March 23, 2013: Millions of People Will Turn Off Their Lights for One Hour

People from all walks of life, from all nations around the world, are the lifeblood of the Earth Hour interconnected global community. They have proven that if you believe in something strongly enough, you can achieve amazing things. Earth Hour is not merely an annual event, but is a continuous movement driving real actions to change the world’s use of energy and bring to light human impact on our home, planet Earth.

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Ojai Valley Seed & Plant Exchange, Sat. Feb 23

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Spring is coming and what better time to gather in the beautiful Ojai Valley to share seeds and seedlings! All gardeners and farmers – both current and aspiring – are invited to join in for the 2nd Annual Ojai Valley Seed & Plant Exchange on Saturday, February 23, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. All are welcome to bring your stories and passion for growing food to the Chaparral Auditorium located at 414 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai. And if you have them, bring seeds, cuttings, or starts to share. We encourage you to bring your own repurposed seed containers (think envelopes out of the recycle bin). And our favorite local expert on beneficial insects,
Rincon Vitova, will be on hand to answer questions.
The exchange is hosted by All Good Things Organic Seeds and the Ojai Valley Green Coalition.
This year we’re expanding to include plants grown locally and inviting nonprofits and growers to sell seeds and starts. A donation of 10% of gross sales to the Ojai Valley Green Coalition is requested. For further information or to coordinate sharing or selling seeds and plants contact Justin Huhn at (805) 758-3184 or agtoseeds@gmail.com.
Click here to download the flyer!

Come Out January 22 to Help Pass an Updated Lighting Ordinance, but First Come to a Strategizing Workgroup, January 8

Turning down the lights! Everybody’s doing it. In Paris, France the “city of light,” all shops, offices and public buildings will extinguish their nightlights between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m., effective July 2013. Whether motivated by energy savings or the desire to reduce their need for nuclear and fossil fuel plants, Paris’ action will be dramatic.

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Solarize Ojai Final Day to Register Dec 7; To Sign a Contract Dec 14

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On October 6, the Ojai Valley Green Coalition launched Solarize Ojai, a two-month group-purchasing program designed to make it easier and more affordable for Ojai Valley homeowners to add solar electricity to their homes. The Coalition partnered with the Community Environmental Council (CEC) based in Santa Barbara to bring this program to the Ojai Valley. CEC ran a similar program in Santa Barbara and helped 84 homeowners add solar to their homes in 2011 and 2012!
Solarize Ojai will only be available to register for a quote until December 7 and then sign a contract by December 14. With this program, homeowners in the Ojai Valley purchase solar electricity at a set, discounted price and are helped through the process by CEC. Get details at www.SolarizeOjai.org.
The Solarize Ojai program also helps support the Coalition and CEC. Included in the purchase price is a small one-time fee paid by the solar company directly to the Coalition and CEC. This fee will help both organizations continue to promote renewable energy in the region and be self-sustaining.

Come Out Feb 26 to Help Pass Lighting Ordinance


The wasteful evening illumination of unused buildings, parking lots and streets obscures the stars in our night sky and disrupts the circadian rhythms of humans and wildlife, damaging our environment in ways we are only beginning to understand.
Turning off night-time lights, reducing night wattage and shielding exterior lights are all easy ways to conserve energy and help the environment. With considerable studies showing the unintended adverse consequences of night-time lighting, the time to act is now. That’s why we are so excited about the updated Exterior Lighting Standards Ordinance* coming up for vote at the Tuesday, February 26, 2013 Ojai City Council meeting, thanks to Coalition member, Gail Topping.
*Download Ordinance Document Here
If you are concerned about light pollution and reducing our lighting energy consumption in the valley, please join us in requesting lights ‘down’. Attend the February 26 Ojai city council meeting beginning at 7 p.m.