Celebrate Local Organic Food This Weekend with Explore Ecology at the SOL Food Festival2014-09-262014-09-26https://ectn3fu9dsn.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/explore-ecology-logo-176x120-1.jpgExplore Ecologyhttps://ectn3fu9dsn.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/explore-ecology-logo-176x120-1.jpg200px200px
Bring your appetite for learning and good food to the Sol Food Festival this Saturday, September 27th, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm at Vera Cruz Park in downtown Santa Barbara. We’re proud to be a sponsor of this year’s Seasonal Organic Local Food Festival!
We agree with Sol Food’s declaration: “Everyone has the power to create a more healthful, sustainable and delicious food future for themselves and their community.”
At Explore Ecology, we love educating about organic gardening, composting and the environment. Stop by the Hands On Garden to meet our Garden Educators, help plant a Butterfly Garden, learn about organic food production, composting, and more. Make an Explore Ecology Mini-Garden to take home with you.
Learn how sustainable, organic gardening and farming helps create healthier watersheds at Explore Ecology’s Love Your Watershed activity.
Celebrate into the evening at SOL’s Oasis Beer and Wine Garden, which will stay open for a special Happy Hour from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm with special musical guests.
The festival is FREE, but you can pre-purchase food and wine passes HERE to save some money.We look forward to seeing you there!
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Eva Juengling Bean
Environmental Educator
Eva grew up in Berkeley, CA and is a recent graduate of UCSB, where she studied Aquatic Biology and German Language. During her undergrad, Eva worked as an aquarist at UCSB’s Research Experience and Education Facility (the REEF), where she managed the aquarium facility and found a love for science communication and conservation.
Eva is passionate about environmental education as a way of breaking down the walls around science literacy and as a way of reintegrating us with our natural world.
When she’s not working at Explore Ecology, she enjoys hiking, swimming, cooking, and writing silly folk songs.
Rachel Palmer
Art Coordinator
Rachel is an artist and arts educator who loves to see people access their innate creativity and jump into the fun of making.
Rachel’s own creative practice centers around fiber arts and the magic of natural dye.
When she isn’t in her small dye garden or working on a project, she’s most likely on a hike, or at the beach with her dog Kiko.
Nicole Roehrig
Art From Scrap Creative Reuse Store Director
Nicole is a mixed media artist and vintage goods specialist who has been managing Art from Scrap since 2020.
Originally from Santa Barbara, she spent nine years living in San Francisco before returning to her hometown.
Prior to her work in the art world, Nicole had a background in visual merchandising, fashion styling, and graphic design.
In her free time, Nicole is passionate about political and social activism, and is always looking for ways to make a positive impact in her community. Nicole also loves spending time with animals, particularly dogs and horses, and used to work as a dog walker before transitioning into her current role as an art manager.
Veronica Lee
Environmental Educator
Veronica grew up in San Diego and spent four years in San Luis Obispo studying Animal Science at Cal Poly. As an undergrad she learned lots about livestock, agriculture, and wildlife.
Veronica is very passionate about conservation and sustainable agricultural practices. She has spent many summers working in environmental education at various zoos and museums and loves introducing kids to the plants and animals that coexist with us.
In her free time, Veronica likes to sit at the beach and read, take dance classes, roller skate, and walk around fancy neighborhoods to look at the houses.
Lydia Ballantine
Environmental Education Coordinator
Lydia Ballantine grew up in New Hampshire, where she developed a love of nature playing in the woods and fields and going on outdoor trips with her school and summer camp. She moved to Colorado for college, and while there began working at an environmental education nonprofit.
After moving to Santa Barbara in 2019, she found her way back to environmental education and joined the Explore Ecology team first as an educator and then as a program coordinator.
In her free time Lydia enjoys surfing, rock climbing, and spending time with her dog, Scrappy Coco.
