About the Stratford Ecological Center

Staff    -    Board of Directors    -    Founders    -    History

The Stratford Ecological Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to the education of children and adults in understanding the relationships between living things and their environment, thereby fostering an appreciation of the land and all life that depends on it.  It provides hands-on experiential education for individuals to learn ecological concepts, understand human ecology and gain a reverence for the diversity, complexity and beauty of the natural world.  It manages a diversified working "family farm," which demonstrates the lifestyle, techniques and principles of sustainable agriculture, horticulture and forestry as well as promotes agroecological research.  The Center also strives to preserve the natural ecosystems of existing woods, streamsides, meadows and swamps located on its 236 acre property.

Programs and Activities

• Farm & Field Trips for school children and other children groups

• Middle School Education Program

• Specialized Curricula for school age children

• Scout Troop farm and field trips and badge work

• Farm Camp

• Volunteer Program

• Adult Education Program

• Community Garden

• Environmental Education Internships

• Sustainable Agriculture Internships

History

The Stratford Ecological Center came to exist out of an inspiration of love.  A young woman, Gale, underwent a life-altering volunteer and intern experience at a place called Hidden Villa in California, near the college she attended.  The place existed as a demonstration farm and education facility.  While there, she felt the magic of the area and called it a "place of love."

In 1982, Gale's mother, Louise Warner, inherited the 236 acres of land in Delaware, Ohio that was to become the Stratford Ecological Center, from her father, Galen Oman.  He had originally bought the land in the 1950s with visions of developing it into a majestic living environment with large property plots and a golf course.  Before he could make his vision a reality, illness struck Galen.  With a new outlook, he realized the land was too precious to develop and he spoke of preserving it before passing on.  Continue to read about Stratford's history...