You can follow their progress at Volcom.com/newfuture and/or at facebook.com/volcomnewfuture.

The Great OutdoorsmanRoian Atwood, ‘09: Sportsman, Businessman, Senior Consultant - Pure Strategies

It could seem unusual that an avid snowboarder and Maine native has made his career out of greening up boardrooms and company plants, but Roian found perfect balance by engaging both. Since speaking at TEC, Roian engages even more companies in the cor-porate dialogue surrounding environmental and social stewardship through his work with consultant group Pure Strategies.

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Fracking DownSandra Steingraber, Ph.D., ‘10: Ecologist, Survivor, Author - “Living Downstream: An Ecologist Looks at Cancer and the Environment”

After developing cancer in her 20s, Sandra has dedi-cated the rest of her life to education and awareness of environmental pollution and toxins and their possible tie to cancer. A prolific and celebrated author, Sandra has written four books and count-less articles that have appeared internationally. Since speaking at TEC, the film documentary adaptation of her book was released in Fall 2010. In 2011, she released “Raising Elijah: Protecting Children in an Age of Environmental Crisis” and, most recently,

she has been avidly active in the battle surround-ing hydro-fracking for natural gas deposits in the United States.

Living GreenChris Prelitz, ‘10: Environmentalist, Advocate, Author - “Green Made Easy: The Everyday Guide for Transitioning to a Green Lifestyle”

A Laguna Beach resident, Chris is a pioneer of the green movement through his early involvement in strawbale construction, solar power, and other eco-savvy construction practices. Currently, Chris heads a successful design-build firm with projects ranging from off-grid solar ranches to the first solar-powered restaurant and solar auto dealership in the U.S. Since speaking at TEC, Chris has been active in his local community, spearheading the Transition Laguna movement.

When It Rains...Brad Lancaster, ‘10:Permaculturist, Harvester, Author - “Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond”

Brad knows water - how it falls, how it runs, how it pools, and how best not to waste it. As a leading expert in permaculture practices and rainwater harvesting, Brad brings value as an educator, author, speaker, community member, consultant, and environmental advocate. Along with a robust international speaking schedule, Brad is currently working on Volume 3 of his book focusing on Roof Catchments and Cistern Systems (tentatively to be published in 2012).

Slingshot to SuccessTyler Valiquette, ‘11: Engineer, Changemaker, Co-founder - Catapult Design

Catapult Design is a non-profit, human-centered design firm that devel-ops and delivers technology solutions to basic needs issues of low-income and impoverished communities. Projects in 2011 covered off-grid light-ing, sanitary birthing kits, locally made sporting goods, and handicarts in Africa and India. What sets Catapult apart is their dedication to testing, analyzation, altering, and auditing their projects for greatest impact. Since speaking at TEC, Tyler and Catapult Design has partnered with World Bank to further explore clean energy solutions.

Fair TradeShaheen Sadeghi, ‘10: Designer, Visionary, Developer & CEO - LAB Holding, LLC

A designer to the core, Shaheen has found ma-jor success from high fashion to surf lifestyle apparel to mixed-use commercial development. A revolutionary thinker and green building advocate, he has changed the retail culture of Orange County through his recognition of the current Great Cultural Shift and actualiza-tion of “anti-malls” The Camp and The LAB in Costa Mesa. Following his talk at TEC, Shaheen was a featured speaker at TED talks and TEDx Fullerton and is currently oversee-ing the revitalization of the historic Anaheim Citrus Packing House into a new “anti-mall” food and music center for Orange County.

Getting A Leg UpMark Smith, ‘11: Artist, Innovator, Global Creative Director at Jordan/Nike, Inc.

Mark Smith uses his creativity beyond footwear design and applies it to footwear construction and sustainability as well. Finding crea-tive material and production solutions will continue to affect and improve the apparel industry’s ecological impact.

Sailor MadeChristian Beamish, ‘11: Waterman, Pilgrim, Author - “By Sail and Oar - The Cormorant Journeys”

Since speaking about his solo sailing expeditions at The Ecology Center last August, Christian has been involved in the great adventure of caring for his baby girl, Josephine (born October 2011), with his wife Natasha Elliott-Beamish. Christian has plans to build a larger open boat for fam-ily camp cruising once a few more seasons pass for the new arrival.

