The Ojai Valley Green Coalition is a gathering of residents and friends of the Ojai Valley actively working together to create an environmentally sustainable community in Ojai. ...
Continue reading "Welcome to the Ojai Valley Green Coalition" »
Spring is coming, and what better time to gather in the beautiful Ojai Valley to share seeds! All gardeners and farmers – both current and aspiring – are invited to join in the fun on Saturday, February 25, at 1:00 p.m. Bring your seeds, bring your stories, and bring your passion for growing food to the Chaparral Auditorium located at 414 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai.
Ojai’s First Annual Community Seed Swap will begin with a short talk by Justin Huhn, co-founder of All Good Things Organic Seeds – southern California’s bioregional seed company. Justin will share the basic “how-to’s” for beginner seed-savers and delve into the importance of seed saving to our community.
If you have a substantial offering of seeds to share and would like table space for your seeds, please arrive no later than 12:45. This event is hosted by All Good Things Organic Seeds and the Ojai Valley Green Coalition. We hope to see you February 25 at Chaparral. For more information, please contact Justin Huhn at 805-758-3184 or agtoseeds@gmail.com. To learn more about All Good Things Organic Seeds go to www.agtoseeds.com.
Continue reading "Feb. 25th - Join Us for Ojai’s Own First Annual Community Seed Swap!" »
Coming before the Ojai City Council is a single-use carryout bag ban/fee ordinance. At its basis, the ordinance bans plastic bags and places a fee on recycled content paper bags (state law does not allow a fee to be placed on plastic bags). The council will do its first reading of the ordinance on February 28, at 7:30pm, at which time the Coalition will give a five minute presentation. The council is tentatively slated to vote on the ordinance March 13. We encourage you to attend these meetings and voice your support for the ordinance. At the same time, letters to the editor and online conversations at the Ojai Valley News and Ojai Post help the cause.
To read the ordinance go to the Ojai city website and read the Bag Ordinance .pdf.
City of Ojai: website.
Public Meetings will take place in the Council Chambers at the Ojai City Hall unless otherwise noted. City Hall is located at 401 S Ventura St, Ojai CA.
On Saturday, March 3, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., the OVGC Food Council is hosting Master Food Preserver, Laurie Dill at Casa de Luna (710 N. La Luna, Meiners Oaks) who will present the many uses for a variety of citrus fruit. From facial scrubs to chutneys, flavored salts and sugars, to jams and marmalades, lemons, blood oranges, tangerines and grapefruits will be the celebrities of the day. Whether you just want to surprise your family or think about starting a small business in citrus condiments, this presentation is bound to please. Tastings, recipes, demos and discussion from an animated presenter, Laurie promises to delight and tantalize your senses.
Most of us have heard about the Master Gardener program through the University of California, but who knew that there is a complementary program, the Master Food Preservers? These programs began as a result of World War II food insecurity when all the farmers went off to war and the kitchen "Victory" garden movement began to feed American families.
While the gardening program continued to modern day, the food preserving program faded into history as easy cash, fast food and microwaves ruled the day. Well, the Master Food Preserver program has been found, dusted off, and is ramping back up through the University of California, as communities like the Ojai Valley strive to grow more of our own food and stretch the harvest. Think peaches in December. Actually, think WAY beyond canning. Canning fruits and vegetables is just one method of preserving food; add freezing, drying, fermenting and non-food products to the list.
$30 OVGC members, $35 non-members payable at the door. RSVPs requested since there's food being prepared ahead to ojaiculinaryclub@gmail.com. For more information email or call (805) 669-8445.
Check out the Ojai Valley Green Coalition's monthly E-news:
* Community Gathering and Winter Feast - Save Energy, Save Money and Save the Planet
* Join Us for Ojai's Own First Annual Community Seed Swap!
* Lighting and Plastic Bag Ban Ordinances Update
* Thank You, Gracias, Merci, Bedankt, Arigato - Thanks to our generous financial and in-kind supporters
Find out what the Food Council has been up to:
* Good Food-Good Energy Gathering, Friday, February 10 - Chaparral Auditorium
* Son of a Farmer, Child of the Earth - Author & Rancher, Eric Herme - 6:30-8:30 on Thursday, February 9th
* Fabulous Stone Fruit Tree Pruning Class - Charles Duncan - Master Gardener
* February 17th - 8:00 - 3:30 - Keynote Speaker: Karen Ross - California Secretary of Food & Agriculture
* Feb. 19th - From Film to Table: TOAST
* Good Time to Double Dig
Ever wonder where you can charge up your electric car locally? Here is a list of locations:
