Past Events
Sembrando Vida Fundraiser | March 2025
Potluck fundraiser to support the work of Sembrando Vida! Food, music, speakers and more.
Sembrando Vida's mission is to grow culturally appropriate food for West Marin Latinx families and distribute it directly and through West Marin Community Services' Food Pantry. We believe in growing the skills of our members in farming and leadership, and in our ability to strengthen the intimacy of our community as a whole.
Seminar: Home Energy Improvements | February & March 2025
These two in-person classes dove into what we can do to lower our heating and cooling loads and lower the need for larger mechanical equipment, while achieving a high level indoor thermal comfort. The class covered building insulation and air leakage, and how to save energy.
Terry Nordbye, a climate change building consultant with focus on low energy consumption buildings with zero carbon emission targets. He has been a general building contractor in West Marin for over thirty years. He has presented at numerous building conferences around the US and has been teaching classes for ten years on energy reduction in houses and has published building magazine articles and just released a book on how buildings can use less energy.
vehicles, rebates, and the people who drive EVs. Our event featured a variety of vehicles, from trucks to e-bikes and more. We included Spanish-speaking EV owners to include everyone in the community.
¡Únase a West Marin Climate Action en una exposición de vehículos eléctricos!
El pasado mes de abril, West Marin Climate Action se unió a Toby's Feed Barn para organizar un evento para aprender más sobre los vehículos eléctricos, los reembolsos y las personas que conducen vehículos eléctricos. Nuestro evento contó con una variedad de vehículos, desde camiones, bicicletas eléctricas, y más. Incluimos a propietarios de vehículos eléctricos quienes hablan español para incluir a todos los miembros de la comunidad.
Electric Vehicle Expo | April 2024
This past April, West Marin Climate Action joined Toby’s Feed Barn to host an event to learn more about electric
Agriculture and Climate Resilience | July 2023
Marin agriculture is leading the way with exciting discoveries in carbon sequestration, red algae feed, water conservation and reuse, methane digesters, and more. Learn firsthand from a panel of scientists and local ranchers, along with short films, on how agriculture can help mitigate climate change.
The videos and panel presentations followed food and drink and lively discussion. Members of the community pulled up a bale of hay and joined us for this important topic at the iconic Toby’s Feed Barn in downtown Point Reyes. Point Reyes Station lies at the gateway to the Point Reyes National Seashore—an ideal destination for a weekend adventure!
This event was free and open to everyone.
West Marin Climate Action está presentando un evento sobre Agricultura y Resiliencia de Clima.
Agricultura de Marín está liderando el camino con nuevos descubrimientos en el almacenamiento de carbono, alimentación de alga, conservación y reutilización del agua, digestores de metano y más. Aprenda de primera mano de un panel de científicos y ganaderos locales junto con cortometrajes, sobre cómo la agricultura puede ayudar a mitigar el cambio climático
Los videos y las presentaciones del panel serán seguidos por comida y bebida y animada discusión. Levanta una paca de pastura y únete a nosotros para este tema importante en el icónico Toby 's Feed Barn, centro de Point Reyes. Este evento es gratis y abierto para todos.
Here Come Electric Trucks | April 2023
This webinar covered the costs, benefits, driving, and charging of an electric truck. It also provided information on current and upcoming electric trucks.
The County of Marin sponsored this webinar.
"This is Our Garden" | April 2023
Community members and visitors came to exchange and plant seedlings, watch an inspiring film called “…And This Is My Garden”, and enjoyed pizza and sliced fresh garden snacks. WMCA partnered with Inverness Garden Club, West Marin Food Systems, Marin County Parks and Open Space, Cafe Reyes, and Toby’s on this event.
Preparing For Disasters from Atmospheric Rivers | March 2023
Climate change may increase the occurrence and severity of atmospheric river events affecting California. During recent atmospheric rivers, Marin experienced record rainfall and high winds. This webinar focused on providing information on risks resulting from atmospheric rivers, including flooding, landslides, downed trees, sustained power outages, and loss of telephone and internet services.
"So You Want To Install A Heat Pump" Webinar | March 2023
David Moller presented the financial and environmental benefits of heat pumps, along with some background on how they work and the differences between types of heat pumps. Heat pumps for central ducted heating, ductless (min-split) heating, and heating water were covered, as well as how a ducted or ductless heat pump can cool your house on hot summer days. The webinar concluded with rebates and recommendations for identifying an experienced contractor.
