Ojai Valley Green Coalition

Download the July Newsletter

2009-07-03T21:44:43Z

Mad City Chickens

2009-06-30T05:42:15Z

Our July Community Presentation will be a screening of the film, Mad City Chickens at the Ojai Theatre, 145 E. Ojai Ave at 4:30 July 25th. Afterwards there will be a Q & A with Garm Beall, founder of www.backyardchickens.com. More information will be available here soon.

Download the June Newsletter

2009-06-03T01:14:08Z

To download the June Newsletter click Here

Got Water? OVGC presents Watershed Revolution on June 24th

2009-06-01T01:17:14Z

Stunning high–definition cinematography will be featured in the film premiere of Watershed Revolution on June 24 at Ojai’s Chaparral High School Auditorium. The 30-minute documentary film, which is being shown by the Ojai Valley Green Coalition, profiles our Ventura River watershed and the community members and organizations working to protect and restore it. It highlights the unique challenges faced by a river that is this community’s main source of water. The film emphasizes the need for floodplain protection, sustainable agriculture, and community awareness of local water resources. After the film there will be a discussion along with a question and answer period, featuring local watershed activists such as Paul Jenkin of the Surfrider Foundation; Steve Svete of the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy; Rick Bisaccia, Preserve Manager for the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy; Steve Sprinkel, organic farmer; Sara Benjamin, “Once Upon a Wetland” educator; Shawn Kelly of the State Coastal Conservancy Wetlands Recovery Project; and Ben Pitterle, with the Ventura Stream Team of Santa Barbara Channelkeeper. For a preview, log on to http://watershedrevolution.com/trailer.html. World-class outdoor photographer Rich Reid is the documentary filmmaker. Reid is a resident of the Ojai Valley and a photography instructor at the Brooks Institute. His photographs have been featured by National Geographic Books, Backroads, the New York Times, The Territory Ahead, and the Trust for Public Land. Reid also conducts photo tours and workshops in Alaska. Watershed Revolution promises to change forever your definition of a watershed. It will be shown at 7:00 p.m. on June 24 at the Chaparral High School Auditorium, 414 E. Ojai Avenue.

The Passive Design Revolution

2009-05-09T05:59:42Z

Green Coalition to Show Sustainable Heating and Cooling Methods. As the next event in its “Ecology and Community” series, the Ojai Valley Green Coalition will share smart, time-tested heating and cooling strategies of architectural design as the new way to control indoor temperatures. A presentation entitled “The Passive Design Revolution” will be given on May 27 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Chaparral High School Auditorium, 414 E. Ojai Avenue. View the event flyer Here. Wintertime solar gain, summertime solar shading, efficient insulation, and natural ventilation are all elements of the passive-design methodology now being used internationally. German-speaking countries and Scandinavia have been leading the movement, and so far more than 15,000 “passive houses” have been built. As more and more homeowners are asking for passive design, more and more architects and contractors are learning how to offer it. With passive design, even the need for solar panels and wind turbines is virtually eliminated, because in passive-design houses indoor climate control can be as much as 90 percent self-sustaining. The presentation will show that passive design is today’s single most significant way to reduce energy consumption—in the Ojai Valley and around the world. The presentation will feature a PowerPoint slideshow that includes photos, and a question and answer period will follow. Presenter Wayne Pendrey, a member of the Green Coalition’s Building and Construction Committee, serves on the board of directors of the Ventura County Contractors Association and is the chair of that association’s Green Building Committee. Pendrey is also chairman of the Strategic Partner Committee for the California Central Coast Chapter of the United States Green Building Council. For further information about the event call (805) 653-8445

Download the May Newsletter

2009-05-09T05:54:34Z

To download the May Newsletter click Here

Come play in the garden with us!

2009-04-25T04:48:43Z

Grow Food Party Crew is Seeking Volunteers! We have more fun coming up and want to include you. Our Potluck garden installation parties are fun! If you want to get a garden or give one email us at: growfoodpartycrew@yahoo.com

Earth Day

2009-04-25T04:43:23Z

The Ojai Valley Green Coalition will be present at the Oak Grove Earth Day Celebration from 2pm-5pm Come join us and all of our Committees represented. We will have fun interactive things to do and lots of information to share!

