Feb. 27 — Community Environmental Council (CEC) — Central Coast Growers — Join the Food Safety & Sustainability Conversation

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2026 • Comments Off

Central Coast Growers —

Join the Food Safety and Sustainability Conversation!

Gather with fellow farmers for live demonstrations, practical resources, and a free lunch — all while helping shape climate-smart farm solutions.

Friday, February 27

1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Allen Hancock College

800 S College Dr, Santa Maria

Community garden space

Central Coast growers are navigating increasing pressure to meet food safety requirements while maintaining conservation practices that protect soil, water, and long-term farm viability. This FREE community event creates space for real conversations about how those priorities intersect — what’s working, what’s challenging, and where better solutions are needed.

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience live food safety demonstrations, connect directly with regional partners, and access practical tools and resources designed specifically for Central Coast producers. Attendees will have the chance to complete a short survey and contribute to group discussions that will directly inform future programs, technical assistance, and policy recommendations to support climate-smart agriculture. As a thank you for sharing your time and insights, participants will also be entered into a giveaway drawing.

Lunch will be provided, giving you time to connect in a relaxed, informal setting. Reserve your spot today and help shape the future of food safety and sustainability across San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties.

Reserve a Spot

Other Opportunities

Non-Profit Office Space Available

Are you a non-profit looking for a downtown Santa Barbara office space? Located at 1219 State Street, this ground-floor office in the Community Environmental Council’s Environmental Hub is a vibrant, inspiring space for work and collaboration.

Work alongside CEC, White Buffalo Land Trust, Human Rights Watch, and other local organizations in this exciting location. Non-profit tenant required. Competitive rates. See more photos of the space.

To learn more or schedule a tour, contact: Kathi King, kking@cecmail.org

Become a Resilience Hub and Help Your Community Prepare for Disasters

The California Central Coast faces growing challenges from extreme heat, wildfire smoke, flooding, and poor air quality. Community resilience hubs — trusted local spaces like schools, libraries, community centers, and churches — can provide aid and resources before, during, and after these events. CEC can help activate your site to:

Provide clean air during smoke events
Act as cooling locations during extreme heat
Distribute food
Serve as an emergency shelter or hub for emergency services
Facilitate disaster preparedness training and neighborhood organizing
Host off-grid charging during power outages or shutdowns

Learn more about Community Resilience Hubs, take our short survey, and use our toolkit to get started today.

Other Upcoming Events

Embodied Arts Workshop Series: Song Circle

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

CEC’s Environmental Hub

1219 State St., Santa Barbara

Join us for an evening of music, connection, and expression at the Song Circle, part of the Embodied Arts Workshop Series. Co-hosted by CEC and guided by Santa Barbara-based community song leader Heather Stevenson, this workshop invites singers of all levels to come together, share their voices, and experience the power of music as a tool for connection and celebration. Heather has been leading Song Circles since 2019, cultivating inclusive spaces where participants can feel uplifted, inspired, and soothed through song. She teaches participants short, impactful songs, weaving music and camaraderie into a memorable experience that reminds us of our shared humanity. Learn more and register.

Help Shape a Resilient Future at our Youth Climate Workshop

Saturday, March 7, 2026

1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

CEC’s Environmental Hub

1219 State St., Santa Barbara

Students in grades six through 12 who are ready to take meaningful climate action are invited to a free, hands-on workshop at CEC’s Environmental Hub. Join CEC and Santa Barbara High School’s Environmental Advocacy Club to learn how you can help advance the proposed oil and gas production phase-out in Santa Barbara County. Sierra Club Santa Barbara–Ventura Chapter Chair and CEC Climate Stewards alum Maureen Ellenberger will share the latest updates on the proposed phase-out and practical ways students can get involved. Participants will also take part in an interactive Climate Solutions Mapping activity to explore climate solutions, identify opportunities for impact, and collaborate with peers on strategies to strengthen climate resilience in their community. Along with free snacks and community service hours, students will leave with new connections, practical tools, and clear pathways to engage in the climate movement. Learn more and register.

An Evening of Wild Hope

Thursday, March 12, 2026

6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

CEC’s Environmental Hub

1219 State St., Santa Barbara

The PBS series Wild Hope spotlights changemakers around the world who are restoring our Earth and reimagining our relationship with nature. Through captivating storytelling, episodes explore bold solutions and collaborations, showcase nature’s resilience, and spark renewed hope for the future of our planet. We’ll screen Episode 44: City in Nature, which shows how Singapore is integrating urban living with biodiversity by carving out wildlife habitats amidst the built environment. We’ll also watch Episode 38: Significant Otters, where the return of sea otters to Elkhorn Slough sparks a remarkable ecological recovery, highlighting how conservation and habitat restoration can revive an entire ecosystem. We hope you’ll join us for this evening of optimism and inspiration! Learn more and register.

Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival

Saturday – Sunday, April 25 – 26, 2026

Alameda Park

1400 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara

Now in its 56th year, the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival is among the longest-running Earth Day celebrations in the nation and one of the largest on the West Coast.

The event draws more than 30,000 attendees and 150+ eco-friendly exhibitors for a vibrant weekend jam packed with live music and speakers, CEC’s Environmental Hero Award ceremony, a robust Green Car Show, a plant-forward food court and beer garden, and family-friendly programming. Presented by the Community Environmental Council and CarpEvents. Learn more.

Register to exhibit.

Sign up to volunteer.

Become a sponsor.

Support Critical Work Like This

Recognized as a 2020 California Nonprofit of the Year and a City of Santa Barbara Climate Hero, CEC is led by CEO Sigrid Wright, 2022 Congressional Woman of the Year. See our most recent impact report to learn how we are serving California’s Central Coast by advancing rapid and equitable solutions to the climate crisis.