About EcoHouse
Mission
The mission of EcoHouse as a decentralized small-scale resource center located amidst a diverse residential area is to contribute to heightening ecological and social awareness and the quality of life in its own neighborhood. EcoHouse aspires to overcome the barriers to healthy environmental choices, making ecological ways of living accessible and affordable to people of all ages, ethnic/racial backgrounds, and income levels.
History
EcoHouse was founded in April 1999 as a non-profit, community-based educational organization created by a group of diverse, talented, and inspired individuals with a common passion for restoring our ecological systems and building healthy, socially just and stable communities.
Berkeley EcoHouse grew out of the extraordinary neighborhood efforts at Hopkins and Peralta Streets that have produced the finest gardens and educational exhibits. They include the Peralta Community Art Garden, the Northside Garden, the Karl Linn Garden and the Interpretive Exhibit of the Natural and Cultural History of the Westbrae Neighborhood located along the Ohlone Greenway. These projects contribute to ecological living in our multicultural and economically diverse neighborhood, where raising healthy food close to home is especially helpful for low-income gardeners.
EcoHouse founders and team members developed a growing sense of community with neighbors through personal contact, information exchange, neighborhood celebrations, and participation in construction and upkeep of the ecological demonstration projects.
In 2006, EcoHouse became a program of the Ecology Center, and has since become a popular demonstration site for the Ecology Center’s many classes and workshops on sustainable living techniques.
Steering Committee
The EcoHouse is a program of the Ecology Center, a Berkeley-based community nonprofit. The EcoHouse Steering Committee consists of community leaders, architects, permaculture educators, landscape architects, gardeners, energy specialists, and community members. Many of the original people involved in the founding of EcoHouse are still active members of the steering committee. If you are interested in becoming involved with EcoHouse, contact Ecology Center Information Program Manager Beck Cowles at 510-548-2220 x233.
