Ojai Valley Land Conservancy - Winter Newsletter 2024

OJAI MEADOWS PRESERVE CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF CONSERVATION!

OPEN SPACES

The newsletter of the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Roger Essick President

Sandy Buechley Vice President

Martha Groszewski Treasurer

Stefanie Coeler Secretary

Bret Bradigan

Fiona Hutton

Jerry Maryniuk

Tonya Peralta

Larry Rose

Lu Setnicka

Sarah Sheshunoff

STAFF

Tom Maloney Executive Director

Tania Parker Deputy Director

Brendan Taylor Director of Field Programs

Dan Pizano Operations Director

Vivon Crawford Restoration Program Director

Adam Morrsion Development Manager

Nathan Wickstrum Communications & Outreach Manager

Rhett Walker Grants Manager

Christine Gau Land Protection Specialist

Carrie Drevenstedt Development Database Coordinator

Linda Wilkin Preserve Manager

Sophie McLean Native Plant Specialist

Claire Woolson Rewild Ojai & Volunteer Coordinator

Martin Schenker Restoration Field Crew Manager

Rachel Ray Restoration Field Crew

Silas Bohen Restoration Field Crew

Tyler Willibrand Restoration Field Crew

Keith Brooks Assistant Land Steward

Mission: To protect and restore the natural landscapes of the Ojai Valley forever.

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FROM THE DIRECTOR

This year OVLC celebrates 25 years of work at the Ojai Meadows Preserve! With the dedicated help of hundreds, “the Meadows” has become a jewel of a nature preserve. From those with the foresight to protect the ground, to those who planned the restoration, agency and community funders, the restoration leaders, field crews, and volunteers, it is safe to say that “it took a village” to create a haven in the middle of our community. It is also safe to say that saving and restoring the Meadows spurred OVLC into the organization that it has grown into today.

Since 1934 when Aldo Leopold first identified the concept of “ecosystem services,” ecologists and conservationists have been striving for an immediately recognizable term that would capture all of the societal benefits from conservation. More recently, the lexicon for the beneficial services from nature have gone through many permutations. From flood control and water purification to carbon sequestration and climate regulation, each of these ecosystem services represents a value to invest in…or fail to at our peril.

All of these heady concepts have real bearing to OVLC’s efforts at the Ojai Meadows Preserve. After acquisition, OVLC set about restoring the former wetlands and the ecosystem services they provide. A newer term, “nature-based solutions” has emerged to capture the role of nature in mitigating climate

change. Government agencies and foundations are now recognizing that nature-based solutions are cost effective and sustainable. As long time Valley residents can attest, this was certainly true at the Meadows.

What might have been a mixed-use mall with additional impervious surfaces like pavement and rooftops is now a restored wetland habitat that reduces the threat of flooding along Maricopa Highway. The wetlands attenuate the high floodwaters and provide habitat for ducks, herons, and egrets. The native oaks currently being restored will offer shade and their roots will provide channels through Ojai’s clay soils to enhance groundwater recharge. Additionally, these oaks will support a host of native insects that in turn support birds and the rest of our ecosystem.

So, while the preservation and restoration of the Meadows should be celebrated (as we are in this issue), rest assured that OVLC’s restoration work continues at the Meadows and throughout the Valley. These nature-based solutions will continue to provide ecosystem services as a vital part of the Valley’s natural capital for generations to come.

Tom Maloney, Executive Director

HISTORY OF THE MEADOWS

WITH ART VANDER — OVLC DOCENT & VOLUNTEER

Art Vander’s journey with OVLC began serendipitously in 2003 with the acquisition of the Ventura River Preserve (VRP). Attending the inaugural guided hike of the VRP led by Jim Engel, then Executive Director, ignited Art’s passion for OVLC’s mission. As one of OVLC’s earliest docents, Art has become a cherished figure among our community, and he’s revered throughout the valley as one of Ojai’s Living Treasures for his involvement with several organizations. Renowned for his captivating tours of the Ojai Meadows Preserve (OMP), Art’s expertise brings the preserve’s story to life like no other. As we celebrate 25 years since the acquisition of the OMP, join us for an interview with Art and Preserve Manager Linda Wilkin as they explore the rich history and significance of the Ojai Meadows Preserve.

Hi, Art! Before we jump into talking about OVLC, can you tell me a bit about yourself?

