In an era of greenwashing (think BP, or Monsanto’s “sustainability” campaign), organizations and individuals that walk the walk are a refreshing change. Sustaining Ourselves Locally (SOL), a center for conscious living in East Oakland, does just that.

"Our intention is to live sustainably. We try to have our jobs, advocacy work, and lifestyles be consistent with our values,” explained Cassandra Chen, who lives at the SOL house with eight others.

Their values are progressive, and they make a point of putting their ideas into practice. Although their solar power and greywater systems are in the nascent stages, their food policies are more developed—and a source for living mindfully and educating others. Residents range from carnivores to vegans, but the group buys organic produce from the farmer's market, other foods in bulk to reduce packaging and waste, and supports farmers of color whenever possible.

“The intention is to be mindful of the food we eat, to be as caring as possible for the environment and community and the people who are involved in the various stages of getting our food from seed to plate,” Chen said.

SOL invites others to visit the group's backyard garden, which was once an abandoned lot that sprouted broken glass and garbage instead of the lemon trees, herbs and greens SOLers now tend. Transforming the space from urban blight involved hours of sifting soil, mulching and weeding—plus turning rusted barbed wire into a trellis for climbing beans. Visitors from schools, churches and community organizations help harvest crops and compost, in the process learning about where food comes from and how to create their own urban gardens.

This summer, as the group has done for the past three years, SOL will pay eight to 10 local high schoolers to intern at the site. The youth will work in the garden, sell vegetable starts at local markets, practice resume and interviewing skills, network with other Oakland youth projects, and learn about native plant species on nearby hikes.

SOL draws not only from the wealth of the soil but from Oakland’s grassroots movements, too.

“It’s constantly rejuvenating and inspiring to have different organizations in line in mission and heart in different parts of the city,” Chen said. “When we want to cooperate with organizations that dovetail with our own, that’s totally possible and the support is there.”

If you want to lend a hand but don’t plan on moving in, join the group every second Sunday for a garden work party.

Visit http://oaklandsol.org for more information.