THE HOPLAND SOLAR INSTITUTE IS A GREAT PLACE THAT MY FAMILY HAS VISITED MANY TIMES. EACH TIME I DISCOVER SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO LOOK AT. I FIRST DISCOVERED THIS ECOLOGY CENTER BY DRIVING BY IT ON THE WAY TO MY FOREST SERVICE JOB WHEN MY SON WAS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD. I TOOK HIM UP THERE AND THEY HAD OUTSIDE THE MAIN BUILDING A NEAT SAND WORKS AND TUNNEL FOR THE KIDS TO DISCOVER HOW WATER AND EROSION WORK. THEY HAD A SANDY AREA AND BUILT A CEMENT FUNNEL FOR WATER TO FLOW ALONG. ORIGINALLY THE CHILDREN NEEDED TO PUMP AN OLD FASHIONED HANDLE TO GET THE WATER INTO EITHER A BUCKET OR INTO THE FUNNEL. THEN THEY COULD PLAY WITH THE WET SAND AND BUILD DIFFERENT THINGS AND THE WATER WENT UNDER A SMALL BRIDGE. MY SON WOULD OCCUPY HIMSELF WITH ALL THIS FOR HOURS!
THIS SITE WAS OWNED BY REAL GOODS ORIGINALLY AND THE IN 1998 IT BECAME A NONPROFIT SOLAR INSTITUTE CALLED HOPLAND SOLAR INSTITUTE. THERE ARE VARIOUS WORKSHOPS AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS THAT WE HAVE ATTENDED. IT PROMOTES SUSTAINABLE LIVING AND SOLAR TRAINING THROUGH INSPIRATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND WORKSHOPS. THERE ARE 12 ACRES AVAILABLE RIGHT ALONGSIDE HIGHWAY 101 WITH A HUGE WATERFALL IN A COURTYARD TO REDUCE THE TRAFFIC NOISE. IT IS AN UNUSUAL DESIGN WITH A CIRCULAR COPPER TUBE WITH SMALL HOLES DRILLED IN IT AND PLACED ATOP A 15 FOOT TALL PLATFORM WITH GRAPE VINES GROWING ALONG SOME POLES. AS THE WATER FLOWS DOWN INTO THE CENTER OF THE COURTYARD IT DRAINS BY THE CHILDREN'S SAND YARD AS WELL AS GOES INTO A FRESHWATER POND WHERE VARIOUS TYPES OF FISH ARE FOUND.
THIS POND AREA HAS A PYRAMID BUILT OF CORN COB BRICKS WHERE YOU CAN GO INSIDE AND PLAY. THERE ARE SOME FIELDS OF EDIBLE PLANTS AND THEY ALSO ALLOW VISITORS TO GET SPRINKLED WITH A DRIP WATER SPRINKLER OUTSIDE DURING HOT SUMMER MONTHS.
THE MAIN BUILDING IS MADE OF CORN COB CONSTRUCTION AND THEY EXPLAIN HOW IT WAS CONSTRUCTED INSIDE SO THAT IT IS WELL INSULATED FROM THE HOT TEMPERATURES HERE.
THEY HAVE A BIG SECTION OF BOOKS ABOUT WEAVING BASKETS, NATURE, POETRY FROM NATURE, AND ALTERNATIVE LIVING TECHNIQUES, AND HOUSES THAT ARE DOWN TO EARTH. THEIR GIFT STORE ALSO HAS INTERESTING NATURAL CLOTHING AND VARIOUS COOKWARE AND OTHER THINGS FROM FOREIGN LANDS THAT ARE MADE OF NATURAL FIBERS.
OUR FAMILY HAS PICNICKED HERE DURING TRIPS AS IT IS A BEAUTIFUL NATURE PRESERVE IN AN AREA WHICH HAS SUMMER TEMPERATURES OVER 100 DEGREES.
THE BUILDING ITSELF IS A UNIQUE STRUCTURE MADE OF CORN COB
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