Community Environmental Council

Description

One such experiment was to create the first of what would become several garden projects this one a small community garden at the corner of Figueroa and Chapala Streets. In 1971, we expanded to a four-acre project downtown, experimenting with intensive organic horticulture, solar energy, municipal-scale composting, and bio-gas use. This site was later sold by its owner, the Museum of Art, and became the Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden. Also during our early years, CEC led the community in addressing concerns about land use galvanizing an effort to prevent massive commercialization of the Santa Barbara waterfront. The resulting "Plan for East Beach" influenced the scale of the then-proposed Red Lion Inn, and led the City to secure the area now designated as Chase Palm Park. But perhaps the effort CEC is most recognized for is recycling. After introducing the idea to Santa Barbara and establishing small drop-off locations, in 1975 we opened our first recycling center in Santa Barbara in fact, the first non-profit recycling center in the state. In the ensuing years, we developed other recycling centers and drop-off locations throughout the South Coast, as well as a facility for collecting household hazardous waste. In 1984 after acquiring land on the Mesa and experimenting with other gardens and green building techniques we completed work on the building that continues to serve as our headquarters, the . In the summer of 2001, we answered the community's call for a place that...

Companies nearby