Join the movement!

Third Annual

Ramona Earth Day Festival

Saturday, April 20, 2024, Noon to 6:00 p.m.

Presented by: Sustainable Ramona

NEW Event Site: Begent Ranch, 18528 , Highland Valley Rd., Ramona, CA

Home of the Hawk Watch and Site of Annual Ramona Art Wine Festival

Earth Day 2024

Have fun and learn manageable ways to sustain Ramona surroundings

  • Live Bands
  • Children Events
  • Expert Speakers
  • Exhibitors/vendors

NEW this year: Solve the Mystery of Sustainable Ramona, a short story by author Joyce T. Strand featuring Emily Lazzaro, fictional character who owns the fictional Mane Stay B&B in Ramona. Solve the clues provided at the Festival and the final solution for prizes.

For more information, go to: send an email to info@SustainableRamona.com.

Download the Exhibitor Application 2024

Facebook: @Sustainable Ramona Forum

YouTube: @SustainableRamona.

Ramona Community Microgrid

Sustainable Ramona presents a vision of Ramona’s energy future. This vision encompasses energy cost reductions, local energy production and the modernization of Ramona’s energy infrastructure.

COMMUNITY FORUM

Why/How Ramona Should Create Independent Power Utility: Exploring Microgrid Technology

Allie Detrio, Microgrid Resources Coalition, Reimagine Power Strategist

Ryan Hanna, Research scientist, UCSD, energy systems, decarbonization

Bob Macomber, Member, Sustainable Ramona

Bill Powers, Board Member, Protect Our Communities Foundation

Walt Sindewald, Board Member, Sustainable Ramona

Moderated by Rob Lewallen, Sustainable Ramona Board member;

Recipient 2023 Ramona Lifetime Achievement Award

 

Ramona

DETAILS:

Thursday, June 15, 2023, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Ramona Public Library/Community Room

1275 Main St, Ramona, CA

Public invited. No charge. For additional information or to RSVP (not required) email info@SustainableRamona.com

Speakers and Expert Panelists

In addition to Sustainable Ramona speakers, several expert panelists will be available to comment and respond to questions, including:

Allie Detrio is the Founder & Chief Strategist for Reimagine Power, a boutique microgrid and cleantech policy consulting firm headquartered in San Francisco. She serves as the Senior Advisor for the Microgrid Resources Coalition (MRC), where she manages all microgrid industry advocacy efforts in the west, including serving as an expert witness and providing testimony in multiple state legislatures and commissions, and is a registered lobbyist for the MRC in California. Detrio is an award-winning advocate known for her leadership in passing California’s landmark microgrid legislation (SB 1339), expanding the state’s energy storage incentive program with $800M in new funding (SB 700), and securing microgrid eligibility and funding ($700M) for California’s new reliability incentive programs (AB 205), among many other notable policy and regulatory achievements. Detrio was one of the first in the world to receive an accredited B.S. in Sustainability from the Global Institute of Sustainability at Arizona State University.

Ryan Hanna is a research scientist at UC San Diego working broadly on energy systems and decarbonization. Much of that research has focused on the technical and economic potential for decentralized energy, solar, batteries, and microgrids—and the ways in which these decentralized supplies of energy generate societal benefits, like lower CO2 emissions, alongside local benefits like lower energy costs and better reliability and resilience. Ryan has a B.S. from Washington University in St. Louis and Ph.D. from UC San Diego in mechanical engineering.

Robert (Bob) Macomber is a member of Sustainable Ramona who moved to Ramona in 1988 following a career in aerial mapping, remote sensing, and management of coastal wetlands. The wildfires of 2006 brought firsthand realization of climate change—burning home and business assets. Rebuilding according to LEED Platinum specifications, as general contractors, Bob and his wife Betsy created a sustainable Net Zero electric home, utilizing thermal mass, solar and battery backup, requiring 4kW of electricity. Grey water separation, collection of rainwater from impervious surfaces and xeric plant landscaping help minimize water requirements. His education includes a BS in Industrial Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and General Motors Institute in Flint Michigan. He also completed coursework and thesis toward an MS in Remote Sensing from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources.

Rob Lewallen, Moderator, is a Sustainable Ramona board member who is an architectural designer and California-building contractor specializing in energy-efficient design and construction since the mid-1970s. He moved to Ramona in 1974 “when this was still a little horse town with under 6,000 population and no traffic lights.” He has designed and built more than 300 homes as well as many additions and remodels in the Ramona area over the past 45 years. Former member and past Chairman of the Ramona Community Planning Group, founding/current member/past Chairman of the Ramona Design Review Board. Current Chairman of the Ramona Village Design Committee and Co-Chair Ramona Bluegrass & Old West Festival. Performing musician in the San Diego area.

Bill Powers, P.E., is a long-time board member of The Protect Our Communities Foundation providing technical expertise as an energy expert.  A registered professional engineer, Mr. Powers has extensive knowledge and experience in the fields of energy and environmental engineering, air emissions control, and regional energy planning.  Mr. Powers has authored two local solar and battery storage strategic plans for the San Diego area: “San Diego Smart Energy 2020” in 2008, and “Roadmap to 100 Percent Local Solar Build-Out by 2030 in the City of San Diego” in 2020. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University and M.P.H. in Environmental Sciences from the University of North Carolina.

Walt Sindewald is a member of the Sustainable Ramona Board of Directors and a long-time proponent of a Ramona microgrid. He is a 30-year Ramona resident, who raised a family and is now retired from Sony Electronics after 28 years (37 years in business overall) as a Director in Corporate Procurement.  He has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Illinois, a Certificate in Purchasing Management from UCSD and an MBA with a concentration in Finance from SDSU.

