Working with the Community
Working with the Chumash community is at the core of all SYCEO does. We support several events throughout the year that revolve around community and environmental betterment. Our annual events include an Chumash Earth Day at the Chumash Reservation, Coastal Cleanup in September and Pow Wow in October. Special events continue throughout the year within the Tribal community as well as the surrounding community. SYCEO staff collaborate with other departments on a number of youth and education events, including past summer teen trips to the Channel Islands, G.O.N.A. with the Tribal Clinic, Camp K., and Lake Tahoe. In addition, SYCEO participates in a number of tribal and local community events, including the Inter-Tribal Pow-Wow and Santa Barbara Earth Day.
In 2012, the Chumash Environmental Office team, led by Carmen Sandoval, started the first Chumash Community Garden to show sustainable farming. They grew many crops. Later that year, they made another garden at the Learning Center for kids' programs.
Community Gardening
Since the fall of 2022, SYCEO has been gathering food scraps and natural materials from people in the area. Residents get a 10-gallon yellow bin picked up every week. The food waste goes to the SYCEO Tribal Nursery for vermicomposting. Worms break down the scraps to make fertilizer for native plants.
Home Composting Program
As of Spring 2024, we have diverted 2,379.07 lbs of food waste from the landfill.
Join us at the annual tribal powwow to explore SYCEO's plant showcase. Learn about environmental efforts, natural resource protection, and community sustainability.