John Montgomery West Coast Book Launch | March 2023
West Marin resident John Montgomery, co-author of "Net Zero Business Models: Winning in the Global Net Zero Economy," discussed the book’s key ideas about decarbonizing the economy. Kathy Hunting of West Marin Climate Action and Jonathan Barájas, founder of Eco-Gardening LLC, brought these ideas to life in a local context, focusing on practical ways we can all contribute.
Energy Efficiency Project Options for The Home | January 2023
West Marin Climate Action, featuring members of the Marin County Sustainability Team, hosted a webinar on how to maximize energy efficiency in the home, along with information on government rebates and incentives through the Inflation Reduction Act. This webinar informed us on how to save on utility bills, increase comfort, improve indoor air quality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Grow Your Knowledge: Visit West Marin Food Gardens | October 2022
Our second seasonal garden tours offered opportunities to visit local gardens, feel inspired, and learn about different strategies for producing home-grown food. Gardeners at four local home gardens welcomed guests and provided insight into seasonal food gardening rhythms.
EV Expo West Marin | October 2022
This in-person event in downtown Point Reyes Station featured a variety of electric vehicles, e-trucks, e-tractors, E-bikes, and e-tools all in one place! Participants and passers-by had the opportunity to meet the owners, sit inside vehicles, talk to e-mobility experts, and ask lots of questions!
Rooftop Water Catchment: A Practical Workshop | September 2022
Workshop attendees learned what to know and consider when installing a rooftop rainwater catchment system at home to irrigate food gardens and landscaping during dry summer and fall months. WMCA’s water catchment project aims to facilitate water catchment tank installations for a few interested residents of Point Reyes area hamlets.
Climate Cafe: A Compassionate Sharing Circle | May 2022
This Climate Cafe provided a sharing circle for people distressed about the climate crisis and its global, local and personal impact. It was an opportunity to share thoughts and feelings in a small circle of compassionate listeners in a safe, non-judgmental, advice and agenda-free space to speak about feelings, fears, or uncertainties.
Grow Your Knowledge: Visit West Marin Food Gardens | April 2022
About 50 community members enjoyed two to four food garden visits in West Marin, providing an opportunity to learn with local home gardeners and feel inspired to grow food. Both new and experienced food gardeners learned about techniques used to grow fruits and vegetables, design compost systems and rainwater catchments, and deal with gardening challenges.
Family Film Event: Microplastic Madness | March 2022
Families and friends joined us to view Microplastic Madness, an award-winning documentary film by Cafeteria Culture on a plastic-free impact campaign with 5th grade kids in Brooklyn, NY taking the lead! The screening of this film was held in person at Toby’s Park in Point Reyes Station, with information displays, prizes, and pizza to enjoy. We also offered a virtual option for viewing the film, which many appreciated watching at home. This inspirational film helps us understand the pervasive problem of plastic pollution and how we can take action to reduce our use of plastic.
Climate Cafe: A Compassionate Sharing Circle | March 2022
This Climate Cafe event created an opportunity for people to share thoughts and feelings about climate change in a small circle of compassionate listeners in a safe, nonjudgmental, advice-free, agenda-free space. Sharing worries and concerns with others can help manage feelings of overwhelm and despair and possibly be a foundation for taking action. Climate Cafe believes that compassionate listening is a life-affirming, reparative response to the situation.
Calculating Your Carbon Footprint | November 2021
The impacts of climate change are evident across the globe, including here in the Bay Area. We experience increasing temperatures, deeper droughts, wildfires, sea level rise, and more. Many have developed anxiety because they know that conditions will worsen over time.
The time for action is now. IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) experts say strong and sustained reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases could quickly improve air quality and stabilize global temperatures in 20 to 30 years.
This webinar presented CoolClimate’s Berkeley Carbon Calculator and other resources to help point us in the right direction.
Garden Watering During Drought | August 2021
As climate change impacts ramp up worldwide, deeper and longer droughts are likely in the future. Learning water conservation practices now helps to build resilience in coming years. This webinar presented a deeper dive into water-conserving gardening, sharing science-based practices that are proven to work. We also heard an update on the status of the water supply in Inverness, as well as updates on use trends and conservation restrictions.
Practical Water Conservation | June 2021
Scientists predict that climate change will increase the duration and severity of drought conditions in the West. The current drought is shaping up to be the worst on record. In response, Marin County has declared a drought emergency, with requirements to reduce our water use. This event featured presentations describing our current water supply conditions, use restrictions, and the many practical ways we can continue to reduce our water consumption.
