Month: March 2012

SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 4:00PM
at the Ojai Playhouse Theater, 145 E. Ojai Ave.
and organic dinner at The Ojai Art Center!
Catherine Austin Fitts will be hosting this Special Community Event sponsored by Transition to Organics & Going Organic Guide. Suggested Donation for movie: $10
After the film (at 6:30), you’re invited to join us at The Ojai Art Center, 113 S. Montgomery St., (within walking distance from the theater) for an organic dinner and conversation with Catherine. She will be be presenting inspiring information about Community Seed Saving, Bartering, Creating a Local Currency, and Strategies for Personal & Community Transformation. Please RSVP for dinner — $20.
Catherine served as the Under Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) during the 1980s, and currently publishes The Solari Report. Please visit: www.Solari.com.

THRIVE is an unconventional documentary that lifts the veil on what’s REALLY going on in our world by following the money upstream—uncovering the global consolidation of power in nearly every aspect of our lives. Weaving together breakthroughs in science, consciousness and activism, THRIVE offers real solutions, empowering us with unprecedented and bold strategies for reclaiming our lives and our future.
RSVP for dinner: transitiontoorganics@gmail.com, or call: (805) 646-4294
EXTRAS:
(Official Trailer) THRIVE: What On Earth Will It Take?
Learn more about THRIVE the movie… the movement.
Update: April, 6 2012
“THRIVE, The Movie” can now be viewed… Free… online:
YouTube: Thrive Movie Going Free
Go to the website to view: THRIVE website

On Saturday, March 10 nine C.R.E.W. members and 20 volunteers (mostly youth from Ventura College, Oak Grove School, Ojai Valley School, and San Antonio Elementary) worked together to remove invasive vegetation and plant oak trees, willow cuttings, mulefat, and mugwort. One large oak tree donated by Flora Gardens was ceremonially planted and named Querci.

Ojai Valley Green Coalition is spearheading the volunteer recruitment and we encourage you to join in for our next work days Saturday, March 24th and Saturday, April 28th, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. You can just show up, but should check in by 9:30 a.m. at the work site near the old jailhouse building in lower Libbey Park between the bike path and the park’s lower tennis courts. Those under the age of 18 will need the liability release waivers signed by a parent or guardian.
If coming by car, you can park at the lower Libbey parking lot off of South Montgomery Street and follow the signs. Wear long pants with closed-toed shoes or boots and a hat is highly recommended. We will again be removing invasive non-natives plants and planting native habitat. The Coalition will provide work gloves, tools, water and snacks.
For more information or for waivers please contact david@ojaivalleygreencoalition.org or call (805) 669-8445.

