Meet LandPaths - Sharing Our Love Of Nature Every Step Of The Way

Hot on the heals of last weeks updates on Bayer Farm we got an email this morning about a AARP/KQED program that features the great work being done. Sonoma County Supervisor Valerie Brown talks about the actions the county is taking to transition health from a focus on sickness and disease to wellness and health.

You can jump to about 4:45 into the video to see the Sonoma County specific portion which features Bayer Farm. We want to thank the "Inside E Street" crew for coming out and showing how a focus on community and health can create amazing places.

    Ivan Chang is an indispensable volunteer for us here at LandPaths, and we appreciate all the ways in which he embraces and enhances our mission and community!  In the video below you have the opportunity to see him in action as the lead coordinator for the Summer Free Lunch Program, held at Bayer Farm throughout the summer in partnership with the Redwood Empire Food Bank and St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Services Department.  In it he talks about how he came to LandPaths, his interest in volunteering and his future goals, and also highlights some of the great aspects of this incredible program that is held five days a week all summer long at Bayer Farm!

    What there isn’t room to highlight in the video is all of the other ways in which Ivan supports LandPaths and the community by getting involved and – in the mark of a true leader – bringing others in to get involved as well.  It has been a true pleasure to work with this dynamic young man.  He doesn’t just volunteer, he brings others to volunteer with him.  He doesn’t just show up, he pitches in.  And he never is content to sit on his laurels, but is always looking for the next experience or challenge to tackle.  His volunteer work with LandPaths is extensive, ranging from coordinating teens on projects at Bayer Farm to serving on the Bayer Farm Park Planning Steering Committee, from helping with outreach and day-of logistics for Spanish-language Taylor Mountain Permit Orientations to helping to lead a campout in the pouring rain, and always with a sense of humor.  He is currently taking a week off of work to attend a National Leadership Training held by Gamaliel International, a community organizing foundation that we at LandPaths are affiliated with as part of the North Bay Organizing Project, in order to expand his skills and effectiveness at community organizing even further.

    We could not be more proud of this incredible volunteer, or more thrilled to have our work be one of his outlets for building a stronger community!  Thank you Ivan, for your help, your wisdom, your wit and your time.  Your impact on LandPaths, and the community at large, is significant and valued tremendously!

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   El joven Ivan Chang es un voluntario indispensable para nosotros aquí en LandPaths, y ¡le agradecemos por todas las maneras en que sus acciones personifican y aumentan nuestra misión y comunidad!  En el video que sale abajo, usted tiene la oportunidad de verlo en acción como el coordinador principal para el Programa de Almuerzos Gratis del Verano, que se realiza en Bayer Farm durante todo el verano, en sociedad con el Redwood Empire Food Bank y St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Services Department.  En el video Ivan habla sobre como llegó a nosotros en LandPaths, su interés en el voluntariado y sus metas futuras y también destaca algunas de los aspectos claves de este programa increíble que ¡toma lugar en Bayer Farm cinco días de la semana por todo el verano!

    Lo que no alcanza a incluir en el video son todas las otras maneras en que Ivan apoya a LandPaths y a la comunidad a través de involucrarse y – como hace un verdadero líder – llevar a otros para poder involucrarse también.  Ha sido un verdadero placer a trabajar con este joven dinámico.  No sólo se hace voluntario, lleva otros a ayudar también.  No sólo llega, pero es siempre echando una mano.  Y él nunca se siente satisfecho con lo que ya ha hecho, más bien es siempre en busca de la próxima experiencia o reto para enfrentar.  Sus trabajos voluntarios con LandPaths son extensos, extendiendo de ayudando a jóvenes con proyectos en Bayer Farm a sirviendo en la mesa directiva para la planificación del parque, de apoyando con el alcance y realización de una orientación para Taylor Mountain en español a ayudando con un campamento en la plena lluvia, y siempre con un sentido de humor.  Actualmente está tomando un descanso de su trabajo por una semana entera para asistir a un Entrenamiento de Liderazgo Nacional con Gamaliel Internacional, una fundación que se dedica a la organización de comunidades, y con quienes estamos afiliados a través del Proyecto Organizativo del Norte de la Bahia, para poder amplificar aun más sus habilidades y potencial para organizar en la comunidad.