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A container garden is limited only by your imagina-tion. Planter boxes, wooden barrels, hanging baskets and large flowerpots are just some of the containers that can be used. Here we show you how to build your own Veggie Box:

1. Cut the 1”x4” planks into 12 planks each 16” long

2. Cut the 2”x2” into 4 legs, each 23 ¾” long

3. Now start construction. Work on a firm, flat surface such as a good work bench. Use the 1 5/8” screws when securing the planks to the legs.

Place 2 legs on the bench and place one of the 16” planks over them. Using the square, line up one plank with one leg. (Don’t worry about the other leg for now, it’s just to support the plank.)

Make sure the edge of the plank is flush with the top of the leg post and the end of the plank is flush with the edge of the leg. Be certain they are square. Have someone hold them or clamp them while you drill and screw them together.

4. Line up the other leg at the opposite end of the plank, so the end sticks out past the edge of the leg. The amount it sticks out should be equal to the thickness of the planks. Use a piece of scrap wood to measure. Be certain they are square. Drill and screw the plank to the leg.

5. Now attach the next plank, keeping it up close to the 1st plank but stagger the ends so it sticks out past the edge of the first leg. The amount it sticks out should be equal to the thick-ness of the planks. Use the scrap bit to measure.

Drill and screw the 2nd plank to the leg.6. Line up and offset the 3rd plank like the 1st plank. Drill and screw it in place. One side of your box is now complete.

7. Repeat steps 3 thru 6 to construct a sec-ond side exactly like the first side.

8. Ask a friend to hold both sides up, legs posts on the inside. Take another 16” plank and place it between the two sides, adjust-ing the distance between the two sides until the plank fits just right. Check that everything is fairly square. Have your friend hold steady while you drill and screw. Tip: consider where your screws are positioned so they don’t bump into the ones already screwed into the leg. If this happens just back the screw out and try again with a little angle as you screw it in.

9. Repeat with the other two planks so you have 3 sides all attached together.

10. Now repeat on the opposite end to form 4 sides - you will have a box with no top or bot-tom. Tip- Check your right angles before you drill and screw. You can push and pull the box a bit here to get it a bit more square if needed. However, don’t worry about it being perfect. This is not fine furniture!

11. You now have a box with legs but no base. Flip the box upside down so the legs are stick-ing up in the air. Measure across the middle of the base. The distance should be close to 15 ¼”. Now cut a plank to to fit across the span of your box. This will be the support for the base planks.

12. Position the support plank in place, using your scrap bit to recess the supports. Drill and screw the supports in position.

13. Measure for the base planks and cut them. They should be about 15 ¼” long. ¼” or so short is fine as this allows the wood to swell a bit. Place the base planks perpendicu-lar across the support plank. Space the base planks evenly. Small gaps are fine since they aid drainage. Drill and screw.

14. Flip it over, fill it with a mix of soil and compost, and get growing.

Contain yourself. Even the smallest patio or porch can boast a crop of vegetables or a garden of flowers in containers.

SEASONAL SKILLS

MATERIALS NEEDED:· tape measure· carpenter's square· pencil· saw· power drill· ⅛” size drill bit· screwdriver· 1 5/8” outdoor deck screws· 2 1/2" outdoor deck screws· work gloves and eye protection

WOOD CUT LIST:Wood you will need to build a 16” square box:1” x 4” Redwood, Cedar or salvaged pallets, cut into:· 12 planks @ 16” – keep a bit of scrap/off-cut it, will come in handy

· 5 planks @ 15 1/4” approx – wait until step 13 to cut these.

2” x 2'' Redwood or Cedar cut into:· 4 planks @ 23 3/4''

SELECT CONTAINERGARDEN WINNERS:

Herbs: Always a good choice for beginning gardeners; they require little attention and can be grown year round.

LETTUCE/CHARD: The gift that keeps on giving! By eating the outside leaves and trimming flowers, you can keep eating for quite some time. Also, lettuce grows fairly quick.

TOMATOES/PEPPERS: Nothing tastes better than a homegrown tomato!

