Feb. 10th – Community Gathering and Winter Feast – Save Energy, Save Money and Save the Planet

The Ojai Valley Green Coalition invites you to its winter community gathering on Friday, February 10. Mingle with neighbors, share a potluck supper and start the new year right with the evening’s program focused on “How to Save Energy, Save Money and Save the Planet”.
Coalition Built Environment Council members will discuss all types of programs available to Ojai renters, homeowners and businesses to conserve energy through building and appliance efficiency and explain how you can easily switch to renewable energy. This will also kick off our new ‘Ojai Energy Efficiency Initiative’ recently funded by The Gas Company and Southern California Edison. The Coalition is using the funds to spread the word on energy programs to help Ojai move toward a “Net Zero” community – producing as much energy as we use.
This is an evening out with good food and good people while giving the community information they can use and possibly would not otherwise know existed. Hosted by the Coalition at the Chaparral Auditorium, 414 E. Ojai Ave., the evening will begin with a meet and greet from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m., food sharing from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., followed by the energy presentation. There will also be information tables to learn about many of the Coalition’s activities.
Come share and celebrate our winter’s bounty with your favorite salad, entrée, or dessert featuring seasonal, local and organic ingredients. To reduce our landfill waste, please bring your own table service (plate, silverware, mug, and cloth napkin). To RSVP or for more information email ojaiculinaryclub@gmail.com or call (805) 669-8445.
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February E-News 2012

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
Read E-News Here…

Join Us for Ojai’s Own First Annual Community Seed Swap!

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.

Continue reading “Join Us for Ojai’s Own First Annual Community Seed Swap!”

Food News – February 2012

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
Read Food News Here…

Jan 23 – Open House Invitation

You are invited!
On Monday, January 23 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. join us for an informal preview of the Green Coalition’s new Green Resource Center on Ojai Avenue. This is a free open house and is a great way to get to know the Coalition and directors, share ideas and concerns, and see where you might tap in.
Over wine and cheese and in an hour, two of our Board members, David White and Caryn Bosson, will share the history of the Coalition, and gather your thoughts and ideas for how we might create a more sustainable and resilient future for our community.
This is a not a fundraiser. Just come with your curiosity and ideas!
RSVP requested. The program is one hour: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 327 E. Ojai Ave. (next to Ojai Pizza, through the gate).
If you’d like to join us, please RSVP to membership@ojaivalleygreencoalition.com. THANK YOU.

Thank YOU! OVGC Membership Drive!

Update February, 1, 2012:
Thank You, Gracias, Merci, Bedankt, Arigato
Thanks to everyone who has supported our work! Everyone who donated, everyone who volunteered, everyone who took the time to take action in the last year.
We came close to our $10,000 goal and feel really good about it. Our final amount – $7827.00.
Thank you Ojai Valley and Friends from afar.
—
TOP US OFF! WE’RE GETTING CLOSE!
Wow! We’ve raised $6,812.00 toward our $10,000.00 matching challenge needed by January 31, 2012.
Thanks to all who have stepped up. This is so great and we’re getting close, but hitting our mark would be fantastic and is critical to our ability to continue our key projects and other efforts. If you have not yet responded, can you get us to our goal? We have $3,188.00 more to go.
Not a member yet, please join. Up for renewal, keep on keeping on.
In a position to give an extra gift, double thanks. Been thinking of a gift membership, what better way to express your love than with an early Valentine’s that says I care about the environment you live in and want to make a difference.
The Ojai Valley Green Coalition needs your financial support TODAY to keep up the work you read about here and in our newsletters. If you contribute by the January deadline, every dollar is doubled! That’s funds that will be used to further a green, sustainable and resilient Ojai Valley for all of us now and in the future.

Our award-winning volunteer-driven organization brings educational events and hands-on projects that improve our sustainability in the Ojai Valley. There is so much more to be done. With your financial support, we can deepen the impact of our projects, education, and advocacy work that restore and preserve our environment for all of us.
Invest in the Ojai Valley Green Coalition with a monthly membership donation as low as $10.00. It’s simple and easy to do securely.
Or join as an annual member with as little as $25.00 a year. Or give a gift membership or add to your current membership to help us achieve some specific goals.
Act TODAY so your gift to the Ojai Valley Green Coalition can be DOUBLED by our special membership challenge up to $10,000.00!
Access to our website and subscription to our monthly e-newsletter are free, but by supporting our work as a supporting member, you will be helping us to:

* Bring our resource center to its full potential
* Continue to move a city ordinance forward and educate the community on light pollution
* Campaign for a city single-use carryout bag reduction ordinance
* Produce educational presentations, workshops and events
* Map our valley water, food, and energy assets and needs
* Encourage residents and businesses to reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost
* Foster an awareness of the effects of our food choices and increase local food production

Perhaps the best reason for giving to the Ojai Valley Green Coalition is that you are helping to grow the movement of people working together to build a more sustainable and resilient community. And that’s a gift we all can enjoy—now and for generations to come. Please join us.

Jan 7th – RECYCLE YOUR E-WASTE

In partnership with Ojai Valley Directory, Ojai Community Bank, Gold Coast Recycling & Transfer, and PC Pros, the Ojai Valley Green Coalition will once again hold an e-waste recycling event on Saturday, January 7, 2012, in the bank’s parking lot, located at 402 W. Ojai Ave. Ojai , from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine.
The event is open to all Ojai Valley residents and businesses.

E-Recycling of California will be accepting for recycling most types of electronics, including computers, monitors, and all accessories; TVs, radios, stereo and small appliances, such as toasters and microwaves.
The Coalition will also be recycling household batteries (limit five pounds), ink and toner cartridges, CDs and DVDs with cases, cassette tapes with cases, iPods, cell phones and incandescent holiday lights.
Did you receive new electronics or small appliances as holiday gifts? It’s illegal to dispose of your old items in the trash, or in regular recycle bins. These universal wastes, as they are called, contain toxic heavy metals that can leach into the ground, so they cannot go to landfills.
The coalition also collects, CDs, DVDs, ink and toner cartridges, iPods and cell phones year round at its resource center located at 327 E. Ojai Ave.
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