About One Cool Earth

Sun, Mar 28, 2010

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Bellevue Santa Fe Charter School

One Cool Earth is a registered nonprofit devoted to planting as a means of creating a sustainable planet. Over the years we’ve found that we’re not alone in our devotion–many people are eager to plant but don’t always know how, where or what to plant. Our cities, nations, and planet–now more than ever–need flora to sustain our health, livelihoods and spirit.  Approaching our projects holistically, we attempt to realized five goals in every one of our projects: Education, Restoration, Beautification, Human Utility, and Economy. . . Find Out More –>
 
Started as one man’s vision of planting a few oaks, the nonprofit itself has done a lot of growing. We currently plant over 1000 trees each year with the help of hundreds of volunteers, and both numbers continue to grow. We’re also taking on larger projects and find ourselves in need of financial support. Please contact us if you are interested becoming a co-sponsor.

Check out our Project Archive to read more about our past work in the area, or read on for more on our current projects.

If you’re interested with us volunteering with us or know of a good place to plant, check out our Calendar for weekly meetings and events.

 

Roger_after02Garden Matchmaking

 In March of 2010 One Cool Earth launched a local garden networking program.  Garden Matchmaking, in a word, connects people who have and need land and gardening resources.  Garden Matchmaking benefits people who need land, labor, plants, seeds, or tools; and people who have under-utilized land and are unable, for lack of time, know-how,  resources, or physical constraints, to personally begin a garden.  So how can you get involved?  Check out our calendar for upcoming garden installations and matchmaking potlucks.  Also, if you have or need land or gardening resources, read more about the program and fill out our questionnaire to be added to our matchmaking database.

** July 2010 Update:The City of San Luis Obispo has awarded the Garden Matchmaking program a grant to offset the cost of liability insurance for the project. Many thanks to the Human Relations Committee for selecting our project for funding!

 Find Out More –>

 

penningtoncreekplan

Pennington Creek Restoration and Nature Path

Bordering Cuesta Community College on its western edge lies a little-known gem of the campus: Pennington Creek, a live steelhead trout stream. OneCoolEarth is partnering with the college, student organizations, and local environmental and green job groups to restore a portion of the creek bank, creating a nature path including benches and interpretive signs. Once completed, the project will connect the college to a valuable educational resource, as well as provide a living example of sustainable landscaping practices. The project is currently in the planning stages. Please contact us if you are interested becoming a co-sponsor.  Find Out More –>

 

 

Whale Rock Reservoir

Lionel and Helper

Lionel and Helper

When you ask a Cal Poly student where his or her tap water comes from, most don’t have a clue. OneCoolEarth has worked for the past several years to connect San Luis with its resources, organizing tree planting and direct seeding at Whale Rock Reservoir, a water supply for Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and its environs. Acorns and other native seeds are collected from nearby land and raised in our nurseries or planted directly during the rainy season. Over the years, hundreds of people have helped plant hundreds of seeds in the first steps to stabilize erosion and halt silting of the reservoir. However, many acres remain to be planted, some of which require summer irrigation to get the trees started. Contact us if you are interested in co-sponsoring this project.

** January 2010 Update: PG&E has generously contributed funding towards a goal of planting 500 trees at the reservoir during the next five months and tending them until they become established. Check out our calender for future work dates!  Find Out More –>
 
 
 

 

Repotting Island Oaks

Tree-Based Learning

Local elementary, high school and university students are taking their future into their own hands–growing trees themselves that will be planted on school grounds or around their community. OneCoolEarth donates materials for small native plant nurseries at local schools, facilitating local seed collection, growing and planting. Alongside running nurseries, schools participate in grade-specific tree presentations and activities that range in topic from ancient and modern uses of native trees and vegetation, to global and local tree issues, to professional plant propagation. Our program culminates with an on-campus planting to improve campus landscapes, shade sports fields, replant dying non-native trees, and buffer noise and pollution of bordering highways from school grounds. Donations go to support and expand our current programs at nearly one dozen San Luis Obispo area schools. Contact us if you are interested in becoming a co-sponsor. 
Find Out More –>

** July 2010 Update:The Stewardship Council, a California based organization devoted to increasing outdoor opportunities for youth has partially funded the installation of a student-run, native plant nursery at Liberty High School in Paso Robles. We are seeking additional funding, but will start breaking ground on the project this fall.

