Attention animal lovers: Scorpions, lizards and wolves (oh my)! Are you an animal lover? Come check out a variety of amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, insects and more at the 9th annual Spring Faire, hosted by the Environmental Nature Center on May 4, 2014! Visitors will include representatives from the Orange County Bird of Prey Center (both humans and their feathery friends). The OC Bird of Prey Center is a volunteer organization dedicated to treating and rehabilitating injured raptors and returning them to the wild. They will have live hawks and owls on display. The Orange County Reptile Rescue is an organization that educates the public about exotic animals and finds homes for reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and other exotic animals. They will feature a…

Indulge in the flavors of spring at the Taste of Orange County that will take place at the ENC’s 9th Annual Spring Faire! The Taste of Orange County will bring many of the local restaurants and caterers serving Orange County together to showcase their favorite menu items. Restaurants include Avanti Cafe, Kean Coffee, Sensitive Sweets, Pie-Not, Native Foods Café, Bristol Farms, VeroniCakes, Which Wich, Mi Casa, 24 Carrot Catering, Jays Catering Co., Vivo events, The Alley, and 118 degrees. Don’t miss this fun and tasty event! We would like to give a tremendous “thank you” to all of these restaurants for their donations and for supporting non-profit organizations in their community! It is companies like these that support all of us at the ENC and…

Orange County has long been home to a host of internationally inspired culinary options, but only recently has it offered its community authentic, gourmet Australian bakery items, handmade fresh daily using only the highest quality ingredients, including locally sourced meats and produce – thanks to the opening of Pie-Not in Costa Mesa. Driving this new concept are two young, Orange County-based entrepreneurs and business partners, Jai Snowdon, originally from the Gold Coast of Australia, and Ryan Lopiccolo, of Newport Beach, California, who launched the Aussie-style bakery in May 2013. Located in the popular 17th Street Promenade in Costa Mesa, Pie-Not is offering meat, veggie, and gluten-free pies, desserts, espresso and handcrafted coffee drinks – all inspired from bakeries across Australia. “We noticed that Orange County…

My name is Melanie and I am the proud mother of two wonderful little boys. Over the past couple of years I have spent countless hours creating recipes for my youngest son Bradley. Bradley was diagnosed with severe food allergies at about 9 months old. Prior to that he suffered from severe eczema and nothing we could do would ease his constant scratching. He could not sleep or play as all his attention was focused on trying to find relief from his constant itching. I was nursing at the time and little did I know that what I was eating was affecting his health directly. Through testing we determined that he could not eat anything that contained wheat, gluten, eggs, dairy, soy, and several fruits…

This week at the Environmental Nature Center! Stories Under the Stars Tuesday, December 3, 6 pm Many cultures tell stories about the stars and their meanings.  Join ENC Naturalist Leslie Helliwell on the darkest night of the month under the New Moon to learn to identify some of the major constellations and enjoy the tales that the Greek storytellers told as we sit under the stars.  Cost is $6 per participant ($5 for members). This program is for humans age 6 and up.   Reservations required. No refunds.   Creative Wrapping:  Furoshiki Workshop Wednesday, December 4, 6:30 pm Have you heard of “furoshiki?”  These beautiful Japanese wrapping cloths have been getting a lot of attention lately.  They’re an eco-friendly way to wrap gifts, carry groceries, decorate…

The Environmental Nature Center (ENC) accepted a $25,000 donation from Room & Board South Coast Plaza on November 7th at their South Coast Plaza showroom. The donation will help support the ENC’s Environmental Education programs. “Room & Board has a long history of supporting community organizations. We are very proud that they’ve chosen us to be their local community partner,” said ENC Executive Director Bo Glover. “Room & Board is a good corporate citizen, committed to sustainability. They literally practice what we preach.” Room & Board is committed to supporting American manufacturers and small, family-owned businesses. Its designs are made using wood, steel, cotton, granite—natural, sustainable materials that stand the test of time. By seeking out U.S.-made products, this allows Room & Board to reduce its environmental…