    No podríamos sentir más orgullo de este voluntario increíble, o sentir más entusiasmados a que nuestro trabajo sirve como manera para que él pueda construir una comunidad más fuerte.  Gracias Ivan, por tu apoyo, tu sabiduría, tu humor y tu tiempo.  ¡Tu impacto en LandPaths, y en toda la comunidad, es significante y de gran valor!

It is summer again at Bayer Farm and we are once again thrilled to have awesome volunteer-run programs in partnership with great fellow community-serving organizations!

One example is the amazing new resource installed at Bayer by the Sonoma County Free Bookmobile, a mobile library stocked full of books!!  This mobile library is on a long-term loan from SCFB and is an amazing resource that is now available to our community.  We hope you will visit their website http://www.sonomacountybookmobile.org/ and help them out with their new matching grant!

We agree with ED Glen Weaver who states, “We are just thrilled that the families in this low-income neighborhood will have continual access to high quality free books, and that this long-term loan of facilities will essentially double our presence in the county.  It helps address one of the most serious problems created by recent cuts to education: access to literacy materials.  The Free Bookmobile will continue to seek creative solutions to this problem, and we welcome your support.” Thanks Sonoma County Free Bookmobile, the kids really love their new books!!

By working in collaboration with partner organizations we are able to maximize our impact!  None of it could happen, though, without the dedication of our amazing community volunteers.  Although too numerous to list here individually, our volunteers are amazing people who find time to make the world a better place for themselves and their neighbors by volunteering at LandPaths’ Bayer Farm.  We are so thankful for their participation and dedication to all that is positive and wonderful in the world!!

We would like to also thank partner organizations St. Joseph’s www.stjosephhealth.org/Services/Community-Outreach-Programs and Redwood Empire Food Bank www.refb.org for their work with the Free Lunch Program – we are honored to once again host the program at Bayer Farm and to amplify all of our impact by working together.  The coordination and delivery of the hot lunches to the children of the Roseland neighborhood by REFB, coupled with the volunteer support and coordination offered by the Neighborhood Care Staff of St. Joseph’s, makes this program stable and effective, and allows us at LandPaths to work with volunteers to program garden and outdoor activities that offer enrichment, education, access to open space, and community building.

Here’s to another summer of community, the outdoors, gardening, fun and health!!

By Jesse Froehlich, AmeriCorps Member 2010-2011, Conservation Corps North Bay

As the summer approaches and my AmeriCorps term with LandPaths' Bayer Farm Neighborhood Park & Gardens comes to and end, it's time to reflect and share my experiences with the greater LandPaths community.

It's been a year of learning in the garden, both for me and for the student's I've worked with! My assignment for the year was to work with LandPaths to increase the educational use of Bayer Farm.

Bayer Farm is a 6-acre gem in the heart of Roseland (southwest Santa Rosa), situated within walking distance of three schools. The farm blossoms and blooms in living color throughout the summer and fall, and boasts a stunning view of Taylor Mountain Open Space Preserve, another Sonoma County treasure that is accessible to the public because of LandPaths' programs.

With research to show that outdoor learning environments benefit students with increased amounts of physical activity, a greater ability to focus, and a heightened awareness of the wonders of nature and the value of stewardship, Bayer Farm is just screaming for students to hop across the street and visit!

Throughout the year I hosted classrooms, pre-school groups, and after-school programs at Bayer Farm to enjoy tours, planting, farm-fresh snacks, and other activities at the farm. My flagship project for the year-and the piece that will live on after my term with Bayer Farm ends-was the design and development of the Bayer Farm Independent Visit Program. This new program allows educators in the community to bring groups of kids to the farm as their own schedules permit, and chose from 20+ farm-based educational activities (all bilingual!), covering life sciences, math, arts & humanities, and observation & exploration.

In the last month of my term, I have been completing the activity packages and hosting orientation sessions to certify teachers for the Bayer Farm Independent Visit Program. I'll be excited to hear about the impacts of this program in the community!

The experience was made possible by a partnership between LandPaths and Conservation Corps North Bay (CCNB). CCNB hosts 22 AmeriCorps members each year, and disseminates them (us!) to environmental agencies (public and non-profit) throughout Marin and Sonoma counties. All CCNB AmeriCorps members work in the fields of land conservation and restoration, volunteer management, and environmental education.

