Occidental Arts and Ecology Center: Building Ecological Literacy

The Occidental Arts and Ecology Center (OAEC), a non-profit organization, has been and continues to be the most vocal advocate for the preservation and promotion of ecological agriculture and biodiversity. Founded in the early 1970s, its dedicated men and women are committed to the cultivation of ecological literacy among individuals, groups and organizations in the United States particularly in Northern California. Its stated mission also includes building the capacity of social and civic movement leaders and stakeholders in guiding their communities toward a better future – viable in the economic sense, regenerative in the ecological aspect, and just in the social factor.

OAEC is also a pioneer in organic farming in California – its farm was one of the first to be certified organic in the state. Its living seed collection, which has more than 3,000 heirloom herb, fruits, and vegetables seeds, has inspired activists, educators, and biologists, even amateur gardeners, to find practical approaches in environmental issues while also getting the appropriate nutrition.