Sustainability Week 2026
Sustainabilty Week 2026
The Santa Monica College (SMC) Sustainability Center will celebrate Sustainability Week 2026 (Oct. 19-23) with informative events and discussions on sustainability, environmental issues, and actions individuals can take.
Seed Starting Workshop
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 11:15 a.m.-12:45 p.m. — Seed Starting Workshop —Informative workshop explains how to grow a garden from seeds. From soil mixing, cell trays, watering, labeling, and hardening off, all the steps it takes to grow a success garden will be covered. Free. SMC Main Campus, Organic Garden
DamNation
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. — Water Rights — Screening of “DamNation, the Problem with Hydropower,” a documentary on the critical issue and impacts of damming wild rivers and ecosystems. Pizza provided. Free. SMC Main Campus, Stromberg Hall (HSS 165)
SMC Compost Tour
Thursday, Oct. 22, 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. — Composting at SMC — A guided tour of SMC’s various composting systems, including one that uses over 400,000 worms to eat through hundreds of pounds of food scraps per week, covers how each compost system works and how anyone can participate by putting their organic waste into the correct collection bin. Sandwiches from Ike’s Love provided. Free. SMC Main Campus, Meet at the Organic Garden
Sustainable Costume Contest
Oct. 29, a Sustainable Costume Contest will be held as part of Club Row, with prizes awarded
Sustainability Week 2026
Tuesday, October 20
Seed Starting Workshop by Master Gardener, Renee Szostak
Renee Szostak is a University of California Master Gardener, horticulture consultant, native plant landscaper and garden advisor for SMC's organic learning garden. She leads hands-on workshops covering container/urban gardening, regenerative permaculture, composting, foraging, and more. Find her on TikTok @gardenho or via higardenho@gmail.com for tips on connecting with the edible world.
Renee will explain how to grow a garden from seeds, including the following steps:
- Seed packet decoding
- Seed starting mix assembly (sifted container mix, perlite, worm castings)
- Sowing into pots / covering for germination
- Bottom watering
- Potting up seedlings + wick watering
- Hardening off
- Transplanting into ground or final containers
-
Mulching
- Location: Organic Learning Garden
-
Time: 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
- Free
Wednesday, October 21
Water Rights
Screening of “DamNation, the Problem with Hydropower,” a documentary on the critical issue and impacts of damming wild rivers and ecosystems. Pizza provided. Free
- Pizza served
- Location: SMC Main Campus, Stromberg Hall (HSS 165)
-
Time: 5 to 7 p.m.
Thursday, October 22
Composting at SMC
A guided tour of SMC’s various composting systems, including one that uses over 400,000 worms to eat through hundreds of pounds of food scraps per week, covers how each compost system works and how anyone can participate by putting their organic waste into the correct collection bin. This simple practice helps keep organic waste out of landfills and turns it into usable compost and fertilizer. Free
- Sandwiches from Ike’s Love provided.
- Location: SMC Main Campus, Meet at the Organic Garden
-
Time: 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Friday, October 23
Careers for Good Conference
Values-driven companies, B-Corps, and nonprofits will be talked about in detail by professionals who work for institutions that are improving our communities. Breakfast and lunch provided. Free. Center for Media and Design (1660 Stewart Street, Santa Monica)
- Light breakfast and lunch served
- Location: Center for Media and Design campus, 1660 Stewart Street
-
Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Previous Sustainability Week Events at SMC
See the SMC Sustainability Week video playlist
