About Us

The Occidental Arts and Ecology Center is a nonprofit organizing and education center and organic farm in Northern California’s Sonoma County. OAEC was founded in 1994 by a group of biologists, horticulturists, educators, activists, and artists seeking innovative and practical approaches to the pressing environmental and economic crises of our day. Much of the Center’s work addresses the challenges of creating democratic communities that are ecologically, economically and culturally sustainable in an increasingly privatized and corporatized economy and culture. OAEC's programs combine research, demonstration, education, and organizing to develop collaborative, community-based strategies for positive social change and effective environmental stewardship.

The Center is located in western Sonoma County, 65 miles north of San Francisco (click here to see map and directions), on 80 acres that encompasses wildlands of meadows and mixed oak, fir and redwood forests. The Center’s bio-intensive organic gardens and orchards have been a source of inspiration and training for thousands of gardeners, farmers and landscapers for over 30 years, first as the Farallones Institute (1974-1990), then as the Center for Seven Generations (1990-1993), and since 1994 as OAEC. In a typical year, the Center receives over 3,000 visitors. Many attend one of our courses, others come to site tours or to volunteer in the garden. Bay Area social justice and environmental organizations use the OAEC facility for strategy retreats and workshops for their staff and boards. Many thousands more benefit from our organizing campaigns, public presentations, heirloom seed swaps, and consulting services.

To ensure that all future farming operations are free of synthetic chemicals and in keeping with the California Cetified Organic Farmers certification program, a permanent organic agricultural easement over our gardens and orchards was signed between OAEC and the Sonoma Land Trust in 1994.

The Center's 2005 organizational budget was $897,000, including significant in-kind contributions. To insure our financial viability, over the past 13 years we have developed a very diverse funding base. In 2005 our income sources included 29% from program fees and plant sales, 25% from in-kind donations and work-exchange intern labor, 28% from foundation grants, and 18% in contributions from individuals.