Jill Cloutier
Public Relations Director
Jill loves educating about nature through all forms of media. She’s a UCSB grad, with additional training in Environmental Horticulture, Documentary Film, and Permaculture.
She is the host and producer of Sustainable World Radio, a long running podcast about the natural world, plants, and Permaculture.
When she’s not hanging out with plants, you can find Jill reading novels (or seed catalogues), natural dyeing, or concocting herbal remedies.
Lindsay Johnson
Executive Director
Lindsay grew up in Colorado, where her passion for the outdoors and the wonders that our earth holds started during weekend camping trips in the Rockies and winter ski trips to Colorado’s best ski areas.
When Lindsay’s not working, she spends time with her family in Santa Barbara, traveling, and exploring.
MELISSA BROOKS
Development Director
Melissa grew up loving art and nature and was a Fine Arts Major at UCLA. As a child she would dream of making the world a more beautiful place. After graduating, she began her career in Los Angeles as a freelance designer, then segued into the advertising, marketing, and development fields.
Melissa is a singer and musician.
She also loves her chickens!
JENNY DAVIS
Director of Programs, People & Culture
Jenny joined Explore Ecology first as an Environmental Educator, then as a Program Coordinator, and most recently moved into the newly created Programs, People & Culture position. Prior to Explore Ecology Jenny worked in science research and consulting, however her passion has always been science education and outreach. Jenny loves all things related to the ocean, especially free diving, and enjoying the beauty and wonder that is the underwater world. Her greatest life passion is traveling, which she hopes to do more of again soon.
Lu Kernstine
Environmental Educator
Lu’s love of all things Earth began at James Madison University in Virginia, where they got their Bachelor’s degree in Biology. Lu has a Master’s degree in Spatial Ecology- the study of how creatures interact across landscapes- from East Carolina University, where they studied rock pools along a river and the critters that dwell in them.
Lu is thrilled to be teaching budding scientists about the Earth and why it’s important for us to protect and preserve the environment.
When they aren’t teaching, Lu enjoys hiking, bike riding, laying in a hammock near the beach, and listening to one of their 20+ music playlists!
Paloma Hernandez
Art From Scrap Store Associate
Paloma is a Chicagoan who came to Santa Barbara to chase the sun and sea. She has always had a passion for the arts and discovered ArtFrom Scrap during one of her visits to the city. It is such a special community gathering spot, and walking in for the first time she knew instantly this was the artistic-minded city she wanted to live in.
As an abstract artist, jewelry maker, and avid sewer, the philosophy of reduce, reuse, and recycle resonates deeply, and she encourage all artists to do their part for Mother Nature.
Eva grew up in Berkeley, CA and is a recent graduate of UCSB, where she studied Aquatic Biology and German Language. During her undergrad, Eva worked as an aquarist at UCSB’s Research Experience and Education Facility (the REEF), where she managed the aquarium facility and found a love for science communication and conservation.
Rachel Palmer
Nicole is a mixed media artist and vintage goods specialist who has been managing Art from Scrap since 2020.
Veronica grew up in San Diego and spent four years in San Luis Obispo studying Animal Science at Cal Poly. As an undergrad she learned lots about livestock, agriculture, and wildlife.
Lydia
Lindsay Johnson
MELISSA BROOKS
Jenny joined Explore Ecology first as an Environmental Educator, then as a Program Coordinator, and most recently moved into the newly created Programs, People & Culture position. Prior to Explore Ecology Jenny worked in science research and consulting, however her passion has always been science education and outreach. Jenny loves all things related to the ocean, especially free diving, and enjoying the beauty and wonder that is the underwater world. Her greatest life passion is traveling, which she hopes to do more of again soon.
Lu’s love of all things Earth began at James Madison University in Virginia, where they got their Bachelor’s degree in Biology. Lu has a Master’s degree in Spatial Ecology- the study of how creatures interact across landscapes- from East Carolina University, where they studied rock pools along a river and the critters that dwell in them.