About | One Cool Earth Net (OCE)

About One Cool Earth

28. March 2010

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.

Garden 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 –>

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

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 –>

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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