Solutions for Creating Eco-Friendly, Healthy Homes and Workplaces

2009-04-06T21:22:40Z

Building / Construction Committee http://www.ojaivalleygreencoalition.org/action-committees/building-construction/ Please join us for a Free Workshop "Solutions for Creating Eco-Friendly, Healthy Homes and Workplaces" with Jon Cotham, Environmental Inspector, Certified Bau-Biologist and Licensed Contractor Thursday April 23rd 7:00-8:30 pm Jon will be discussing building materials and techniques for creating eco-friendly, healthy homes and workplaces. Seating is limited. RSVP requested. Contact - Cynthia Grier 805.765.7863 info@ecologiclifestlye.com 109 S. Montgomery St Ojai, CA 93023

Download the April Newsletter

2009-04-03T21:52:29Z

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PDF DOCUMENT: Here

How to Make Change Happen in the Ojai Valley

2009-04-02T16:38:54Z

“Advocacy 101,” as the presentation is called, will be held from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on April 22 at the Chaparral High School Auditorium, 414 E. Ojai Avenue. View the event flyer Here. Mohandas Gandhi once said, “We must become the change we want to see in the world.” But how can one person influence change here in the Ojai Valley? Improving the quality of life here is often a matter of advocacy: active support of an idea or cause, or promotion of a change in governmental policy. It’s often easy to see what needs to be changed, but difficult to actually make that change happen. In years past, citizens of the Ojai Valley have come together to stop Caltrans from building a freeway right through the middle of our valley. They’ve also worked together to convince the Ventura County Board of Supervisors to locate a landfill elsewhere than in Weldon Canyon at the mouth of the Ojai Valley. Other efforts have influenced zoning codes, noise ordinances, and the introduction of chain stores. How were these feats accomplished? The answer is citizen advocacy: working within the established system to create change. In April, residents will have an opportunity to learn from government representatives who will walk them through the process of getting an issue introduced for legislation, changing existing legislation, or even defeating legislation. As part of the Ojai Valley Green Coalition’s Ecology and Community series, County Supervisor Steve Bennett and Ojai City Council member Steve Olsen will provide an overview, and Kenley Neufeld, the citizen who initiated a successful petition to ban chain stores in Ojai, will discuss his experiences. John Broesamle will also speak about the defeat of the proposed Farmont Golf Course back in the 1990s, when through his and many others’ determined advocacy, 1,500 acres became dedicated open space protected by the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy. You’ll also hear a couple of stories about advocacy as told by Frank Malle, and each segment will include a Q&A session.

Download the February e-Newsletter

2009-03-12T01:30:33Z

http://www.ojaivalleygreencoalition.org/media/Newsletter_Feb_09.pdf

Next Watershed Meeting, March 16, Monday

2009-03-11T02:09:57Z

Food and Agriculture Committee http://www.ojaivalleygreencoalition.org/action-committees/food-agriculture/

Earth Day Unplugged Concert

2009-03-05T22:45:01Z

Join us in our efforts to "unplug" by taking a few hours to slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures of live music, the natural beauty of the oaks, and each other! See the Earth Day Flyer Here. Ojai is a nexus for caring for the planet and Oak Grove School will again host this exciting day celebrating our resources, and sharing Ojai’s affection and concern for the planet. Earthday Unplugged will be a free community concert in honor of Earth Day Saturday, April 25 from 2-5 p.m. This event will showcase: Music on the Pavilion stage Activity area for young children Invention Convention The Ojai Valley Green Coalition committee eco-learning games and prizes Light refreshments Earth Day Raffle

Committee Presentations

2009-03-01T22:08:06Z

The Ojai Valley Green Coalition is proud to announce our ongoing monthly presentations. The meetings will all be on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:00pm. We hope our neighbors will attend these informational presentations about how we can each work toward our mission of creating a model green and sustainable community. Please join us to learn and meet others in the valley who are working toward greening Ojai. All of these programs will be presented at the Chaparral High School Auditorium, 414 E. Ojai Ave. next to the City's Park and Ride lot. Event flyer is - HERE