The Ecology Center provides the public with reliable information, tools, hands-on training, referrals, strategies, infrastructure, and models for sustainable living. Our programs enable people to adopt practices that are environmentally and socially responsible. We run Berkeley's residential curbside recycling program, the Berkeley Farmers' Markets, Farm Fresh Choice food justice program, Terrain magazine, EcoHouse demonstration home and garden, the Ecology Center Store, and a variety of Information and Climate Change Action programs.
Join a local Climate Change Action Group
During four weekly sessions, you will work in a team with a small group of Bay Area residents to:
All levels of environmental activists are encouraged to participate. Find out more or sign up now.
Berkeley Sustainability Summit and Green Gathering
This year, the Ecology Center is combining the Berkeley Sustainability Summit with the City of Berkeley's Green Gathering. Expect the best of both events: delectable food from local green caterers, a wealth of interesting speakers and topics, and the opportunity to network with leaders in the local sustainability movement. Click here for more info. Click here for more information.
Comment on Berkeley's Climate Action Plan
The revised Berkeley Climate Action Plan is now available for your review and comment. The City of Berkeley requests your input! The public comment period ends Nov. 7. Visit their site, berkeleyclimateaction.org, where you can read the plan and give your input.
Tomatoes' Sweet Comeback
Chef Paul Canales of Oakland's Oliveto restaurant is a tomato connoisseur. A reporter for the Wall Street Journal follows Canales around the Berkeley Farmers' Market as he picks out 1,000 pounds of tomatoes for his annual series of tomato dinners, for which every dish features tomatoes, even the desserts!
Terrain Magazine, Summer 2008
In this how-to issue, Terrain tells you how to flush smart, go on a picnic, dump your ride, and make that last green gesture. Two new columns debut, True Co$t and Ask the Eco Team. Plus: why wetlands times two equals zero.
Check out Terrain's fully searchable on-line archives.
Catalog Choice on Today Show
Catalog Choice, a sponsored project of the Ecology Center, was recently featured on the Today Show! Students at a Massachusetts grade school competed to see who could cancel the most unwanted catalogs. The kids used Catalog Choice’s free online service to cancel over 4000 catalogs! Click here to watch the clip, which also explains the environmental impact of unsolicited mailings.
Terrain Reporters Interviewed about Drug Trade
Terrain editor Linnea Due and Terrain reporter Nicole Edmison were recently interviewed on KPFA's Morning Show about the environmental impacts of large-scale marijuana growing operations and meth labs, which are cropping up in rural Northern California. To listen to the interview, click here. The segment occurs at 95:30 of the clip.
Watch the "The Story of Stuff" Online
GAIA, a sponsored project of the Ecology Center, presents "The Story of Stuff." This short film offers a fast-paced, fact-filled look at the dark underbelly of our materials economy. It'll teach you something. It'll make you laugh. And it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.
EcoHouse's Constructed Wetlands/Greywater System Passes Code and Breaks Ground
On October 24th, 2006, the Berkeley EcoHouse’s constructed wetland and greywater hybrid design became the first to pass code in the state of California, and became the first permitted, residential greywater system approved by the City of Berkeley. Redirecting household water towards yard use conserves water, and can create backyard habitat as well as beautify a landscape. We hope this demonstration system will pave the way for many future permits! Read coverage in the East Bay Daily News and the San Francisco Chronicle. Listen to the segment called "Using Graywater" from the California Report.
The True Costs of Petroleum
Want to learn about the many ways in which petroleum and petroleum products affect us and our environment? Collect all four of our True Costs of Petroleum maps: World, Community, House, and Body.
Teacher Resources
If you're a teacher, be sure to check out our improved online educator resources. Terrain for Schools is an environmental education curriculum program designed to use the articles in Terrain Magazine. The lesson archives are searchable on our website, complete with printable PDF versions! The Bay Area Environmental Education Resource Guide is a great place to find information about field trips, free and low-cost educational materials, and more!
