News & Updates

Collect Rainwater Now with a Discounted Rain Barrel from Solana Center

Jan 17 2020

ENCINITAS—Solana Center for Environmental Innovation (Solana Center) and the County of San Diego (County) are offering discounted rain barrels to encourage residents to collect and conserve rainwater. By using a rain barrel, San Diegans can collect up to 50 gallons of water to use later outdoors, reduce runoff to the ocean and save money...
Blue-tractor-in-field

Build Better Soil and Improve Profitability with Regenerative Farming

Jan 2 2020

Changing environmental regulations and increasing water costs are a challenge to the profit margins for San Diego farms and ranches. But current scientific research on regenerating soil health shows that carbon farming in addition to growing cash crops can be beneficial both economically and environmentally, including:

What to do with your holiday food scraps?

Nov 21 2019

What will you do with your turkey bones & potato peels this year?   No matter what your holiday traditions include, they all share one common feature - holiday gatherings tend to revolve around food! An abundance of food!
in ground worm bin

DIY: How to build your own in-ground worm bin

Oct 22 2019

Recipe for success - in-ground worm bin instructions Materials: 5 gallon bucket 5 gallon bucket screw top lid Motorized drill ½”-¾” paddle (spade) bit Shovel Directions:
Trommel in action; volunteers

Sifting Compost: What a Fine Idea

Oct 7 2019

Our fervent followers may have noticed and supported our recent trommel fundraising campaign for the Food Cycle program. Thanks to generous donations the trommel was fully funded and is now benefiting Food Cycle “tromm”endously. We are extraordinarily grateful. While our fundraising pitch explained that a trommel can expedite the...
rain barrel county discounts san diego

Solana Center offering discounted rain barrels for as low as $25

Sep 25 2019

Pre-order online by 10/13 for pick up at Fallbrook Mission Resource Conservation District event on 10/19 or Solana Center in Encinitas ENCINITAS – Solana Center for Environmental Innovation (Solana Center), in collaboration with the County of San Diego and SoCalWaterSmart, is offering rain barrels to San Diego County residents for a...
rain barrel benefits

Solana Center, County Offering Discounted Rain Barrels To San Diegans

Sep 20 2019

Now is the perfect time to purchase and install a rain barrel. A rain barrel keeps water that falls or collects on your property from leaving, transporting pollutants to creeks, streams, waterways and, ultimately, the ocean through runoff. Keeping the water on your property also benefits the soil. If situated properly, rain barrels take...
sticks and wood chips create pores to aerate a compost pile

How to improve aeration in your backyard compost bin

Sep 12 2019

An ample supply of oxygen is key to the success of your backyard compost bin. Decomposer microbes need oxygen for their metabolic functions to operate efficiently. Without access to oxygen, some microbes die and others switch to a different form of metabolism, anaerobic (without air) respiration. This has a few negative consequences: ...
Worm bin bedding

Why do I need bedding in my worm bin? Can't I just feed them food scraps?

Aug 19 2019

Q: Why do I need bedding in my worm bin? Is it okay if I just give the worms my food scraps? A: Bedding, which can be made of shredded paper, coconut coir, cured manure, or dry leaves, is an absolute necessity in your worm bin. Supplying your wiggly workers with bedding has a number of benefits: Bedding provides a light, fluffy medium...
red wigglers

From the Rotline: Do red wigglers belong in my backyard compost bin?

Aug 10 2019

Q:  Should I put red wiggler worms in my backyard compost bin? A:  This is a question that comes up often when folks visit our store to purchase composting worms, and we often have to urge folks not to add worms to their backyard bin. The reason lies in the fundamental differences between traditional (backyard) composting and...

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