NASTURTIUM: These colorful flowers require very little attention, pests will leave them alone and you can even eat them!

Watch the instructional video online: http://youtu.be/7nHgAMei8Bw

15

The Calendar JUNE 01 Green Feast Ticket Pre-Sale for Members begins / $180 02 Farm To Fork / Ages 6-12 / 10:30am-12pm Members $15, Non-members $20

Backyard Skills at Center for Living Peace Irvine / Lantern Making / 1-3pm / $12 Sign-up at goodhappens.org

15Green Feast Ticket Sale to general pulic begins Members $180, Non-members $225 16Backyard Skills: Cheese Making / 1-3pm / Members $10, Non-members $15, +$5 materials fee 22Basic Needs Speaker Series: Mark Plotkin

6:30-8:30pm / Members $10, Non-members $20 30 Tools of the Trade “The Urban Home

stead” book Signing with Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen / 4-6pm / Free

JULY 07 Farm To Fork / Ages 6-12 / 10:30am-12pm Members $15, Non-members $20

Backyard Skills at Center for Living Peace Irvine/ Handmade Flower Pressing 1-3pm $12 / Sign-up at goodhappens.org

07 Elemental Awareness Camp (4 days)-13Ages 8-13 / 10am-2pm / $160 Learn important survival skills and positive ways to interact with and affect our natural environment. 21 Backyard Skills / Pickling / 1-3pm

Members $10, Non-members $15, +$5 materials fee

26 Basic Needs Speaker Series: Darrin Nordahl

6:30-8:30pm / Members $10, Non-members $20

28 Tools of the Trade:

Grow Your Own Mushrooms 1-3pm/ Free

AUGUST 04 Farm to Fork / Ages 6-12 / 10:30am-12 /

Members $15, Non-members $20

Backyard Skills at Center for Living Peace Irvine / Terrarium Making / 1-3pm / $12 / Sign-up at goodhappens.org

06Eco-Labs Camp (5 days) -10Ages 7-12 / 10am-2pm / $185 Engage in hands-on ecological solutions including rainwater harvesting, garden- ing, fort building, and solar cooking. 18Backyard Skills: Worm Bin Construction

1-3pm / Members $10, Non-member $15, +$17.50 materials fee.

23Basic Needs Speaker Series:

Greg MacGillivray / 6:30-8:30pm/ Mem-

bers $10, Non-members $20 25 Tools of the Trade: Exploring Community- Scale Edible Landscaping / 1-3pm / Free

SEPTEMBER 01 Farm To Fork / Ages 6-12 / 10:30am-12pm Members $15, Non-members $20

Backyard Skills at Center for Living Peace Irvine/BuildaSolarOven/1-3pm/$12 sign-upatgoodhappens.org 08 Green Feast Members $180, Non-members $225 22 Tools of the Trade: Acai Bowls with Sambazon / 1-3pm / FreeONGOINGEVENTS: ToolsforChange/GeneralStoreHours:Saturdays + Sundays 11am to 3pmHouseandGardenToursFirst Saturdays of each month, 1pm.WeekendHappeningsActivities for children and adults including tastings, storytelling, small crafts and much more!ToolsoftheTradeIn 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 stimulants and more. Dates and times vary each month; please check TheEcologyCenter.org for more details.

Be part of the solution

The Ecology Center is founded on the principle that people can make a difference. We believe that individual actions can transform the community, elevating the health of our environment for future generations.

Become a member today and enjoy the benefits all year long.

COMMUNITY (STUDENT) $25One-year subscription to Evolve, The Ecology Center’s Quarterly publicationDiscounted pricing on programs and classes

ADVOCATE (INDIVIDUAL) $50Latest edition of The Ecology Center tote bag

STEWARD (FAMILY) $10010% off purchases at Tools for Change

SUSTAINER $250 2 free tickets to our Summer Speaker Series “Backyard Skills”, The Ecology Center’s first publication featuring recipes for sustainable living such as worm bin, rain barrel and solar oven construction, and sprouting, terrarium design and non-toxic, homemade cleaning tips.

GUARDIAN $500 10% off purchases at South Coast Farmstand

VISIONARY $2500Year-end private event at The Ecology Center

The Ecology Center is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

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