Sustainable Ramona’s fourth annual Earth Day Festival will feature speakers, exhibitors and an educational video focused on sustainable practices, as well as a kids’ treasure hunt.
The Earth Day Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 26 at Begent Ranch, 18528 Highland Valley Road in Ramona.
Thirty-five vendors and educational nonprofits will provide information and answer questions about various aspects of sustainability. Exhibitors include organizations from throughout San Diego County that and promote animal, bird, land and resource sustainability.
The family-friendly event will also include live music throughout the day. Musical groups include Sam Powell playing the guitar, Garden Variety Band, Bobo Czarnowski and Drew Cady, Time Bandits and Haywire.
A performance by the Barona Little Hawk Dancers is a new addition to the festival this year and the popular Ramona del Sol Folklorico Dancers will be returning. Another returning activity for children is a kids’ Sustainable Treasure Hunt.
The FallbrkEats food truck will be onsite selling food.
Attendees can get an update on the progress being made toward developing a Barona-Ramona Climate Adaptation and Action Plan by watching a virtual reality video available throughout the day, organizers said.
The plan is being developed in partnership with the Ramona Municipal Water District, the Barona Band of Mission Indians, Sustainable Ramona, Ramona Valley Vineyard Association, Ramona West End Fire Safe Council and the Ramona Chamber of Commerce.
The video gives viewers an immersive look at climate impacts such as wildfire, heat and flooding that can be addressed by creating a regional response to these climate issues, organizers said.
Ramona Municipal Water District General Manager Erica Wolski said the video shows a young girl from Ramona and a tribal elder from the Barona Band of Mission Indians witnessing a fire starting and seeing the effects of heat. They also experience a rainstorm that causes flooding.
“The video covers, what do these events mean, how do we prepare for these situations and what can we do to make our communities more resilient?” Wolski said. “It is an immersive experience so you can think about what these experiences would be like when they actually happen.”
The video is connected to the Climate Adaptation and Action Plan because it shows how the plan addresses climate impacts such as wildfire, heat and flooding, Wolski said.
Once the plan is completed by the end of this year, Wolski said various community groups can use the document to submit grant applications for their various climate adaptation projects. For example, a church could use the plan when applying for a grant to fund an air-conditioning system that cools its parishioners, she said.
The Barona Band of Mission Indians has already applied for a related grant to clear vegetation along evacuation routes at the Barona Indian Reservation, she added.
“Once you have something planned and prioritized it helps the state justify giving grant money to implement projects,” Wolski said. “This plan provides community for projects under the umbrella of climate adaption.”
The plan is funded by the Adaptation Planning Grant Program implemented by the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, according to Sustainable Ramona officials who are gathering community input with a variety of viewpoints while developing the plan.
“The partners want to hear from Ramona residents both at the event and via an online survey about their climate-related concerns and help the group prioritize actions to be taken to adapt our community,” Earth Day organizers said.
Wolski, one of several speakers at the event, will give a presentation on the Ramona-Barona Climate Adaptation Plan.
Other speakers include Jim Crouch, who will give a brief talk on the local Engelmann oak’s history and future; and Bob Hill, director of recycling and marketing at EDCO, who will provide information on recyclables.
Sustainable Ramona is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation organized to foster sustainability in Ramona. Its mission is to lead the transition to a sustainable climate in Ramona with a healthy economy via education, partners, project, promotions and ultimately a profitable, independent electricity-producing area known as a microgrid.
Sustainable Ramona has sponsored educational forums on the San Diego County climate action plan, water conservation, waste management, worm farming, composting, electrification of houses and renewable energy. The nonprofit also hosts an annual Harvest Festival in the fall.
A donation of $15 is requested for adult ission to the Earth Day Festival and children are itted free. Attendees are advised that the Begent Ranch location can be difficult for walking in some areas because it is a working ranch.
For more information about Sustainable Ramona, visit the SustainableRamona.com website or @Sustainable Ramona on Instagram and Facebook. For information about the Ramona-Barona Climate Action Plan visit Ramona-BaronaCAAP.RinconConsultants.com.
Ramona Earth Day Festival Vendors and Nonprofits
2Create Gallery
Action Research
Avian Behavior International
BackYard Bounty
California Climate Action Corps/Americorps
Charlene Penner “The Weed Eater”
Climate Reality Project, San Diego Chapter
County of San Diego
Divine Women’s Crafts
Dr. Jerry’s Functional Medicine & Sports Medicine Clinic
Friends of Ramona Library
Guy B. Woodward Museum/Ramona Pioneer Historical Society
Heaven Scent Lotion
HolsApple Design Co.
Mid-City CAN
Oak Project
Ramona-Barona Climate Adaptation Plan
Ramona Disposal
Ramona Grange 632
Ramona Municipal Water District
Ramona Trails Association/Santa Maria Creek Greenway
San Diego Bird Alliance
San Diego Building Electrification Coalition
San Diego Community Power
San Diego Habitat Conservancy
Santa Maria Creek Greenway Committee/Women in the Wild
SD Microbes – Andy Allen
Sol-Home
Solana Center for Environmental Innovation
Tai Chi Dancers Led by Rose Evans
The Art Center of Ramona
The Tree Fairy
Toft Photo Safaris & Gallery-Roy Toft
Wildlife Research Institute
Yemaya Mermaids LLC
Women in the Wild
