CEBE was  founded on Earth Day in 2013. Spurred on by ever starker realities of the climate crisis and increasing resource depletion, we a launched a successful crowd funding campaign, moved into the Fare Share Commons in historic downtown Norway, Maine and got to work.

​

We are pleased to share CEBE's recent annual report! Covering our fiscal year, July 2022 to June 2023, this report includes highlights of what we've been up to since our annual fundraising letter of late 2022, gratitude, testimonials, information on our financial health, and a look at the near future. View the report here.

 

Since our founding, CEBE has hosted over 200 events, from film screenings in collaboration with the Maine Farmland Trust, Fare Share Co-op, 350.org and others, to educational events in collaboration with the Alan Day Community Garden, Efficiency Maine, The Resilience Hub, Revision Energy and others. Speakers have presented on everything from micro-lending and cooperative housing, to community solar and eco-village design. Workshops have included a two week Permaculture Designers Course, Edible Mushroom Cultivation, Yoga for Gardeners, Seed Saving and Swapping, Educating for Sustainability, Pruning a Food Forest and many more. 

​

In 2019, CEBE became a founding member of Maine Climate Action NOW! In spring of 2020, we hosted 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben as the keynote address of a three-day climate convergence that attracted over a hundred activists, especially youth, from across the state to downtown Norway.

 

Our climate convergence has since become a major annual CEBE event, in addition to our Solar & EV Expo. 

 

Over the years, hundreds of community members have joined us for events, dropped in to share their voices, or joined us on social media, and volunteered as we create a shared vision of a resilient and sustainable future. It has been an exciting and hopeful journey, but just a beginning as the window on avoiding the worst effects of the climate crisis closes and our action on climate becomes more critical. Please join us on this journey.