Sustainable Ramona and Ramona Community Garden Present

2nd Annual Ramona Earth Day Festival

A Fun Family Day to Learn How to Sustain Our Community and Make Connections

Saturday, April 22, 2023

12 noon to 6 pm

Location: Ramona Community Garden, San Vicente Rd. and 11th Street, Ramona, California

Vendors / Exhibitors

A photo of a man and a woman sitting behind a table. The table is covered with a branded table covering that says

A&R Computers – refurbished computers  (refurbish rather than toss out)

Art Center Ramona with Marsha Cook artist creating art from throw-aways

Barona Cultural Center & Museum

Bee Keepers – Rex & Becky Harvey

Frederika and James Harker, authors, Zero Waste Family

Julian Weaving Works

Ramona Municipal Water District

Ramona Disposal

San Diego Veterans for Peace

San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy — non-profit conservancy for River
Valley partnered with the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority

Solana Center for Environmental Innovation— also a speaker on “Composting”

SolHome—solar panels, technology

Soul Fungi

St. Mary’s Lady’s Crafts

Talking Oaks Ranch – small, organic homestead specializing in rainbow chicken eggs, celadon quail, artisan soaps, natural cosmetics

White Rose Aqua Cremation

Opportunity to present and/or sell sustainable products to more than 300 attendees. For additional information and to apply, please use the   Vendor/Exhibitor Application

 

Sponsors

A group of 5 men and women posing in front of their sponsor booth. Sustainable Ramona

Barona Band of Mission Indians – Site Sponsor

Ramona Disposal – Sound Stage Sponsor

Joyce T. Strand, Author – 2 Set Stage Sponsor

Art Center – Set Sponsor


Promote your business or organization to more than 300 attendees. Please see the Sponsor Letter for details.

 

Speakers

A photo of a speaker holding a microphone, on a stage with a speaker in front of him. Sustainable Ramona

Bob Hill, Ramona Disposal, “Local Collections and Global Markets”

Solana Center for Environmental Innovation, Jennifer Galey, senior environmental
educator, “Composting & Other Climate Solutions"

Dr. George Tynan, Director UCSD Engineering, Keynote Speaker, “Near-term Climate
Change Solutions: Microgrids Architectures and Community Choice Aggregation Plans
for Clean, Affordable and Reliable Electricity”

Frederika and James Harker, Authors Zero Waste Family, “How to Turn Your Back Yard
into a Pantry”

Dr. Mandy Morrell, sustainability Professor at Point Loma Nazarene, “Defining Your
Carbon Footprint and How to Reduce It”

 

Kid’s Events

Children led by an adult pulling a wagon. The children are holding up large signs with vegetables. Sustainable Ramona

March of Vegetables and Kids treasure hunt to learn about sustainability.

 

Community EVs

A photo of an EV charging station. Sustainable Ramona

Bring your electric vehicle to a special parking place and discuss with your neighbors your experience with your vehicle.

 

Live Music

Photo of a group of musicians. Sustainable Ramona

Garden Variety Band – 4 part harmonies to kick off the day

The Beard & the Bird (Jon and Kat Hasz)  – Django Reinhardt Ramona Style. Jon Hasz
received current San Diego Music Awards’ nomination for Jon Hasz/The Amalgamated’s album, “True Tone” for Best World Music, Album of the Year.

Frank & Rob (Frank Lucio and 2022 Lifetime-Achievement-Award-Recipient Rob Lewallen) – Guitar, Sax & backing bands. Classics, jazz & more.

Bobo Czarnowski & Drew Cady – Guitar and Cello/Bobo – Current San Diego Music Awards Nominee for best Folk Song and best Folk Album.

Sentimental Journeys – Acoustic duet. Oldies and sing-alongs.

Shirthouse Bluegrass Band – Traditional, newgrass, bluegrass reworked classics with four-part harmonies.

The Waits – acoustic trio, three-part harmonies.

Help Shape and Prepare for Ramona’s Future

Join Sustainable Ramona Group

Sustainable Ramona, a grass roots group organized to foster sustainability in Ramona, is seeking dedicated volunteer participants to expand the group.

Sustainable Ramona is exploring the benefits to us here in Ramona of curtailing greenhouse gases and the financial opportunities that will accompany these actions going forward. What new business opportunities will evolve? For what new careers can our children train? How will our gardens or farmlands improve? What new ways can we help manage solid waste to reduce landfills? Will the grapes for our wine be improved? Will our electric bills decrease? Will we have fewer power outages? How will we be better prepared for fires and drought? How will electric cars impact Main Street? How can we as a community profit from our vast amounts of sun and wind?

If you’re interested in participating in the Sustainable Ramona group, contact us here.

    Our Vision

    Ramona to become a leading community in the change to land-and-people-friendly climate  with growing economy and its own micro-grid with power that the community uses and sells.

    Our Mission

    Lead the transition to a sustainable climate in Ramona with a growing economy via education, connections, projects, promotions, advocacy, and ultimately a profitable, independent electricity-producing area (micro-grid).

    Our Goals

    • Advance knowledge through education to address future job needs, home owner opportunities, growing business markets, agricultural changes, water requirements, etc.
    • Reach out to other community, County, and State groups to connect and maximize ongoing activities.

    Our Objectives

    • Plan and promote local Ramona activities that support sustainability through Earth Day 2021 event
    • Create a community garden by end of 2022
    • Offer presentations monthly for each of the key areas: renewable energy, transportation, electrification of buildings, weather explanation, firesafe, water usage, waste management