 

  

One Cool Earth in the News

July 15, 2010 Tribune. “Good News – One Cool Earth Plants at Avila Hot Springs.”
July 1, 2010New Times.”Network for gardeners.”
March. 7, 2010 Tribune. “SLO Students Want One Cool Earth.”
Feb. 25, 2010 SLO City News. “New Gardens Sprouting Countywide.”
Feb. 22, 2010 Cuestonian. “Grass Roots.”
Feb. 10, 2010 Tribune. “Ironworker’s love of trees restores county.”
Jan. 10, 2010 Mustang Daily. ” Students to plant 500 trees.

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Take Action!

Tue, Dec 29, 2009

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take-action-one-cool-earth

The Man Who Planted Trees, Johnny Appleseed, Wangari Maathai, Lionel Johnston—myths, legends, Nobel Prize winners, or simply inspired citizens–all of them saw tree planting as a solution to the problems of their times.  More easily than you may think, you too can join their number by organizing tree plantings in your own community.  OneCoolEarth is committed to helping you start successful plantings wherever you may live.  Don’t hesitate to contact us!

Aside from spearheading your own planting efforts, you might consider volunteering on OneCoolEarth’s projects, nurseries, and plantings.  The following volunteer opportunities are currently available:

Volunteer Opportunities

Location: San Luis Obispo, CA

Listing Title: Nursery Caretaker

Description: OneCoolEarth is currently seeking a volunteer to water trees at our nurseries.  The job requires about two hours of time once per week during the summer, and less during the rest of the year.  Person must be committed, as the survival of hundreds of our young trees depends on him or her.  Please contact us if you are interested in this position.

Listing Title: Landscape Architect Internship

Description: OneCoolEarth is seeking a student or professional landscape architect with the inclination to design sustainable landscapes for schools, nonprofits, public lands, churches, and private properties. We currently plant a variety of native trees in San Luis Obispo area, but would like more formal plans. Interns will learn about planting techniques and benefits of native vegetation as well as watch their plans carried into reality by school children, college students, ranchers, church congrations, and the community at large. Help make a valuable contribution to the community in the form of a beautiful, lowcost, native, sustainable landscape today!

Required Skills:

Ability to work with our team and clients to create optimal layouts.

Ability to produce attractive visual plans.

Some understanding or simply a desire to understand sustainable landscapes.

Please contact us if you are interested in this position.

Listing Title: Neighborhood Partner

Description: We are looking for people in the neighborhoods of Sinsheimer Park and South Hill to help water future plantings in those areas.  Watering would entail bringing your own container to the site and adopting at least one tree to water twice each month during the dry season.  Please contact us if you are interested in helping out.

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Garden Matchmaking

Thu, Feb 11, 2010

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Garden Matchmaking Main Logo

Garden matchmaking is not a dating service for people. Garden matchmaking is a dating service for gardens.

Follow the links below to navigate the Garden Matchmaking project.

What is Garden Matchmaking? –>

Support Garden Matchmaking in Your Neighborhood? –>

Join the Garden Matchmaking Network –>

Look for Gardeners or Land –>


Scheduled Matchmaking Events (click event for details)

2/20/10 – Garden Matchmaking Potluck

3/7/2010 - Garden Installation/Matchmaking Potluck

3/13/2010 – Garden Matchmaking Potluck @ 1255 Orcutt

3/21/2010 - Garden Installation/Matchmaking Potluck @ 1435 Mill

4/11/2010 Garden Installation/Matchmaking Potluck @ Alan’s

4/25/2010 Intensive Garden Demo/Potluck @ Wise Acre Farm

5/9/2010 Bodhi Path Garden Maintenance/Harvest

5/29/2010 Garden Potluck/Work Party @ The Davies’

More Garden Installations and Potlucks Coming soon in August…

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Garden Matchmaking Potluck/Work Party

Thu, May 27, 2010

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Title: Garden Matchmaking Potluck/Work Party
Location: Davies’ Organic Garden 5015 Jesperson Road about 3/4 mile down by three black mail boxes across from pepper tree under a pine tree, turn down the paved road, not the parallel gravel one, and drive past the windmill. Call 760-382-5164 to carpool or for more directions.
Link out: Click here
Description: Come meet your garden-match, ask questions, work a little or just hang out and learn from a lifelong organic gardener: Phyllis Davies will offer a tour of her unique farm, demonstrating easy home composting, making raspberry beds, starting tree collards, basic fruit tree care and much much more. We will have a chance to get our hands dirty, too, helping with maintenance while we learn. Bring containers, boxes or bags to take home a few raspberry plants and heads of lettuce. Also bring a dish to share for the potluck, as well as your own utensils, cups and plates. Dress for the weather!
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2010-05-29
End Time: 14:00

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