My career was as a physiologist. I knew by my senior year of medical school that I loved physiology and studying how the body works. After my senior year I took a one-year internship in internal medicine in New York City, but I already had a job offer at the University of Michigan, where I went to medical school. I taught at the University of Michigan for thirty-five years. My specialty was kidney function and how they maintain salt and water in the body. I did a lot of work on stress research, infectious disease responses, and so on. During that time, I also wrote a few textbooks, including one on human physiology for undergrads. What was unique about that big textbook is that it required no knowledge of science to comprehend! The book taught chemistry

and physics as it went along. Then I retired, and over the next five years I continued to write textbooks. My three colleagues and I eventually decided that we had enough, as textbook writing required revising every three years. So, we found three other good physiologists to maintain the book. It’s actually on its 18th edition and is still used today. It’s called Vander’s Human Physiology.

In 2000, I decided to go cold turkey and that’s when my life was determined by strange pieces of luck. I am an obsessive collector of travel literature. At the time, my wife Judy and I would take a month every winter to go hiking because we loved it so much. One day I went into my files and found an article from around ten years earlier titled, “Three Luxury Spas in Southern California.” We usually don’t go to spas, luxury or not, but one of them mentioned this little town called Ojai. I told Judy that spas

have to be in beautiful places, and on that basis, we decided we would rent a place in Ojai for a month.

Talk about strange things! When we went on the internet to search for Ojai, the first search result was about contra dancing in Ojai. Many people don’t know what contra dancing is, but Judy and I just adore it. It’s the Americanized version of English country line dancing. The second topic to pop up was hiking in Ojai. The third one, which ended up being false, is Ojai as Shangri-La. The urban myth was that Ojai was used in the film Lost Horizons. Frank Hopper, who was the director, shot in Ojai for about twenty-four hours, but none of the footage ever made it into the film.

My wife Judy is two things: she is a ethnomusicologist (she studied Native American music) and a composer. The Ojai Music Festival was also part of the conspiracy to get us out here. When we first heard there was a music festival, we sort of turned our noses up at it because we thought Ann Arbor would have more visiting world-class classical musicians between the two towns. We said, “What could this little tiny town have to offer?” So, we went over to the office and asked, “Who is coming!?” Well, it turned out it was the Emerson String Quartet, which is one of the greatest string quartets in the world. We were somewhat dumbfounded and we asked, “What are they doing?” and the representative from the festival told us, “They are doing the late Beethoven quartets wrapped around the late Shostakovich quartets,” which might just be our favorite pieces in the world, except for Bach.

In 2001, two weeks into our month-long rental, we bought a house. We just fell completely in love. We called it the conspiracy to get the Vander family to move to Ojai.

Besides music, the thing Judy and I love the most is hiking. We spent most of our summers hiking the Grand Tetons in Jackson, Wyoming. I also love tennis. Maybe another part of the conspiracy is someone introduced me to a tennis group self-named, The Cronies, for old geezers like myself. I am delighted that at ninety I am still playing two to three times a week. But nature, of course, is how I got introduced to OVLC. Anything in the natural world is at the top of our list.

Can you tell me how you first heard about OVLC and how you eventually started volunteering?

That’s another piece of luck! The Ventura River Preserve (VRP) was purchased in 2003. I believe I was on the first guided hike led by Jim Engel. Our newspaper reported that there was going to be a guided hike at the newly purchased preserve. So, I went! I remember asking Jim what could I do to support the organization. At that time, OVLC was just getting organized to start putting

together callouts for volunteers. I, of course, volunteered right away. They had us patrolling the preserve to make sure that everything was okay. I honestly don’t remember when the docent program started, but it certainly started on the VRP well before the Ojai Meadows Preserve (OMP). We did not have any docents at the meadows until around 2007. I always maintained being a docent on both preserves, but my favorite by far was the OMP, because the preserve tells a story. It’s such a wonderful and miraculous story, and I love being able to tell it.

Can you tell me a bit about the history of the OMP?

I love the history of the OMP. One of the first miracles was the fates that the OMP escaped. There are two divisions, or parts, of the OMP. The southern thirty acres or so is within the city, and the twenty-five acres, which was known as Besant Meadows at the time, is in the county. Both of them underwent an incredible number of times in which developers wanted to do something with them. The 1970’s and 80’s were probably among the peak years. There were many, many proposals for big box stores next to big subdivisions. One was for 150 houses next to a huge shopping center! Each of them, for the most part, depended upon changing the zoning rules. So, both the city and the county were able to amass enough support to petition the change in zoning laws, which would not allow for the kind of thing that the

Restoration in progress at the Ojai Meadows Preserve in 2006.

