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Irvine Outdoor Education Center

The Irvine Outdoor Education Center (IOEC) was a recipient of our microgrant funds last January. This is a facility where many Orange County school children attend science camp. Our funds went to building additional growing space in the Life Science program for raising produce to sell to restaurants and farmer’s markets. This goal was to provide an ongoing source of funds to sustain the program. This area has been built and is waiting to be planted. Anna Maria, the Life Science instructor is working on an update for us!

The weekend of August 2 & Irvine Outdoorsvolunteers in IrvineIrvine California workersFood OC organized a work weekend at the IOEC. The weekend was a joint project with Transition Laguna Beach and the Permaculture students from the Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano. Although Food OC was the organizer, most of the volunteer workers can from these other organizations. Hard work and a good time were had by all.

Anna Maria received a donation of 200 native plants from a nursery.” We planted about 50 plants along the orchard perimeter to begin to create a living fence and deer barrier which was part of a permaculture design plan as well as extended the bed surrounding a demonstration garden. It was a great service event that created a sense of community among the volunteers. We were also given the opportunity to try out the zip line and given a beekeeping demonstration. There were about 15 people as well as Anna Maria and the resident WOOFers. Food was able to feed the workers who camped out overnight providing smore’s for dessert and breakfast the following morning using a Whole Foods gift card given to us by SEEDS as a thank you for the Ark of Taste event.