Hello from Bayer Farm in Roseland!

The farm is beginning to bloom and liveliness in the garden will continue to increase throughout the summer and into late fall. To get the most out of this beautiful 6-acre Farm-Park in Roseland (southwest Santa Rosa), we are launching a new program for teachers and students!

LANDPATHS' BAYER FARM INDEPENDENT VISIT PROGRAM!!!

Our Independent Visit Program will give teachers access to over 20 pre-prepared farm-based activities, materials included! Our activities are bilingual, and appropriate for pre-school through high-school aged students.

Bayer Farm's activities include:

· LIFE SCIENCES: including plant anatomy and a three-part pollinator series

· MATH: estimating, ratios, geometry, graphing and more

· OBSERVATION & EXPLORATION: a variety of creative hunt-type activities

· ARTS & HUMANTITIES: because we all know nature inspires creativity!

To participate in LandPaths' Bayer Farm Independent Visit Program, teachers must RSVP to jesse@landpaths.org for one of the following orientation dates:

• Tuesday, May 24, 3:30 - 5:00pm, Bayer Farm (1550 West Ave., Roseland)

• Thursday, May 26, 3:30 - 5:00pm, Bayer Farm (1550 West Ave., Roseland)

Please encourage your children's teachers to get trained so that your kids can benefit from this beautiful, bountiful outdoor educational resource!

