Orange County — By Abbie Mood on October 29, 2009 at 8:00 am

Orange County is Going Green

At first glance, the Ecology Center looks more like a glimpse into Orange County’s past than a model for the future. Set on the OC’s only organic farm, South Coast Farms, the Ecology Center has already implemented the environmentally conscious practices of drought-tolerant irrigation, crop rotation, composting and recycling, among other things.

The Ecology Center’s Earth Day celebration

Located in San Juan Capistrano (map) and officially open in Winter of 2009, the mission of the Ecology Center is to provide “inspiration through education” to the residents of Orange County with the goal of creating an environmentally conscious community. They plan on doing this through:

- An eco-design studio that is staffed by architects, designers and landscape artists that will offer ideas, advice, and solutions for green living.

- Demonstrations and exhibits addressing issues and sharing strategies that really make a difference, such as domestic water use efficiency and California friendly landscaping.

- Educational programs and special events to explore sustainability, water, ecology and other environmental concerns in a hands-on environment.

Evan Marks, founder of The Ecology Center, studied Agroecology, the study of sustainable agriculture at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and has worked extensively in and out of the United States. When talking to Marks, you immediately get a sense of his commitment to the environment and sustainability in Southern California.

Having visited The Ecology Center several times, I can tell you that it’s the real deal. The events are amazing and Evan and his crew have worked very hard to create a one stop resource center for sustainability resources.