Climate Change and Health: What to Know and How to Prepare | May 2021
Climate change is impacting the environment and human health. In recent years, people have been experiencing impacts resulting from increased incidence of wildfire and smoke, higher summer temperatures, and pandemic disease. This event provided information about the impacts of climate change on health, with a focus on topics that are especially relevant to Marin, such as wildfire, air quality, heat, smoke, infectious diseases, tick and mosquito-borne diseases, climate anxiety, and more. Follow the link below to learn more and view the event recording.
It’s Never Too Late to Add Solar | April 2021
Burning fossil fuels for energy adds carbon to the atmosphere, warming our planet like a heat-trapping blanket. Installing solar power in our homes is an important way we can reduce our carbon emissions. Our webinar on residential solar and battery storage provided a wealth of information on environmental and financial benefits, system size, comparative costs, incentives, and rebates. Experts and interviews with local residents discussed their experience with solar and battery systems. Follow the link to learn more and view the recorded webinar.
Local Food Resilience: Learn from Mark Butler in his garden | March 2021
Our second food resilience gardening event featured a video tour of Mark Butler’s wonderful home garden in Bolinas, where he and Meg grow food that nourishes them throughout the year. An on-the-ground presentation and demonstration provided valuable information about gardening strategies and techniques that are especially relevant during the winter and early spring seasons. Live Q&A and discussion offered an opportunity to share more information and techniques to help home gardeners start and improve their gardens and water systems in our bioregion.
Electrify Your Ride | February 2021
Passenger vehicles and trucks are responsible for 40% of West Marin’s greenhouse gas emissions. The path to addressing accelerating climate change impacts must include a rapid transition to electric vehicles (EVs), which is why Marin County hopes to increase the number of registered passenger EVs from currently 4% to 45% by 2030. We partnered with Drive Clean Bay Area and Drawdown: Marin to share information about EV purchasing and incentives, ownership, and charging options with the West Marin community.
Climate Cafe: A Compassionate Sharing Circle | January 2021
Many people feel disturbed, overwhelmed, or even anxious about the current manifestations of Climate Change and what the future holds. Sharing these concerns and emotions with others can be a powerful way to help manage those feelings and possibly open pathways for taking action. Our Climate Cafe offers a compassionate sharing circle for people who are feeling distress about the climate crisis and its impact at the global, local, or personal level.
On the Way to Plastic-Free | December 2020
Plastic pollution is at a crisis level. We have become completely dependent on buying things made from plastic and wrapped in it. Plastic is now being documented globally in every habitat, most notably throughout our oceans, with tremendous impact on marine life and, increasingly, human health. Often underreported, plastics originate as fossil fuels and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions from the cradle to the grave, from extraction through production, and to the waste stream. On the Way to Plastic Free! was the first event in a series on our plastic waste stream in West Marin and what we can do to reduce our plastics demand and waste. After watching two films (Plastic Wars and The Story of Plastic), three panelists shared important information and answered questions on recycling, plastic waste, and solutions underway. Action ideas were discussed, and links to helpful resources were provided.
Local Food Resilience: Learn from Burton Eubank in his garden | November 2020
This was an inspirational start to our series of community events on growing food resilience in a changing climate. We shared a video tour of Burton Eubank's garden, featuring seasonal information about winter planting, seed collection, grafting fruit trees, and planting for a warmer future, followed by a live Q&A. We invite all who are interested to work with us to generate creative solutions that help ensure access to healthy, locally produced food for everyone. Follow this link to read more about this event.
Zero Net Energy Goals for Residential Dwellings | September 2020
Zero Net Energy (ZNE) is a whole-house, whole-system approach to mitigating climate change—and a specialty of long-time Inverness builder Terry Nordbye of Air Sealing Solutions. This exciting webinar explained how ZNE buildings reduce dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate the rapid pace of global warming. West Marin Climate Action hopes to hold follow-up sessions with Terry, with more information on ZNE for people to use in their own homes!
Decarbonizing California by 2025, Can We Do It? | November 2019
The second event in the community climate conversations was themed, Decarbonizing California by 2025, Can We Do It? The event featured keynote speakers Ellie Cohen, Climate Center Executive Director, and Alex Porteshawver, Marin's Senior Sustainability Coordinator of Drawdown Marin. Following the keynote, community members participated in small-group discussions, where they explored real actions (personal and political) that will help solve our climate crisis. The community provided more than 300 ideas and actionable items that can be done to help curb our climate crisis. Following the event, the community feedback was organized and compiled into actionable categories that will inform the next Community Conversation Series.
Activating the Green New Deal | August 2019
The first in the series of Community Conversations focused on the economic and policy tools that could be applied to activate aspects of the Green New Deal.