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 in volunteering with us, check out our Calendar for weekly meetings and events, or Take Action! to support us as a sponsor or regular volunteer.

Gift Trees

Looking for a memorable and meaningful gift for a birthday, special event, or holiday? Make an impact, show you care, give someone special–and the world–a tree!

Gift package includes a One Cool Earth organic cotton, USA made t-shirt, detailed planting instructions, and a gift card certifying your purchase. Order Now! –>

Join One Cool Earth

We all know that money doesn’t grow on trees–but that hasn’t stopped us from planting them, yet. We strive to keep our costs low and maximize our positive impact, but still some monetary costs are vital to the work we do.

Annual Memberships are simple: $100 for businesses, $50 for individuals, $25 for students.

Includes t-shirt and a free tree for you to take and plant.

Put some green in the (creek) banks:Email Us To Join!

Need land to garden or have land to share?

Check out Garden Matchmaking –>

One Cool Earth in the News

2011

April 22, 2011 KCBY One Cool Earth Tree Planting

March 12, 2011 Tribune. “Come To School, Get a Free Tree”

March 9, 2011 Dave Congalton’s KVEC 920 AM

February 2011 KCBY One Cool Earth

2010

July 15, 2010 Tribune. “Good News – One Cool Earth Plants at Avila Hot Springs.”
July 1, 2010 New 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.

Support One Cool Earth

Simply, we need trees.

Watershed restoration, improved habitat for humans and animals, fruit and lumber name just a few reasons.  Go ahead, plant one!  It only takes a few minutes and a little inspiration–a small act of generosity to the future.  Such a small act, you may forget it soon, moving on to larger, more important issues.  But there in the background, that tree is alive, that spark of generosity is growing.

Ten years, twenty years, two hundred years later: the birds nest and sing! the living breath! shade cools on a hot day and your small act of generosity has exploded into a monument to life.

In this period of financial madness, here’s a secret: some investments never stop growing.  Let’s take another look at the original meaning of capital through plant life: out of plain dirt comes life, food, lumber, oxygen–plants prove again and again that something from nothing is possible, and in fact the only way we survive.  One tree, planted in the right place at the right time can produce hundreds of thousands of seeds, thousands of new trees–exponential growth!  I dare you–plant a tree…

Our dedicated volunteers make what we do possible, rewarding, amazing–building our website, filing our taxes, planting and watering trees, designing and negotiating planting projects, gathering seeds, and carrying our message.  We know that money doesn’t grow on trees, though it hasn’t stopped us from planting them yet! Unfortunately, there are monetary costs which we cannot forgo–planting materials, tools, a vehicle to transport trees, website hosting, and one full-time coordinator to write grants, organize and facilitate projects.  If you share our vision and feel what we do benefits you and the world, please consider becoming a member of One Cool Earth.

Join Us!
Memberships are simple: $100 for businesses, $50 for individuals, and $25 for students, including a t-shirt and free tree for you to take and plant.
Email Us To Join!

Start a One Cool Earth Nursery

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: Community Gardener

Description: Garden Matchmaking, a land sharing program run by One Cool Earth is seeking volunteers interested in gardening to provide fresh food and companionship for the elderly, disabled, and those in need of physical assistance, or simply to increase local sources of fresh produce for hunger prevention programs.  This position is especially suitable for would-be gardeners who lack land of their own to garden on.  Plots are available in backyards throughout San Luis Obispo county.  Please contact us if you are interested in this position.

Location: Cuesta College CPAC

Description: Come learn about how trees impact our world, how to properly plant them and what trees would work best for your area.  In addition, you will have the opportunity to talk with other local booth vendors about their projects. Come with lots of questions!

Start Time: 11:00am

Date: 2011-04-06

End time: 2:00pm

Meet at Taco Temple in Morro Bay at 8:45 a.m. or at the fisherman’s entrance to Whale Rock Reservoir at 9:00 a.m. Bring boots, appropriate clothing and water. Snacks provided by the NTC.
Start Time: 9:00
Date: 2011-03-18
End Time: 10:30

Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2011-04-23
End Time: 4:00

All plants are grown by students through environmental education programs where students receive job skills training, high school credits, and run the nursery as a student enterprise.  The bulk of our plants are grown at Liberty Continuation High School’s GreenWorks Plant Nursery.  Stay tuned for more events, including open houses at our nurseries throughout San Luis Obispo County!

First Solar, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) panels and developer of the 500 megawatt (MW) Topaz Solar Farm in San Luis Obispo County.  Topaz will produce enough electricity to power about 160,000 average California homes, displacing approximately 290,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.  For information please visit:  http://topaz.firstsolar.com

Many Thanks to PG&E as a 2009, 2010, and 2011 sponsor of our growing and planting programs.  More information coming soon!  Find out more at http://www.pge.com.