Ojai, and every time it rained, you couldn’t get to it because the highway was completely flooded!

There actually was a drain in place that was supposed to drain water from the highway, and the property across from it, into the OMP. However, this drain was clogged with debris, and the stream itself was completely inundated with plants and strange things like sandbags. It was totally non-functional. The first major operation OVLC took on at the OMP was to completely redo that drain, which is now the stream that runs from the highway into the pond. OVLC also worked with the high school to deal with another completely clogged drain leading from the high school into the preserve. Once that was redone, it became the second source of water flowing into the preserve. Lastly, all of the water from the Taormina housing development, as well as others nearby, were also directed to flow into the pond. So, you now have three entries and one exit out of the Happy Valley Drain for the water to flow. This was all done over many years. Eventually the flow of water was restored to the wetland. It’s so efficient! It is said that if we receive one inch of rain when the pond is empty, that one inch of rain will refill it.

The other important thing that was done early on, around 2004-2007, was a group of experts were brought in. They were experts in hydrodynamics, biology, and ecology, and they planned the initial vision of what steps were going to be taken to create the Ojai Meadows Preserve. The planning and planting still continues, and I think very intelligently. It’s been twenty years now, and it is just amazing. So many people have played an important role in getting the preserve to where it is today.

Can you speak to the significance of restoring the OMP?

First is just the aesthetic of having a nature preserve in the heart of town. I think the public understands it is wonderful to have a nature preserve with native plants, wildlife, and trails. Also, having so many young people from the community getting their hands dirty and working to help restore the land is wonderful.

One value that I think is not always apparent to people who walk on it is the profound effect the preserve has on water purification. All of our water comes from the foothills here and forms what we know as the Ventura River Watershed. A huge portion of that water flows through the preserve and is purified as a result. Flood control is also huge. Things that are invisible to most people were a major reason for purchasing and protecting the land in the first place. This also includes the county’s bioswale, which is located adjacent to the elementary school on Lomita Avenue. Something like eighty percent of the water from Meiners Oaks goes through the bioswale, and that

A flooded Hwy 33 in 2005 prior to the reconstruction of the Maricopa Drain.

Initial grading of the Maricopa Drain began in 2007.

After the Maricopa Drain was reconstructed, water returned to the preserve within a year, and the pond was formed in 2008.

too was put in with the cooperation of OVLC. I think for the City of Ojai, just having such a beautiful restored place in the heart of the valley that’s open to the public is truly a treasure to be appreciated.

Are there observations or specific triumphs in the care of the OMP you have seen since this purchase?

Again, I don’t use the word miracle lightly, but I do consider it one. That’s why I love the place so much. I never would have dreamed it could be restored to the state it is in now. But, you know, it’s not done. There’s a whole lot more to be done in terms of restoration. It’s a miraculous place, and it’s a tribute to the imagination of many people, and the tremendous work of volunteers.

We have Mark Silbernagel to thank for so much that’s happening now with volunteers. It’s a huge effort, but understanding the past energizes me, to know we are building off of such incredible work and a lot of love.

It certainly was a lot of love, and so much more is known now when it comes to restoration.

Tell me about being a docent. Also, I have heard you were OVLC’s first docent. Is this true?

I think I am among the first. I know I was in the first group of docents. I am not sure about being the first, that is, ha-ha. I

Art Vander and his wife, Judy, on a backpack trip in the Himalayas. Mt. Everest looms in the background.

The main pond at the Ojai Meadows Preserve in 2024.

honestly can’t remember when the program started. I think it sort of evolved from the volunteer patrollers. I always enjoyed teaching. I spent my life in the usual academic trio of research, teaching, and administration. The reason I particularly loved being a docent at the OMP was that it was such a wonderful place to go on walks, and I got so much satisfaction from seeing people enjoying their walks. It was also about being able to tell a story. As I’ve mentioned, that’s why I am so fond of the Ojai Meadows Preserve; it has a beautiful story!

My docent trips were focused on the history, the birds, and the plants. There was a man named John Pavelko, and we used to do the guided tours together. He was an excellent birder, and I knew all of the plants then. It’s not just the pleasure of giving the talk, but of having people understand the value of this place. On the surface, you could go to the preserve and walk your dog on a leash for fun. However, upon realizing its contributions to flood control, water purification, and habitat creation for the diverse bird species that returned within just two years after water restoration, its significance becomes apparent. It was just a great joy to get to be a part of that educational activity.

What do you love most about land conservation? What brings you hope or joy?

