OLT - Items filtered by date: April 2018

Member Appreciation Weekend is June 22 and June 23. This is earlier than the past couple of years. It will come up quickly so make your plans now. This weekend is for members only, no non-member guests will be admitted. We will waive the capacity limits for this weekend so all members are welcome. For those of you who haven't attended a member appreciation weekend, be aware that there will be more people here than normal. It works well when people move over, make room, and share. We ask that all vehicles park along the road leaving room for people around the pools and cabins. You may drive in to unload. After unloading, park below the Welcome Center and along the road. Enjoy the space that opens when vehicles aren't parked in every available spot. As on other member appreciation weekends, we ask vehicle campers to minimize moving their campers, vans, and RVs.

Tuesday, 08 May 2018 14:39

Fire Ban

The Saguache County Sheriff's Department has all of eastern Saguache County under a fire ban. No campfires anywhere, including the usual evening fire at the Pavilion. Also being enforced is the no smoking outside stipulation. As usual, smoking is allowed only inside your vehicle or at the Smoke Hut. In late April, there was a grass wildfire along County Road GG. Luckily, the wind was mild that day and the volunteer fire department was able to quickly contain and extinguish this fire. A close reminder to be extra careful this year.

Tuesday, 08 May 2018 14:36

Springing Ahead at the Everson Ranch

"The first supermarket supposedly appeared on the American landscape in 1946. That is not very long ago. Until then, where was all the food? Dear folks, the food was in homes, gardens, local fields, and forests. It was near kitchens, near tables, near bedsides. It was in the pantry, the cellar, the backyard."
― Joel Salatin, Folks, This Ain't Normal: A Farmer's Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World

As another summer season begins, we are filled with excitement as the garden and educational programs continue to grow. It wouldn't be possible without the continued support of the OLT Board members, dedicated ranch staff, and the many volunteers that join us each season. We would also like to thank those who came out to the ranch for a tour, worked in the garden, and joined us for a meal. This year alone, we have hosted tours for over 200 guests! It's truly an honor to share our hard work and vision and we're all delighted to continue to see those numbers grow as summer approaches.

On Friday, April 20th, members of the ranch staff attended the AgriSummit in Salida. The day was filled with wonderful workshops, networking with the local food community, and building relationships with people throughout the region. Our gratitude goes out to all the sponsors and supporters of this wonderful event. The evening concluded with a movie presentation of Farmers For America. This wonderful film highlights the challenges facing farmers in the current climate as well as opportunities for change in the future. For example, did you know that half of America's farmland will change hands in the next 12 years? Or that the average age of the American farmer is nearly 60 years old? It was so inspiring to our ranch managers, we've decided to host our own screening! Watch for more details as the summer progresses. Check out the trailer for this inspirational and educational movie here: www.leaveitbetter.com/farmers-for-america

Ranch manager Mike O'Donal strives to be on the front line of education for the next generation of sustainable farmers and ranchers. Mike led most of the tours last year showing visitors the progress and sharing ideas for the future. Cherrye O'Donal organized the Saturday afternoon barbecues and Sunday brunches in an effort to share some of the good food being produced at the ranch. She plans on hosting those again this year. This year, the Saturday barbecue will start at 1:00 pm. For 2018, Brian and Dru Ross, and their son Brook, will be helping with all the work that goes on at the ranch, particularly in the garden.

With the help of the Eiseman Grant, we are able to hire interns each summer and pass along real life skills that are bound to serve students throughout their lives. This program is open to juniors and seniors throughout the San Luis Valley and we're still accepting applications for the 2018 season.

Our volunteer program also continues to grow and we love having the help. Whether you can come for a day or a week, we're always happy to have new faces working the land. If you're interested in learning more, you can find the volunteer applications here: http://www.olt.org/olt/get-involved/volunteer

This April brought the completion of our 80 foot hoop house. Getting the plastic on the hoop house while battling the SLV winds was no small feat! Garden manager Brian is excited about the opportunities this brings to extend our growing season and increase our harvest throughout the year. Memorial Day weekend begins our summer Saturday celebrations, hosting tours and sharing a meal with our guests. Join us May 26th for volunteering in the garden from 9am-1pm, tours of the Ranch at noon and two, and lunch at 1pm.