Join us April 14-15, 2012 for an interactive forum on the new economy in Ojai, CA, where we will explore the possibilities of bringing together Ojai’s unique assets for Ecotourism, and create a plan of action. Participate in a discussion on the possibilities for sustaining our environment, economy and community through an Ecotourism initiative.
Presenters, Panelists & Facilitators
The Ojai Forum is honored to have our Ojai based speakers, panelists and facilitators. Following is a partial list, alphabetically listed. The Ojai Forum does not guarantee attendance by any individual, and a few of the following are invited and not confirmed at this point.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Steve Bennett – County of Ventura District 1 Supervisor
Das Williams – State of California District 35 Assembly Member
OTHER PRESENTERS, PANELISTS & FACILITATORS
Ron Asquith – Ojai Olive Oil
Matt Boeck – Ojai on Horseback
Caryn Bosson – Ojai Valley Green Coalition Board Member, Founding Executive Director of the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation
Bret Bradigan – The Ojai Quarterly
Ulrich Brueger – The Ojai Retreat
Maggie Carota – The Ojai Valley Inn & Spa
Dave DeMauro – Cloud Climbers Jeep Tour
Scott Eicher – Ojai Visitor’s Bureau & Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce
Kim Exon – The Well Center for Conscious Living
Greg Gamble – Ojai Valley Land Conservancy
Debbie Godfrey – Ojai on Horseback
Cynthia Grier – Founder & Consultant at EcoLogic Life – green design build showroom, Founder of EcoLogic LifeStyle travel guide, Editorial Advisor for Natural Home Magazine, Judge for United States Green Building Council C4 Green Awards
Ellen Hall – Director of Meditation Mount, Past Mayor of Ojai, Past Head of Oak Grove School, Founding Director of The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy
Kathy Hartley – The Lavendar Inn Bed & Breakfast, Spa at Lavendar Inn, Ojai Culinary School
Jim Johnson – General Manager Casa Ojai & Su Nido Inn
Bill Moses – Casa Barranca Winery & The Pratt House
Kathy Nolan – Principal & Landscape Architect at Studio Landscape, City of Ojai Planning Commissioner, Ojai Valley Green Coalition President
Kelly Pascoe – The MOB Shop
Deborah Pendrey – Ojai Valley Green Coalition Executive Director
Ian Potter – Trails by Potter
Stacy Potter – Trails by Potter
Kira Ryder – Lu Lu Bhanda’s Yoga Studio & The Ojai Yoga Crib
Brian Skaggs – Director of Engineering, Ojai Valley Inn & Spa
Leif Skoberg – The Ojai Foundation
Jaap Sluijter – Krisnamurti Foundation of America
Steve Sprinkle – Farmer & the Cook, Transition to Organics
Yaap Sluijter – The Krisnamurti Foundation
Mike Weaver – Business, Research & Strategic Planning Consultant at Weaver Research & Consulting Group, Past President of Rotary Club of Ojai
Susan Weaver – Urban Economist & Planner, City of Ojai Redevelopment Commissioner, Past City of Ojai Planning Commissioner
Reggie Wood – Westwood Construction, Ojai Rotary Club Floating Environmental Education Classroom
TO VIEW FULL SCHEDULE: Click Here

LOCATION:
Meditation Mount Conference Center
10340 Reeves Rd, Ojai, CA 93023-5105
(805) 646-5508
Located at the east end of the Ojai Valley – from downtown Ojai, go two miles east on Ojai Ave. At Boccali’s Italian Restaurant, the highway curves to the right. Instead, take a soft left at the restaurant onto Reeves Rd. Follow Reeves all the way until you reach the driveway for Meditation Mount, about a mile and a half.

To View The Ojai Forum Website: Click Here
DOWNLOAD FLYER (.jpg file)
Download Flyer from ojaiforum.com website (.PDF file)

Check out the Ojai Valley Green Coalition’s monthly E-news:

* Conference to Explore Ecotourism’s Potential for the Ojai Valley’s Environment, Economy and Community
* EarthPlay Saturday, April 21
* Last Call until Fall to Help with Creek Habitat Restoration
* May Gathering – Save the Date!
Read E-News Here…

Find out what the Food Council has been up to:

* Rites of Spring
* Ojai Valley Bee Club
* Culinary Club Tasties
* Nopalito Native Plant Nursery
* Europe Leads the Way – Just Say NO to GMO
Read Food News Here…

Until July 9 you can now Opt-Out of receiving a Smart Meter. You must call 1-800-810-2369 (English) or 1-800-477-4455 (Spanish) and ask to be placed on the Opt-Out list, even if you already called and were placed on the Delay List. Residents who now have the Digital Meters can have them removed and replaced back with Analog Meters.
**Please note** Edison will bill you a one time charge of $75 and a monthly fee of $10 for this option.
The Coalition strongly supports educating ourselves and making an informed decision. Here are some sites from both sides of the fence that might help .
Learn More: Edison SmartConnect – Ventura District Overview
Other links:
www.stopsmartmetersnow.com
www.cpuc.ca.gov
www.smartmeters.com
www.stopsmartmeters.org

See Earlier “Smart Meter” Article/Event from last year, for more details:
Oct 25th – What Is a Smart Meter? Come Join Us

At the February 28 city council meeting Executive Director Deborah Pendrey gave a heartfelt presentation and several individuals along with representatives from the Surfrider Foundation and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper gave further testimony as to the importance of passing the ordinance (some support conditional on changes to the ordinance). Council members requested several changes, but with a vote 5 to 0, supported the ordinance, and on March 13 a final reading will be done and the ordinance is expected to officially become law! Now, the ordinance is a ban on plastic bags (state law does not allow a fee on them) with a fee on paper bags because the point is to reduce all single-use point of sale bags.

