Projects in Santa Barbara are centered upon a beautiful, retreat-like site in the San Marcos Foothills and offers several volunteer opportunities revolving around botanic study, pollinator survey work, and organic farming.Five Loaves Farming Project
The goal of the Five Loaves project is to establish a pesticide-free dependable food source for those in need locally through identifying a set of native plants, and their related pollinators, that will increase yield and decrease pests while being applicable for other agricultural projects in our region. This project is designed to encourage volunteer opportunities as we live out the first Biblical command - to care for God's creation. We welcome your participation by joining us Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 9:00-2:00 and/or the 1st and 3rd Saturdays from 9:00-1:00. Volunteers can participate for as little as one hour. Click here to sign up for more information or to volunteer. Please download, complete this form (required only once a year), and bring it to our site at 1001 Cieneguitas Road the first time you volunteer.Creation Care Camp
We ran two weeks of camps this past month of June. The kids prepped and planted the garden, hiked, identified plants, caught insects, watched birds, looked at the stars, tidepooled, and most importantly learned to care for this beautiful creation. We opened each day with, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it,” and ended the entire week with, “Just ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you. Let the fish in the sea speak to you. For they all know that this has come from the hand of the Lord” (Job 12:7-9). Kids came home dirty, exhausted, and filled with wonder. About 48 children grades first through eighth were lead by A Rocha volunteers and local specialists in botany, entomology, astronomy, and recycling.Loft Sessions - Educational Outreach
Educational opportunities including sustainability workshops, lectures on a variety of topics, and participating in a national simulcasts occur through out the year at a downtown venue (821 State Street) called The Loft - the office of Ocean Hills Church. Our most recent event was an art show entitled "Creation" held May 6, 2010. We will be taking a break from our Loft Sessions until September 2010 as we begin our Five Loaves project.Events
-Five Loaves volunteer opportunities begin from 9:00-2:00 Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays + the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month from 9:00-1:00. Click here to download the volunteer waiver form (you only have to complete this once a year) before joining us at 1001 Cieneguitas Road, Santa Barbara. Click here to sign up for more information or to volunteer.-September 10, Compost Bin Build with Be Green Packaging. Join us at 1001 Cieneguitas Road in Santa Barbara as we construct a compost bin for our Five Loaves project. No experience needed and a great way to learn how to construct and maintain efficient composting piles. No prior experience nor tools are needed for this event.