Sunday mornings will begin at 9am with yoga class taught by Cynthia Nielsen followed by brunch with Cherrye at 10am.

Orient Land Trust has an abundant bird population arriving this month! For those of you who get up early, you may have heard the cacophony of bird song which occurs every year starting in late May. If you've seen the photos at the welcome center and have wondered just how and where they were taken, now is your chance to explore the property with photographer and birdwatcher, Dr. Daniel Flemming. Dan will be leading several workshops at the hot springs and Everson Ranch. Be prepared for short hikes with good walking shoes, water bottle, sunblock and hat. Bring binoculars or cameras with telephoto lens. The workshops are offered at no charge and you can sign up at the Welcome Center.

Sunday, May 13th, 6:30 AM - 10 AM. Meet at the Welcome Center

Sunday, May 27th, 4 PM till dusk. Meet at the Everson Ranch

Monday, May 28th, 6:30 AM - 10 AM. Meet at the Welcome Center

Black-headed Grosbeak, Appletree Pools - Red-Naped Sapsucker, Appletree Pools - Female American Kestrel, Everson Ranch - Cooper's Hawk - Clark's Nutcracker, Main Soaking Pool - Male Evening Grosbeak eating Chokecherries, 6 feet from Appletree Pool - Stellar Jay - Woodhouse Scrub Jay -

A group of OLT volunteers will gather on June 5th and 6th and unite against a common enemy: invasive weeds. A group of about 12 folks will spend 2 days focusing on a few of the most abundant offenders at Valley View Hot Springs.

The weed-pull is organized by the OLT Conservation Committee (CC) and CC members Geneva Mixon, David Mixon, Steve Saban and Matt Johnson will join volunteers from the general membership to make a dent in the number of nasties on the ground at the hot springs. The CC has identified weeds as a priority issue at both Valley View Hot Springs (VVHS) and the Everson Ranch properties. We hope to offer opportunities for individuals to get their hands dirty and volunteer by pulling weeds. Noxious weeds are "non-native invasive plants that displace desirable vegetation and degrade natural and agricultural lands. They threaten our drinking water supply, agricultural crops, pasture lands and native habitats." Most of the weeds we pull are from the state of Colorado's B list. These include Bull Thistle, Houndstongue, and Henbane. The OLT is committed to working on our weed issue without using chemical sprays or weed killers, so volunteer power is critical. Staff is too busy running operations to fight this issue without help.

Many folks who pitched in during last years event mentioned that it felt great to give back and make a difference for the land. We enjoyed getting to know each other, sharing our love for naturism, and our commitment to nurturing the beauty that we get to enjoy at VVHS. Overall everyone agreed that the land and water of OLT nurtures our bodies and feeds our souls, so it is our duty to protect and preserve this resource for others.

There are still a few more volunteers needed for this years workshop. VVHS overnight admission fees and tent camping will be provided for volunteers for June 4 & 5, work will done 8am - 12pm on the 5 & 6. Contact our volunteer coordinator Rosie to sign up. If you can't make the workshop, you may be able to arrange for an individual weed pulling project. Email Rosie at .

Get involved: The CC is one of numerous active committees that are always seeking volunteers. You can contact committee chair and board member Geneva Mixon for more information about the CC at . You can also check out other committees by visiting: http://www.olt.org/olt/people/committees.

OLT Volunteers Make a Difference!

Volunteers helping with weed pull 2017 - Robin Rosenberg

For the education, enjoyment, and well-being of current and future generations, Orient Land Trust: 
promotes a positive clothing-optional experience at all properties including Valley View Hot Springs, Orient Mine and Everson Ranch;
preserves the viewshed, including land acquisition; 
protects natural, wild, agricultural, and historic resources, in the northern San Luis Valley.