Continue reading “Single-Use Carryout Bag Ordinance Update”

“The goal of the ballot initiative is simply that GE (genetically engineered) food be labeled” – Jan Dietrick and Ron Whitehurst
Thank you Jan and Ron for your tireless leadership, time, and effort!
If you agree we have a right to know and are a registered voter, but have not signed yet, please make a point of doing so at one of these locations before April 22. For sites outside of Ojai go to www.labelgmos.org/ventura.
– Ojai Farmers’ Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays
Businesses hosting tables with petitions for Ventura County registered voters only:
– Rainbow Bridge, 211 E. Matilija St., Ojai
– Ojai House, 304 N. Montgomery St., Ojai
– Farmer and the Cook, 339 W. El Roblar Dr., Ojai

Continue reading “From the GMO Labeling Initiative Front”

If you want to save money and lighten your ecological footprint, read on. At the last community gathering we announced the roll-out of our Ojai Energy Efficiency Initiative with the long term goal of a “Net Zero” valley. The initiative is an educational outreach program to connect energy consumers to the newest technologies and funding resources to help lessen our overall energy consumption.

Continue reading “Anyone Out There Want to Save Money and Conserve Energy?”

On Saturday, March 3, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., the OVGC Food Council is hosting Master Food Preserver, Laurie Dill at Casa de Luna (710 S. La Luna, Meiners Oaks) who will present the many uses for a variety of citrus fruit.
From facial scrubs to chutneys, flavored salts and sugars, to jams and marmalades, lemons, blood oranges, tangerines and grapefruits will be the celebrities of the day. Whether you just want to surprise your family or think about starting a small business in citrus condiments, this presentation is bound to please. Tastings, recipes, demos and discussion from an animated presenter, Laurie promises to delight and tantalize your senses.

Most of us have heard about the Master Gardener program through the University of California, but who knew that there is a complementary program, the Master Food Preservers? These programs began as a result of World War II food insecurity when all the farmers went off to war and the kitchen “Victory” garden movement began to feed American families.
While the gardening program continued to modern day, the food preserving program faded into history as easy cash, fast food and microwaves ruled the day. Well, the Master Food Preserver program has been found, dusted off, and is ramping back up through the University of California, as communities like the Ojai Valley strive to grow more of our own food and stretch the harvest. Think peaches in December. Actually, think WAY beyond canning. Canning fruits and vegetables is just one method of preserving food; add freezing, drying, fermenting and non-food products to the list.
$30 OVGC members, $35 non-members payable at the door. RSVPs requested since there’s food being prepared ahead to ojaiculinaryclub@gmail.com. For more information email or call (805) 669-8445.
DOWNLOAD FLYER
DIRECTIONS TO: Casa de la Luna:
Easiest way to get here from downtown Ojai:
Head back out of town as if you are going to Ventura on 150/33 (go west on Ojai Avenue past Vons. The street name will change to Ventura Avenue).
Turn right at the light on Baldwin.
At the second street, turn right. This is S. La Luna Avenue.
Continue on La Luna for nearly a mile. The road will be pretty much straight until you see a yellow 30 mph curve warning sign on the right.
Turn right into the first driveway after the yellow sign.
The address 710 is painted white on a rock, and also is on the wall as you enter. There is also a sign painted on the wall (“Casa de La Luna”).
Drive past the horses, past the first house (guest house), past the greenhouse and apartments, until you reach the large main house. The event will be in the main house.
From Ventura, people would come up the hill (Highway 33) and turn left on Baldwin.