I am a political junky, and I guess in times of such political despair and anger between people, I think there is still hope for us. People can come together when they are given a chance to understand natural phenomena and the meaning of natural spaces for their own lives. That’s maybe the best way of bringing people together, I hope.

That’s beautiful. I know when I am feeling off or overwhelmed, I just like to get outside.

Yes! Go for a walk! It turns out, coming from a physiologist, there’s no question that walking is the best medicine for everything. Whether you are talking about mental function or physical function, it doesn’t have to be intense exercise. Just walking is wonderful for the brain and the body.

Judy and I have had the luxury over the years of doing a great deal of walking and hiking in beautiful places. But what we have realized living here in Ojai, we have lost our travel bug. I mean, you know the photo of us with Mount Everest, that was an amazing activity, but it’s no better than taking a walk in the Ojai Meadow Preserve or any other OVLC preserve for that matter. Honestly, it’s just being out in nature. It doesn’t have to be something sensational, especially if it’s something that you love doing, like how much I loved being a docent.

Art, thank you so much. I appreciate all you have done over the years for our community. It’s been such a joy talking with you.

In 2007, check dams and erosion netting were installed in the Taormina Drain after the intial grading was completed.

Patagonia volunteers planted cottonwood and sycamore trees along the banks of the Taormina Drain in 2007.

Following years of restoration efforts, the Taormina Drain now flourishes with native habitat. Photo taken in 2015.

OJAI MEADOWS PRESERVE: THEN & NOW

2024

2006

2007

2022

2013

2022

2006

2024

FUND THE BRIDGE

Did you know that the Ventura County drainage canal that splits the Ojai Meadows Preserve in half is called Happy Valley Drain? Despite its name, it’s not a happy experience to cross it. So we want to bridge the gap!

We are only $20,000 away from reaching our fundraising goal.

If you would like to see a bridge here, please help the community achieve our goal and donate today.

Help

make it a happy crossing!

BRIDGING THE GAP AT THE OJAI MEADOWS PRESERVE

Nestled amidst residential areas and surrounded by several schools, the Ojai Meadows Preserve (OMP) stands as OVLC’s most frequented preserve. With a quarter-million annual visitors, the OMP serves as a bustling hub, drawing in hikers, bikers, dog walkers, students, and nature enthusiasts alike. Yet, with thriving activity comes the pressing need for continuous maintenance and care of the preserve’s trails and infrastructure.

This past holiday season, community members rallied to improve the trails, converting the main trail “artery” into a decomposed granite path, which stretches from Highway 33 to Lomita Avenue. This significant upgrade, made possible by the collaborative efforts of the Ojai Valley Lions Club and OVLC volunteers, has proven effective in mitigating muddy trails after storms. However, a gap in the path still exists at Ventura County’s Happy Valley Drain which splits the preserve in two.

For years, traversing the Happy Valley Drain has been akin to dropping into a half-pipe on a skateboard. And when it rains, the drainage serves its purpose of moving stormwater to the Ventura River, but it also becomes completely impassable. Acknowledged in management plans, the need for a bridge over this obstacle has only intensified with the preserve’s inundation during recent winter rains. The advocacy of individuals like Mike Krumpschmidt,

who played a pivotal role in the preserve’s protection 25 years ago, have been instrumental in advancing this project.

The construction of the bridge is scheduled for the upcoming summer, but funding remains a critical factor in realizing this vision. With grant funding from the California Natural Resource Agency, Trails and Greenways Grant, and significant private donations, we are on the verge of reaching our $500,000 goal for the bridge and trail improvement project.

We are just $20,000 away from bridging the gap!

Your support is crucial to ensure the realization of this essential bridge and trail improvement project. Not only will it facilitate seamless passage through the preserve, but it will also establish an endowment for its ongoing maintenance and care.

Your donation today guarantees the protection and sustainability of this beloved community resource. Join us in making the Ojai Meadows Preserve more accessible and resilient for generations to come. Donate today to help us bridge the gap: ovlc.org/bridge

Brendan Taylor, Director of Field Programs

SATURDAY, APRIL 27 9AM-3PM

Join us for our first annual Rewild Ojai Native Garden Tour featuring 10 superb native plant gardens across the Ojai Valley. From formal gardens to wildflower meadows, see what your neighbors are planting and get inspired!

TICKETS ON SALE AT OVLC.ORG

ABOUT THE REWILD OJAI

NATIVE GARDEN TOUR

• Tour 10 native plant gardens around the Ojai Valley to get ideas for how you can create thriving habitats in your own garden.

