Spring Quarterly Newsletter – 2023
Dear Solana Center Supporter, Spring is arriving in San Diego County. As grunions rush our beaches and the Carlsbad Flower Fields bloom in vivid bursts of color, as gray whales skirt our coast on their migratory path and honeybee colonies search for new places to call home, we honor the privileges and responsibilities we carry…
Read MoreSolana Center for Environmental Innovation Honored with National Organics Diversion Program of the Year Award
Esteemed national organization US Compost Council recognizes local environmental leader and Encinitas non-profit for impacts in composting education and program implementation SAN DIEGO – The United States Composting Council (USCC) awarded the esteemed achievement award for Organics Diversion Program of the Year to Solana Center for Environmental Innovation which pioneered the first comprehensive curbside recycling…
Read MoreCompost: It’s Alive!
The physical and chemical conditions in a compost heap seem logical if you think about what compost really is: an enormous pile of food for billions of minute organisms. These microorganisms have certain chemical requirements, including carbon for energy, nitrogen to build proteins, and oxygen for respiration. The most numerous organisms in a compost pile…
Read MoreFrom the Rotline: Aerobic Composting and Anaerobic Digestion – What’s the Difference?
This was an inquiry to our community Rotline, a hotline where community members may ask composting and waste questions and receive step-by-step answers from one of our expert staff members. Rotline Question: What is the temperature range for a compost pile that has gone anaerobic? Answer: Anaerobic digestion can occur at two temperature ranges: between…
Read MoreLearnings from a Master Composter Course
These observations were originally shared by Kaitlin Mitchell of Rutabega Education and have been edited for cohesiveness. Solana Center’s Master Composter courses are a unique opportunity to gain a more in-depth understanding of the art and science of the composting process and empower participants to share this knowledge and passion with others. One participant in…
Read MoreWhat Kind of Volunteer Are You?
Take this quiz to see what role(s) you often serve as a volunteer! 1. On a volunteer shift, where are you most likely to be found? Doing the tasks necessary to keep the organization going, even if they’re less fun. Taking a look at how the organization or event works and finding ways to improve…
Read MoreTrack, Reduce, and Conserve Your Water Use with Flume Smart Home Water Meter
We’re all working together to conserve our water and keep our water bills down because now, more than ever, we need to be mindful of our water use. But sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. That’s where Flume comes in! Flume’s Smart Home Water Monitor straps around your water meter and lets you…
Read MoreGreen New Year’s Resolutions
Want to develop more sustainable habits? Below are a few green resolutions to consider. 1) Implement green initiatives at your workplace or school. By leading workplace or school sustainability efforts, you will impact an entire community’s habits and emissions. Consider implementing a standard or e-waste recycling program, working with your organization to reduce the amount of…
Read MoreWinter Quarterly Newsletter – 2022
Dear Solana Center Friend, As the year winds down for the holidays, Solana Center will continue providing essential environmental education and resources to community members and businesses throughout San Diego County to support their sustainability goals. In fiscal year 2021-2022, our staff, volunteers, and community members diverted more than 337,000 pounds of organic waste from the landfill and avoided more than 204,000 pounds…
Read MoreCheck out the work we did together! | Impact Report
We are proud to share our organization’s latest Impact Report. With the support and enthusiasm of our community, we: Undeterred by continued pandemic-related restrictions and challenges, Solana Center retooled our programs for virtual education; contactless electronic, universal, and food waste collection; online purchases; and even social-distanced and virtual volunteer opportunities. The dedication of our staff…
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