Climate Solutions: How to Recycle Your Coffee Pods
Sustainability and equity in coffee are multilayered. Growing the crop is a water- and often land-intensive process, and plenty of conventional farmers use pesticides and underpay workers to create cheap coffee. By buying that coffee, we as consumers incentivize exploitation. We may also be risking more expensive coffee in the future, as climate change is…
Read MoreLazy Acres: 1% for the Planet Nonprofit Partnership
Thank you Lazy Acres Natural Market for partnering with Solana Center for Environmental Innovation as a beneficiary of the 1% program! In 2023 we were one of the first local nonprofits selected for the enviro-tokens program. The enviro-tokens program offered Lazy Acres customers the option to donate 10 cents to the nonprofit of their choice…
Read MoreIt’s Time to Install Your Rain Barrel
Did you know that rainwater is the best water for plants? Though San Diego’s average rainfall is less than 12 inches a year, a rain barrel configured to receive water from your home’s downspouts can help you store up to 50 gallons of free, untreated water on your property. Think about misty mornings too. Water…
Read MoreDIY: How to build your own in-ground worm bin
An in-ground worm bin is an alternative to multi-layer worm bins that sit above ground level. Though an in-ground bin can be made from various materials, a simple and cost-effective bin can be made with a 5-gallon bucket; we’ll share how in this tutorial in a few simple steps! In-ground worm bins have a number…
Read MoreHow are local governments implementing climate resilience plans, and how can you help?
Local governments are addressing the issue of climate-intensified flooding, as well as wildfire and heat risks, through a combination of: 1) Climate change mitigation, or reducing the emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in our atmosphere; and 2) Climate change adaptation, or responding to climate change that’s already in the pipeline. The City of San Diego’s 2022…
Read MoreProtection: Initiatives that help our communities and ecosystems thrive
At Solana Center for Environmental Innovation, we center our work around four pillars: protection, conservation, education, and innovation. Each pillar provides the structure needed to fully address the impacts of climate change in the San Diego region: –Protection, or the safeguarding of the rights of humans and living things to healthy environments with sufficient natural resources; –Conservation, or the…
Read MoreSB 1383 Update: Organics Recycling Compliance Enforcement Changes in 2024
Senate Bill 1383, or the Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction law, requires that businesses implement programs to ensure organic materials are no longer put in the trash, with edible food being donated and the rest sorted for organic waste recycling. Before the start of 2024, jurisdictions were required to visit Tier One and Tier Two (see…
Read MoreCase Study: Food Cycle Community Compost Program
At the end of 2023, Solana Center made the difficult decision to end the Food Cycle Community Compost program. With the rollout of curbside green recycling bins, we had seen a steady participation decline, and continuing the program was no longer sustainable for our organization. We are so grateful for all of the residents and…
Read MoreBuild Healthy Soils with Free Assistance to Secure up to $100,000 Grant Funding!
Join Solana Center for Environmental Innovation (Solana Center) for a free technical assistance webinar for farmers and ranchers to learn more about applying for up to $100,000 in state grant funding. Assistance is provided by the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Healthy Soils Program (HSP) for farmers to implement conservation management practices that…
Read MoreWinter Quarterly Newsletter – 2023
Dear Eco-Stewards, As the winter season arrives, we are looking forward to several exciting educational events, including the On-Farm Composting Course starting in January in Ramona and the ever-popular Master Composter Course starting in February in Escondido. These courses only happen once a year, so grab your spot now if you’ve been waiting for your chance to participate! Secondly, thank you to all…
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