• Before the start of the tour, you will receive a Rewild Ojai Native Garden Tour booklet, including the tour map, info about the gardens, how to care for native plants, and much more!

• Each location will have a knowledgeable docent to answer your questions about the gardens.

• Connect with fellow gardeners and nature enthusiasts. Share experiences and contribute to a greener, more sustainable Ojai Valley.

JOIN US AT BIRDSONG RANCH

At the end of your tour join us at Birdsong Ranch, open from 11am to 3pm. There will be spirits provided by our sponsor, Ventura Spirits, as well as a food truck, birdwatching, and, of course, an exemplary native plant garden.

WHY REWILD YOUR GARDEN?

• Rewild Ojai celebrates the vital role of native plants in the local ecosystems, promoting biodiversity and resilience.

• In Ojai we have around 200 bird species, 64 bee species, and 168 moth and butterfly species, all of which depend on native plants for survival.

• Creating habitat in your garden will connect you to surrounding wild landscapes and increases the likelihood of survival for precious local fauna.

• Learn more about how you can rewild your garden today by visiting our website at rewildojai.org

SPRING NATIVE PLANT SALES

BUYPLANTSONLINE &IN-PERSON!

MARCH 19

OVLC Online Store Pickup at OVLC Nursery

MAY 4

In-Person OVLC Nursery

9am-12pm

This year, the Spring Native Plant Sale will take place both online and in-person. We are offering the convenience of online shopping from March 19 to April 3. Browse our selection of native species and order from the comfort of your home. Then pick up your purchases on either March 30 or April 3. For those who prefer in-person shopping, we will host a sale on May 4 at the OVLC Nursery. Swing by for all of your rewilding needs!

SAVE THE DATES! SHOP ONLINE AT OVLC.ORG

IT’S UNBE LEAF ABLE! RANUNCULUS CALIFORNICUS

A LOVE LETTER TO COMMON BUTTERCUP, THE EARLY SPRING GREENHOUSE

On a cloudy spring morning, warmth is hard to come by. Longer days awaken our solitary bees from their winter sleep, but cold mornings make it hard to move. And yet, rays of warmth can still be found between the grasslands, on the corners of oak dappled shade where the California buttercup hides.

The flower, a bright yellow cup of gold, sits on a crown of five green reflexed sepals. From a bed of deeply lobed basal leaves, the cups shoot upward, gleaming above their fellow grasses or herbs. This smiling yellow is an early spring beacon—that calls the insects towards it. However, it is more than just the color that attracts the bees. On the surface of the petal, if you catch it just right, it will sheen a flash of light. The cup, like solar panels, reflects warmth inwards. The petals, filled with reflective pigment, radiate the sunlight towards its center. The flower can be upwards of a few degrees warmer—imperative for not just insects but for pollen grains to loosen onto bees’ knees.

I know spring is coming when the buttercups, dormant for the summer, pop up in February.

Sophie McLean, Native Plant Specialist

NURSERY UPDATE

THE THOUGHTFUL PLANNING OF SEED GERMINATION

Every sowing season brings something new—new observations, insights, and revelations. In fall, summer seed is sown, feathered lightly over germination mix with gentle and even swaths. I never count the chickens before the eggs hatch; make promises of life I cannot keep. At the end of the day, the decision is up to the seed. So, our nursery team asks, politely, in the right balance of temperature and water, for them to wake up.

I learn a lot from seed germination, soaking in all the information I need to know. I observe how the cotyledons develop, how many unfurl over a certain timeline, how uniform they appear, and how quickly the true leaves emerge. I look at the roots, the percent germination, and the color of the young plants. We have sown seventy plus species and counting, all for our retail and restoration endeavors. Each of these species have their own code—an evolutionary lock and key. I learn the individual’s personality, their water, soil, sun requirements, all to give the seed exactly what it needs.

Many nurseries do not dive this deeply into seed production— they try to mix in cuttings and other forms of propagation.

But the unique goals of our production make this complicated and sacred process of seed germination at the forefront of our practices. In habitat restoration, we are responsible for establishing populations of plant families. This opens up genetic dynamics within each individual plant, the population as a whole, and how it relates to other populations around it. If collected properly, 95% of the entire genetic variation can be gathered from the seed of one healthy and large population. This information does not only hold everything the plant needs to know to survive (genetic code), but how to thrive in the microclimate its predecessors are from (genetic expression). From spring to fall, flower to seed, there is thoughtful planning.

