ojaivalleygreencoalition.com

In the aftermath of the devastating Thomas Fire just months ago, citizens and volunteers came out to join the Ojai Valley Green Coalition to plan for a renewed and invigorated Earth Day 2018. For the first time ever the event will be held in Libbey Park, and, according to City Councilwoman Suza Francina, “the event is on track to be Ojai’s most inspiring Earth Day ever!” You can see the detailed schedule here.

This free event will be held on Saturday, April 21, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be earth-friendly entertainment, live music, expert speakers, natural building displays, earth-friendly vendors, and child-friendly activities including earth building with Ray Cirino, eco stardust face painting, and guided nature walks exploring the park.

The Earth Day stage events, held in the Gazebo, will begin with a blessing with Chumash Elder Julie Tumamait-Stensli. Following will be a full schedule of live music, including local favorites the Chillz, Aaron Embry, the Blue Moon Singers, and Cindy Kalmenson. Music will be interspersed with inspiring expert speakers.

Speakers include bestselling author and documentary maker Josh Tickell, on how we can “Protect Our Soil, Protect our Town (from fires, mudslides and calamity).”

Ojai Mayor Johnny Johnston will speak on “Community Choice Energy and what more we can do,” Connor Jones on “Regenerative Agriculture as a key to land and water management,” and scientist Peter Kalmus on “How we can live well and spark a climate revolution.”

Clare Steel, a Professor at CSU Channel Islands, will speak on ecological impacts of micro plastic debris on our coastal ecosystems.

John Roulec, founder of Nutiva, will speak on “Healthy soils and the link to ocean rejuvenation.”

Suza Francina and Kelly Pascoe will describe simple things we can do to make Ojai more bicycle-friendly.

Ojai Planning Commissioner Ray Powers will lead a Community Visioning Exercise: Ojai the Next 100 years.

And many more outstanding experts on what we can do to reverse global warming and create a healthier planet.

A Creativity Corner on the lawn near the playground will offer activities for children and adults of all ages, including Face Painting and Banner Making with the Blue Fairy for children and teens. Interactive activities include yoga with teachers from Arrow Heart Yoga Studio, dance with Eden Flynn, and International Dances of Peace with Amira Webster. There will also be Tai Chi with Jan Reason, a demonstration of Peace Sticks with Shane Rilling, and a Drum Circle led by Lawrence Alcorn.

Ryan O’Donnell, from Humble Hand Craft, who specializes in building sustainable, small homes, will have one of his tiny homes on display. There will also be a variety of electric vehicles — a Tesla X, Chevy Bolt and Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid — to showcase some of the interesting, affordable, and mainstream options to reduce polluting emissions and save money.

Exhibitors include the Church of the Wild, Ojai Trees, Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, BlueSky Biochar, and more than a dozen earth-friendly others.

Participants are encouraged to bike, walk, skate, ride the trolley, or carpool.

Photo: Children building with “Raygos”: bricks of adobe made by Ray Cirino that will be featured. Photo by Ray Cirino.

Originally published on Thursday, 29 March 2018 12:20 in the Ojai Valley News.

by Perry Van Houten, Ojai Valley News reporter

Ojai’s Earth Day celebration April 21 should be both entertaining and educational, according to organizers.

The event, that runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Libbey Park in downtown Ojai, will feature speakers, vendors, live music and children’s activities.

“It’ll be a hands-on interactive opportunity for kids and adults,” said organizer Tim Nafziger of the Ojai Valley Green Coalition.

The event took shape during meetings of the Ojai Valley Restoration and Resilience Council, a group formed following the Thomas Fire interested in habitat restoration, sustainability and community involvement.

“They said, ‘let’s weave this into Earth Day,’” stated Nafziger.

Highlights of the event will include earth-friendly vendors, organically grown food, environmental nonprofits and artisans.

Chumash elder Julie Tumamait will deliver a blessing to begin the day.

Other speakers are Ojai Mayor Johnny Johnston, Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett, and John Roulac, founder of the superfood company Nutiva.

Tania Parker, director of advancement for Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, will speak on habitat restoration.

Exhibitors will be grouped according to themes, including a movement-activity corner, healthy-food oasis and an artisan-shoppers lane.

“Our goal is to foster a village atmosphere,” said Nafziger.

The event will feature a tiny home on display, and a natural-building display hosted by Ray Cirino of Ojai, who builds using cob — a material made of clay, sand and straw.

“Kids can get their hands dirty with some of the materials he uses,” Nafziger said.

Musical entertainment will include the Oak Grove Choir, the Blue Moon Singers and local band The Chillz, playing originals and handpicked cover tunes.

In addition, Rev. Marilyn Miller, from the Center for Spiritual Living, will put on a recycled-fashion show.

Besides being a fun, family-friendly way for the community to gather, the event will help in addressing bigger issues, Nafziger said.

“It’s an opportunity to come together; to rediscover, reconnect and respond to the broader ecological crisis we’re facing, so we can act collectively for change,” he explained.

Nafziger believes celebrating Earth Day at Libbey Park makes sense.

“It’s our commons, as a community. It’s where we come together,” he explained.

Ojai City Councilwoman Suza Francina is helping organize the event and said the park is a perfect location.

“Libbey Park is a jewel,” she said. “There are so many areas that people haven’t explored.”

Participants can take a guided nature walk to get a better understanding of the ecology of the park.

Francina said she hopes the event inspires people “to learn to live lightly on the earth. To think about Ojai for the next 100 years — what we can implement individually.”

Rather than drive, Francina encouraged participants to walk, bicycle, skateboard or take the trolley to the event.

A large area has been set aside for bike parking, she said.

“Kelly Pasco from the Mob Shop will talk about easy things we can do to make the community more bicycle-friendly,” Francina added.

The deadline to reserve booth space is April 2.

Organizers invite interested community members to attend the next Earth Day planning meeting April 12 at 1 p.m. at the Green Coalition Resource Center, 206 N. Signal St.

(Photo: Eero D’Amour and Kaden Beeler, learning about natural buildings with guidance from Ray Cirino)

A new executive director, Tod Cossairt (left), is stepping up to lead the Green Coalition, as the interim director, Tim Nafziger, steps down.

Cossairt, an environmental sustainability educator who presently serves as the regional coordinator for the national Green Schools Alliance, was chosen by the board of directors this month to fill the post. In his interview with the board, Cossairt stressed his experience with strategic planning, his plans to work collaboratively, and hopes for finding new opportunities for young people in environmental leadership both in the Coalition and in the Ojai Valley. Continue reading “Tod Cossairt named new Executive Director of Green Coalition”

On November 14 a Superior Court Judge ruled that Ventura County ignored California environmental law regarding air pollution when its commercial and industrial permit division and Board of Supervisors approved a local oil company plan to drill three new oil wells in Upper Ojai.

Continue reading “Judge Rules against County, for Clean Air for Ojai”