SCI News

This holiday season give a gift that gives back and feel the spirit of the season! Pay tribute to someone special with a donation in their name to help support the work of Solar Cookers International. They will receive a card and a subscription to the Solar Cooker Review.

The alternative gift card can now be purchased through our online marketplace under Donations & Membership or by calling the office directly at 916-455-4499.

Happy Holidays!

Labels: Donations, Gifts, Holiday, Tribute

The 10th Annual Shine On! event at the Sacramento Zoo was a great success once again, with over 225 guests in attendance and good weather to boot. Solar cooked treats were served, as well as light fare, snacks and wine. Patrick spoke about his recent and productive trip to Kenya and Geneva; Karyn presented highlights on her recent trip to East Africa and future plans for International Development Programs; and Bob regaled the audience with recent successes and exciting plans involving the Safe Water Program and the Portable Microbiology Laboratory (PML). A sincere thanks to everyone for your continued support!




The line up for our evening at Shine On!




Bill Hudson, Don Coan and Linda Hayward are the ever-reliable happy faces greeting our guests at the products and information table.




Alta Tura speaks with guests about the beautiful African art given as raffle prizes.




Virginia Moose and Gayle Hursh man the guest registration table.




Staff and volunteers assist guests at the products and information table.




Enthusiastic volunteers in charge of the solar cooked sweets table.




Two of Bob's ex-students volunteered to man the Water Table.




Kevin, staff and volunteers worked hard to put together some creative and comprehensive poster boards for the event.





Board Members Edye Kuyper, Baby Ellyn and Virginie Mitchem socializing at the event.




Yummy solar cooked treats.





Mike and Gloria a popular duo as bartenders for the evening.




Patrick spoke on his recent trip to Kenya, Geneva and France, and outlined project directions for the future.




Karyn showed a PowerPoint presentation on her recent trip to Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, with highlights of Integrated Cooking, Water Testing incorporation and plans for new directions in International Development Programs.




Bob wraps up the evening with a comprehensive report on the Safe Water Project in Kenya, the Water Conference in Vienna, and exciting new developments and movements forward with the Portable Microbiology Laboratory (PML).

Labels: Local Events

Saturday the 13th of September was a busy day for SCI local exposure, with Patricia @ the Midtown Community Fest and Edye and I working different booths at the popular Second Saturday Art Walk in the evening. Edye, one of our most active local Board Members, has been working with SMUD and she represented SCI at Green Sacramento on 19th & H Streets; and through collaborations fostered with Heifer International, SCI was able to secure a great spot in front of their office on J Street. While we are always looking for volunteers, they are not always available to staff every event, so this was an active weekend for local staff, Board and our most loyal advocates.


Karyn at SCI's booth during Second Saturday in Heifer International's courtyard.


The See's Candy sign brought em in, and we held em with solar cooked veggie lasagne and chocolate chip pumpkin bread!


Heifer International is located on J St between 22nd & 23rd in downtown Sacramento.


Renee of Heifer Intl educates people on Heifer's mission.


The band was great and attracted a lot of attention to our venue.


The weather was nice and the crowds were steady. Heifer will have one more 2nd Saturday event this season and has invited us back next month :)

Please contact Sierra@solarcookers.org if you're interested in helping out!

Labels: Local Events

SCI had the opportunity to have a presence at this year's 3rd Annual Midtown Community Festival in front of the Rubicon Brewery in downtown Sacramento on the 13th of September. The event kicked off with a Kids Walk-A-Thon around the capitol followed by live performances by various bands, fun games and activities for kids, great BBQ, raffle prizes and of course the ever famous Beer Tasting Garden with all proceeds benefiting Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento. SCI had a very visible booth in a prime location in front of the beer garden, and SCI's Database Manager Patricia and Stellar Volunteer Don Coan were present to answer questions and serve scrumptious solar cooked goodies.


SCI's solar cooking informational booth set up at the Midtown Community Festival (MCF) and manned by our own Patricia and Don Coan.


SCI's Don and Patricia assist interested passersby at MCF.


SCI's ever enthusiastic volunteer and staff ~ always ready to answer questions and educate people on the wonders of solar cooking.


Karyn, Don and Patricia at SCI's booth at the MCF.


Our Volunteer Extraordinaire ~ Don Coan is SCI's most reliable and knowledgeable volunteer, and one of the best solar cooks in the region!


Karyn and Patricia @ MCF (I cheated and just popped in at the last minute ~ it was Patricia and Don that did all the work ;)


Michael and Patricia in front of the Sun Oven, Box Cooker and SOS Sport ~ Patricia shows off her stellar solar cooked lasagne.

Labels: Local Events

SolFest is the annual two-day celebration of solar technologies, renewable energy and sustainable living put on by the Solar Living Institute in Hopland, CA,; about 2.5 hours north of San Francisco. Heifer International was kind enough to share their coveted booth with us (thanks Heifer!) providing us with a prime location for promoting Solar Cookers International with a like-minded crowd. We had a steady stream of visitors throughout the day, and this kind of exposure at such a venue is unparalleled. It was hot as hell, but worth the trip ~ we made some yummy solar cooked treats and were one of the most popular booths present, hardly giving us a free moment!





Bio-tents at SolFest.


The hub of SolFest, complete with own Burning Man.


A Renewable Energy Booth on the grounds.


Patricia and Michael setting up the booth @ SolFest.


Solar Living Booth.


A Solar Cooking workshop at SolFest.


The Solar Living Institute has an active solar goods retail store on it's grounds called Real Goods ~ they already sells the Sun Oven, the SOS Sport and the Hot Pot. While we were there I spoke with Tina Meyers, Retail Buyer for Real Goods, and they will be carrying the CooKit and other items from SCI's store soon as a result.


The Hot Pot for sale @ Real Goods.


Zero waste is the name of the game @ SolFest.


An overview of SolFest.


Even the babies @ SolFest are hippies.

Labels: SolFest