The planning is then relinquished to the seed, endosperm tucked beneath the thick seed coat. We wait for the spontaneous and joyful day, when a seed tray bursts with life.

Sophie McLean, Native Plant Specialist

Nursery interns Laurence and Celeste are hard at work!

STAFF AND BOARD CHANGES

WELCOME JERRY MARYNIUK, BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jerry hails from Michigan but fell in love with California when he came here to complete his Emergency Medicine residency training at USC. After his training, he worked for over 30 years in the Emergency Department at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura. Enjoying almost any activity that involves being outdoors led him to join and become the Medical Director of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Medical Team, which staffs the Sheriff’s helicopter. After retirement, he continues to be an avid cyclist, hiker, skier, and bird watcher. Jerry’s love of hiking, mountain biking, and backpacking introduced him to our various habitats and taught him the importance of preserving these lands in perpetuity. His volunteer trail work taught him the complexity involved in maintaining these trails and the importance of balancing recreation with preservation. Jerry is a passionate advocate for continually improving the excellent stewardship of OVLC lands and in supporting the organization’s goals of land preservation within the context of our changing climate.

BRET BRADIGAN RETURNS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Welcome back, Bret Bradigan! As editor and owner of Ojai Quarterly and Ojai Monthly, Bret brings rich experience and deep community ties. With a diverse background spanning from gathering herbs in New York to journalism in various publications, including the Kern Valley Sun and Ojai Valley News, Bret boasts a remarkable track record. His leadership at Ojai Quarterly has garnered national and statewide accolades, showcasing Ojai’s culture and global ties. Beyond journalism, Bret is an avid outdoorsman and active community member, with involvement in organizations like the Rotary Club of Ojai and Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce. We’re excited to have Bret’s expertise and passion back on the board, driving our mission forward.

BOARD MEMBERS TERMING OFF

As Bill Brothers and Phil Moncharsh conclude their terms on the board, we extend our sincerest appreciation for their dedicated service and invaluable contributions over the years. Their guidance and commitment have been instrumental in advancing our organization’s mission. Thank you Bill and Phil!

Phil Moncharsh

Bill Brothers

RHETT WALKER PROMOTED TO GRANTS MANAGER

We are thrilled to announce that Rhett Walker has been promoted to the position of Grants Manager! With this promotion, we want to recognize the incredible contributions Rhett has made to all of OVLC’s programs—from his formative days caring for restoration sites as a Field Crew Member, to more recently supporting our wonderful volunteers and docents in his successive role as Development Associate. During his time as Development Associate, Rhett played a critical role in planning a diverse array of volunteer opportunities and events, helping schools arrange student service days, helping plan events, and reporting on restoration grants to government agencies, which is where Rhett’s strengths truly shine. We are so grateful for all Rhett’s work thus far, and we can’t wait to see what he will achieve in this new role!

WELCOME CLAIRE WOOLSON, REWILD OJAI & VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

We’re excited to introduce Claire Woolson, our new Rewild Ojai & Volunteer Coordinator! Claire’s conservation journey began right here in Ojai, where she planted native trees and shrubs at the Ojai Meadow Preserve as a Girl Scout. With a background in Human Biology and Global Health from UCLA, and her experiences teaching abroad in Japan, Claire brings a unique blend of local insight and global perspective to OVLC. In her role, Claire will be coordinating our Rewild Ojai efforts, focusing on promoting native flora in our community’s landscapes. Additionally, she will be facilitating all volunteer efforts. With Claire’s coordination, we aim to harness the power of community engagement to further our conservation goals, from maintaining our trails to restoring our natural habitats and working with the community to rewild their gardens. Join us in welcoming Claire as she begins this important work with us!

WELCOME TYLER WILLIBRAND, RESTORATION FIELD CREW

This past month OVLC’s restoration team has had the pleasure of welcoming aboard our newest member, Tyler Willibrand! His passion and experience in working around native ecosystems has seamlessly translated positive influence to the efforts of restoring the Ojai Valley’s conglomerate of riparian, upland and urban sites. Tyler brings a unique lens to our team and is refining the ways we think about our sites in terms of understanding wildlife diversity and how we can implement strategic action to improve the suitability for wildlife. From the smallest tracks along the silted streambed to listening carefully to bird calls, Tyler’s connectedness to the environment propels us forward into new facets of restoration!

WELCOME NEW DONORS!

