Summer Food Preservation Series
Begins July 26

It's a great line-up!

The Coalition Culinary Club invites you to its new three-"course" food preservation series. We hope to make this an annual affair!

First Course: Saturday, July 26. Michelle Dohrn will kick-off the series with a fermenting demonstration. Learn how to make a ginger 'bug' for creating your own healthy sodas and ales, along with probiotic rich vegetables. Attendees will sample various fermented foods, and take home a ginger 'bug' along with a jar of fermented vegetables.

Second Course: Saturday, August 16. Christa Bandringa will share a traditional canning technique. Christa grew up canning fruit with her mother and being a professional teacher, this is perfect combo. Those attending this class will take home a jar of preserves, and sample 'canned' goods made by professionals from around the Valley.

Third Course: We'll wrap up Saturday, September 6. Risa Horowitz takes us into the world of dehydrating and its endless possibilities. Learn how to make crackers, kale chips and other wholesome goodies. Risa will discuss the pros and cons of different types of dehydrators versus the sun - which we all have available to use! There will be sampling and take home baggies of dehydrated edibles.

Cecil Baumgartner of Thunderbird Farms instructs 2013 canning class.

The ingredients used will be organic and locally sourced as much as possible. Net proceeds from courses will further our good work [did we mention we were humble?] in the Ojai Valley. Thank you Michelle, Christa and Risa for donating your time and sharing your knowledge as part of the Coalition's community skill building efforts.

All demonstration courses will be held 10:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Meiners Oaks area and space is limited to 18 attendees per course.

• OVGC Members - $35 per course / $90 for all 3 courses
• Non-members - $40 per course / $105 for all 3 courses

Head to our website for payment options and further details. Registrants will receive a confirmation with location address and other specifics.

Good Exterior Lighting
is Good Business

Note: If you live in the unincorporated area of the Valley, please attend the Monday, July 21 Municipal Advisory Council meeting to express support for Ventura County upgrading its exterior lighting regulations in the Ojai Valley to support a 'Dark Sky' community. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Oak View Community Center, 18 Valley Road.

As our loyal readers know, the city of Ojai adopted an updated exterior light ordinance in August 2013, and the Coalition has been helping the city with outreach to residents. Recently, the focus has turned to businesses.

Part of the business community effort has been to develop a certificate program to recognize city businesses with good lighting practices that reduce light pollution and unsafe glare. Using artwork created especially for the certificate, the certificate - if displayed - will also help patrons of the business learn about light pollution and the community's effort to preserve our 'Dark Sky.' As our first recipients of a 'Dark Sky' certificate the city of Ojai and the Coalition are pleased to recognize:

On Montgomery St., surrounded by residences and other shops, the Ojai House has outfitted its exterior lighting artfully. During the day the wall lights are large oak leaves made out of copper, and during the night the LED lights are shielded with the oak leaf scone. This radiates a soft light that is defused and shielded so no one is blinded while walking along the sidewalk or driving a car past the shop. Security, safety, and a 'Dark Sky' are achieved with these shielded lights.

to read more click here.

6th Annual

A Call for Sponsors, Exhibitors and Tour Sites

We've changed the name (it's been the Green Home & Building Tour) and hired Cynthia Grier, event planner extraordinaire: this Year's Going to be Awesome!

The Coalition's signature annual Green Living Home Tour and Show is slated for Saturday, October 25. We've hired OVGC Board member Cynthia Grier to take the event to the next level of engagement and education. Cynthia is the ideal tour coordinator with her marketing and event planning experience. That she is a professional interior designer with an 'eye' on the environment, health and universal accessibility is icing on the cake.

This year we are showcasing a broader "Green Living" theme and, along with green building techniques, we are including a variety of other general lifestyle alternatives for reducing our environmental impact. If you represent a business that provides 'green' products and/or services, please consider participating in this popular community event drawing attendees from around the region.

SPONSORSHIPS  

Top Billing Key Sponsor
Whoever comes in as the highest Overall Contributing Sponsor !!! 

Platinum Level - $1000  

Gold Level - $500  

Silver Level - $250  

Green Level - $100

Sponsorship Application Form

HOME SHOW EXHIBITORS 

Business/Commercial - $65 

Non-profit/Government - $40  

Exhibitor Application Form

Email Cynthia to recommend a tour site or ask a question.

Do You Know Dulanie Ellis,
Editor of our Food News?

This month we're honoring a longtime activist in Ojai's local food movement, Dulanie Ellis. Dulanie shares, "my passion for food and agriculture developed as a result of moving to Ventura County and falling in love with the farmland. I realized if we weren't careful and if we didn't protect it, we would lose this rural quality of life."

A woman of action, Dulanie jumped right in, getting involved with the OVGC when it first began. "Founding Board Member Dale Hanson originally suggested a Food & Nutrition panel," says Dulanie about those first meetings. "I suggested we change it to 'Food & Agriculture' in order to include the food production element."

This timely suggestion brought attention and support to the local food movement with the formation of the OVGC's Food & Agriculture Committee. When Dulanie became the Food & Agriculture committee chair, the group decided to rotate its meeting location among each member's home garden and include a potluck. "We discussed what our concerns were and what directions we wanted the committee to go [over a meal]. That way, it didn't seem like just another meeting."

Joined by Noel Douglas, who focused on food preparation and nutrition, and Julia Pfeiffer, who spearheaded an Ojai Grow Food Party Crew project (inspired by Devin Slavin's Ventura Grow Food Party Crew), the Food & Agriculture committee flourished.

to read more click here.