Tag: conservation

Resiliency Celebrated at Reunir 2022

On May 19, over 80 guests gathered at the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum in Santa Barbara County for our Reunir celebration. Friends, both new and familiar, had a great time connecting with one another and hearing from guest speakers Andy Mills, Rangeland Trust Chairman; Pam Doiron, Spanish Ranch Owner; and Sharyn Main, Climate Resilience Program Director for the Community Environmental Council, about how local rangelands and ranching families are adding to the resiliency of the iconic Santa Barbara region.

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Photo of oak tree at sunset

2021 Year in Review

What a remarkable year it has been! As we bounced back from the challenges of 2020, we renewed our commitment in 2021 to work harder than ever and closer than ever to continue to fulfill the promises made to our landowner partners, our communities, and our donors who make everything possible. Below is a beautiful snapshot of what can happen when we refuse to let anything hinder progress toward conserving the lands we need and love.

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Meet our Partners: Westervelt Ecological Services

The Westervelt Company is a century-old company dedicated to protecting the land’s resources for future generations. In 2006, the company formed Westervelt Ecological Services (WES) that owns and operates 30,000 acres of land across America to mitigate and plan for habitat for a variety of entities.

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Sardella Ranch: Fighting Fire with Fire

In the summer of 2013, a fire came through the Sardella Ranch. Where most would see devastation, Michael Sardella, owner of the Sardella Ranch in Tuolumne County, saw an opportunity.

Sardella has been a resident of the Sonora area his whole life. Since his family settled onto the ranch in 1957, he has witnessed firsthand the effects that population growth and development have on small towns in America.

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Hye ya Nye Wall ye. Touch the Earth.

Throughout the years and between the birth of six children, numerous state elections, and the welcoming of 14 grandchildren, the Touch the Earth Ranch, located in the hills of Calaveras County, has served as a haven for John and Patricia Garamendi and their family. All who have encountered it have been undoubtedly touched by the ranch’s peaceful serenity and scenic beauty.

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East Sheridan Vernal Pool Preserve: Rainless Resilience

According to USDA’s Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin, the greater Sacramento area saw an average of roughly five inches of rainfall during the early winter and spring months this year, which is down 40% compared to other years. For ranchers like Bret Ellis, owner of the East Sheridan Vernal Pool Preserve, their management of the land relies heavily on the rain season.

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