Aileen Scibetta

Antonin Guttman

Barbara Zerbe

Brad & Shawn

Steward

Cara Bonewitz

Catherine Weisz

Celine Paganini

Charles See

Chris Mueller

Christopher Battey

Clarke Blauer

Dagoberto Ojeda

Dan & Laurie Pearl

Dave Stone

Debra & Craig Walker

Edward Schenker

Florian Liebenstein

Greta Heinemann

Holly LaRue

Jessica Mann

John Brooks

Katie Seitz

Katrina Landis

Kaylee Griffith

Kelly Page

Laura Frances Merin

Laurie Morton

Lawrence Broida

Leonard Nunney

Marijo See

Marisol Lewis

Matthew Yohn

Michael & Ramelle

Pulitzer

Michael Ethier

Paul Hughes

Peter Mansuripur

Rebecca Bonneville

Richard Kaller

Robert Delaney

Robin & David Satnick

Rosecrans Baldwin

Ruby Cossairt

Sarah Files

Shady Hakim

Stephen Murray

Yvonne Wilber

From: 10/4/23-2/16/24

Betsy Vanleit

John Snyder

Mike Rugo

Scott Nelson

**Volunteer hours since 10/1/2018

UPCOMING EVENTS

ALL ABOUT OJAI: PHOTOGRAPHY WITH CHUCK GRAHAM

APRIL 17

Join us on April 17 for an evening with local photographer Chuck Graham. From Carrizo Plain to the Channel Islands, Chuck’s captivating stories and photographs have been featured in prestigious publications like Backpacker, Outdoor Photographer, and National Geographic for Kids. Don’t miss this chance to hear Chuck share his unique perspective on the region’s natural wonders and his passionate advocacy for conservation efforts.

FLORA & GEOLOGY WALK WITH OVLC’S SOPHIE & MARTIN APRIL 20

Explore the intricate connection between native flora and regional geology on March 20 with OVLC staff members. Restoration Field Crew Manager Martin Schenker and Native Plant Specialist Sophie McLean will share their in-depth knowledge of our native flora and geology. On this guided walk at one of our preserves, you will gain insight into the fascinating relationship between plants and the landscape.

RATTLESNAKE AVOIDANCE TRAINING FOR DOGS

MAY 18-19

Snake season is all-year-round in Ojai! OVLC is hosting the Rattlesnake Avoidance Training for Dogs on May 18 and 19 so you can take your dog outdoors with peace of mind. Appointments open up one month before the training. To save the date and learn more about this incredibly popular event, please visit ovlc.org/rattlesnaketraining

NATIONAL TRAILS DAY JUNE

1

OVLC is hosting National Trails Day® on June 1. This is the perfect opportunity to get out in nature with the people you love and give back to the trails that bring us together. National Trails Day® volunteer projects are fit for all ages and skill levels. We encourage you to invite the whole family! In the afternoon, we are hosting a Volunteer Appreciation Pool Party to celebrate all of our wonderful volunteers. Save the date!

VENTURA RIVER SPONSORS

Las Palmas de Ojai

OJAI MEADOWS SPONSORS

Lorraine Lim Catering, Inc

Patagonia

Topa Topa Brewing Company

STEELHEAD SPONSORS

High on Kennels

Ojai Valley Inn

The MOB Shop

SAN ANTONIO CREEK SPONSORS

Aqua-Flo Supply

BANDITS Bandanas

E3

The Glass Man Professional Window

Washing Company, Inc.

Herring Law Group

Tonya Peralta Real Estate Team

PARKWAY SPONSORS

Alpha Stone Inc.

Firestick Pottery

Jim and Rob’s Fresh Grill

Kerry Miller Designer & Builder, Inc.

Latitudes Gallery

Laughing Dog Ranch LLC

McDaniel Insurance Services

Meiners Oaks Ace Hardware

Move Sanctuary

Ojai Valley Trail Riding Company

Pastel Society of the Gold Coast

SC&A Insurance Services LLC

Stay Wild Ventures

Swanner Physical Therapy

Tobias Parker - General Contractor

West Coast Air Conditioning

Shelter

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

IN MEMORY OF

Allan Jacobs

from Ross & Patty Atkinson

Becky Lowe

from Chuck Journey

Chauncey

We are so sorry for your loss. from Throughline

Clive Leeman

May the memories of your dad live on through his love of poetry, family and nature.

from Kellie Berry

For Clive, who found inspiration and beauty in the Wilderness from Sara Chandler

from Carol Garramone, Ronald & Linda Phillips, Terry & Cricket

Twichell

Cookie Miley

from Bill and Dan Miley

David Kille

from James & Shannon Frew

David Nakada

from Elden Caldwell, Allan & Carol Gross, Patti Kimura

Deborah Coltrin

from Kristin Conner

Donald A. Lucas

Don’s spirit continues to join me every day on my trails. I love him and miss him so much, and I love the family he created so much.

from Cristina Lucas

Dottie Combs

In memory of Dottie Combs. She and her husband Jim were ardent supporters of many organizations in the Ojai Valley, and the Land Conservancy was one of their favorites. She will be greatly missed. from Jesse & Trina Grantham

Egon and Kay Ruf

from Kevin & Asli Ruf

Ellen Hall

from Karen Hall

Hugo Ekback

from Linda & Boris Chaloupsky

John Broesamle

from Kathy Broesamle, Jill & Bill Shanbrom, Debra Reed, Chris & Anna P. Rhoda

A salute to John Broesamle who made such a difference in many of our lives and organizations. from John & Peggy Russell

Maia

from David Buehrens & Susan Draffan

Michael Chambliss

from Patrick Miller

Pamela J. Windsor

To honor the memory of Pamela J. Windsor. Walking in the Ojai Meadows Preserve was one of her favorite things to do, and she did so daily until the very end.

from Jay Windsor

Priscilla Archibald

from Ann & Harry Oppenheimer

My life was made better by having the honor to know Priscilla Archibald, if only for a few years. Thank you, Priscilla, for being my Flannel Friend.

from Judith Jamison

Sir Winston from Anonymous

Steve Meier

Steve grew up in the Ojai valley and shared this beautiful place with his family during many mountain bike rides and hikes. Our children will always have these memories, and a special place to go to remember their Dad, who left us much too early.

from Deanna Meier

Tom MacCalla

from Jean Kilmurray

Zachary “Zee” W Griffin IV

In Memory of Zee, a sweet, dear young man.

from Iwona Marinucci, Alison Wood, Adam Cain, Alina de Albergaria, April Duncan, Brandy

Laird, Carl Welch, Darcie George, Edye Wolfe, Gaea Cannaday, Heather D Coleman, Hilary Garland, Jessica McCrea, Joanna Barnes, Julie Hahn, Kara & Jeff Hooper, Leslie Harris, Leslie Harris, Matthew & Ann Inman, Oak Grove School, Randy Atkinson, Shandon Woll, Wendy Tremiti, William & Kathryne Garland

IN HONOR OF

Alex Perry

from Mark Kalmanczhelyi

Amos & Rita Dyson

Merry Christmas!

from Eric Dyson

Andrew Cornish

from Shelley & Keven Cornish

Becky Lowe

from Amy Shapiro

Bill Miley

Happy Giving Tuesday!

from Dan Miley

Chandler Hartnett from Charmaine Hartnett

Evan Sharp family from Leslie Burns

John and Kathy Broesamle

Dad’s memory is alive in all the lands that you worked together and with other selfless people to save - every trail, acre, stream, wetland, and wildlife carries his (and your) legacy. I’m so grateful for a father who gave so selflessly, and who is so deeply revered and admired in the Ojai Valley. Thank you, Mom, for all that you did to support the effort —you were the silent partner who did much to make all of these things happen for our community. Moonlight on the Meadow memories!

from Carolyn & Gil Vondriska

OVLC is proud to dedicate a trail in recognition of John and Kathy Broesamle. As a tribute to their legacy, the Fox Canyon Trail will now bear the name John’s Fox Canyon Trail.

Judy Mercer

Love you Grandma! Merry Christmas from Lila Mercer

Megan Kenney

Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2024! Very proud of you. from Kathy Kenney

Michele Briley

A gift for mom who we love and miss and who cherished our home, our nest, Ojai from Kat & Dan Romo

Mike Mahon & Emily See Merry, Merry! from Suzi & Larry See

Pamela Barry

To my sister who helped instill in me a love of nature and the outdoors from John Horne

Shani Darden

Protecting greenspace & wildlife in my hometown. from Erika Stalder

Susie Williams

Merry Christmas to a fellow open space lover. from Steve, Lisa, Sean and Amy

Tobias Parker

Thank you Tania and Tobias! from Michelle Gaston

Tom & Lydia Bishop from Melissa Bishop

Vincent John & Mollie Mayor from Brendan Taylor

Acknowledgments: 10/2/23-2/16/24

Join us for our first annual Rewild Ojai Native Garden Tour featuring 10 superb native plant gardens across the Ojai Valley. From formal gardens to wildflower meadows, see what your neighbors are planting and get inspired!