  Wow, what a rainy weekend!! Good thing Magdalena and the Bayer Farm Youth Leadership Team aren't scared by a little bit of torrential downpour and high wind advisories, because they spent last weekend (March 19-20) camping in the Presidio with 120+ other participants as part of the Backyard Bound Youth Summit!!
   This summit, facilitated by the Inspiring Young Emerging Leaders (I-YEL interns) of the Crissy Field Center in San Francisco, was centered on reconnecting youth back to the parks and outdoors. We were so excited to have the opportunity to join with youth from around the Bay Area to talk about barriers to park participation, learn about environmental justice, experience outdoor adventures such as a scavenger hunt, ropes course, wildflower walk and wilderness survival training, and eat s'mores and hear scary stories at night before playing games and having an impromptu dance party!
   The intense weather was just part of the fun! As a matter of fact 3 out of 9 youth agree that the very best part of the trip was the crazy weather. Yes, the tents blowing away, the moving of campsites to avoid potential falling trees, a power outage, screaming winds overhead, and the totally soaked clothes, shoes, tents, packs and coats all translated in the teenage mind into just one more exciting thing to experience on this road called life. It just goes to show that nature and teens have at least one beautiful thing in common - indomitable spirit!

  ~~~Check out our pictures from the trip!~~~ 

  We would like to thank the Crissy Field Center and I-YEL for hosting us, our super great longtime Bayer Farm Volunteer and Youth Leader Ivan Chang for co-chaperoning, REI for funding LandPaths' work on this trip, and Sunrise Rotary for their work with the Elsie Allen Interact Club from which we have recruited so many Youth Leaders!

¡El Bayer Farm de LandPaths es un sitio donde la naturaleza y la ciudad se encuentran!

Ubicado en el corazón del vecindario Roseland, todos nuestros programas son bilingües.  Con programas educacionales, un jardín comunitario, actividades para la comunidad y oportunidades para hacer voluntario, es un lugar positivo donde miembros de la comunidad pueden convivir y divertir de un lugar de naturaleza muy cerca al hogar.  Es un buen sitio para ir con la familia para un picnic o jugar al aire libre o igual para descansarse un rato a solas, tomando la vista.

¡Tenemos oportuidades para los jóvenes quienes tienen que cumplir con sus horas de servicio comunitario!

 Para más información sobre nuestros programas o los eventos especiales:  707-544-7284 x11 o Magdalena@LandPaths.org

El Bayer Farm es ubicado al 1550 Avenida West en la vecindad de Roseland, en Santa Rosa. (Enfrente de la Escuela Sheppard)

Horario para hacer voluntario:  **NOTE POR FAVOR: Los tiempos de voluntario de Bayer Farm estarán temporalmente suspendidos por el resto de diciembre y todo el enero***

Los martes y viernes de 3-6pm

Cada tercer sábado de 9am-12mediodía

Durante estas horas estaremos trabajando con voluntarios en el jardín y todo el público pueda ayudar si les guste. Los niños son bienvenidos y puedan ayudar también o ir a jugar en las áreas naturales de juego. Las bicicletas, los papalotes y jugar con pelotas son actividades bienvenidas. Hay donde caminar y unas mesas de picnic también. 

 

Bayer Farm, an urban example of LandPaths' People Powered Parks model, is a hopping, vibrant environment that buzzes and blooms year-round, but if there's ever a time for community farmers to take a break, it's the winter!

Here at LandPaths, the Bayer Farm staff took the opportunity to "take a hike" and visit some other exciting projects in the Bay Area. Magdalena Ridley (Bayer Farm Project Coordinator), Jonathan Bravo (Bayer Farm Garden Coordinator), and Jesse Froehlich (Bayer Farm Educational Program Assistant) hit the road one beautiful sunny January day to check out what's going on with some of our friends and contemporaries!

On the road - it's LandPaths' Bayer Farm crew! From left to right, Jesse Froehlich, Magdalena Ridley, and Jonathan Bravo.

The first stop was Slide Ranch in Muir Beach, where director Charles Higgins took us on a tour of this breathtaking outdoor education site overlooking the glittering Pacific Ocean. As we visited chickens, relaxed in the dome house, and meandered the gardens, Charles showed us examples of sustainable construction and shared powerful stories of the classroom visits that take place at the ranch. For more information on this great place, visit http://www.slideranch.org

Just another day at the office for Slide Ranch's Executive Director, Charles Higgins.

Then we swept off across the Golden Gate Bridge to San Francisco's Crissy Field Center where we were welcomed by Youth Leadership Program Manager, Ernesto Pepito. We were blown away by the live learning labs overlooking the bay, and Ernesto's tales of a curriculum where youth design their own program from the ground up. Ernesto himself is living proof of the program's success as a former youth-participant-turned-program-manager. Read on for more details! http://www.parksconservancy.org/our-work/crissy/about/

Check out the backdrop behind Crissy Field Center's Ernesto Pepito as he hangs out in one of the Center's learning labs.

We continued our southward journey through the city, ending our day with Tracy Zhu, Program Manager for the Literacy for Environmental Justice (LEJ) EcoCenter in San Francisco's Bayview Hunter's Point neighborhood. Tracy shared the vision for environmental justice that LEJ promotes (see their website for more details: http://www.lejyouth.org), and then showed us around the brand new EcoCenter-a true showcase for sustainable design, complete with a green roof, rainwater catchment and greywater systems, restored wetlands, and living machine (a real-life, living-breathing wastewater treatment system!). Read more about the EcoCenter here: http://ecocenterheronshead.blogspot.com/  

This "garden" behind LEJ's Tracy Zhu is actually processing the EcoCenter's waste water! 

We returned to Sonoma County refreshed and rejuvenated, and full of great ideas for the gardens, educational features, and youth programs at Bayer Farm. We would like to express our incredible gratitude to our hosts for taking the time out of their busy days to show us around and share inspiration and best practices, and we can't wait to return the favor.

As we continue to improve and refine the dynamic programs at Bayer Farm we are privileged to do so with our generous hosts in mind.  In the great words of Wendell Berry, "It is not from ourselves that we learn to be better than we are." Here's hoping we can all inspire each other to be better in 2011!

For more information about LandPaths' Bayer Farm or our field trip, give us a call at 544-7284 x11 or send Magdalena an email at Magdalena@LandPaths.org

(Thanks to the intrepid Jesse for writing the majority of this blog entry!)

 

 

Happy Holidays!  We wanted to let you know about a fantastic way to raise funds for LandPaths - at no cost to you!! 

REI Santa Rosa just announced they are now giving $50 to LandPaths for each check in. They need to give away $100,000 nationwide by the end of 2010.  With your help, we can put Santa Rosa on the map by claiming as much of that prize as possible!!

Just announced!  LandPaths will pay you $10 for every "check in".  Email jonathan@landpaths.org for details on how to claim your free $$.

Here are 10 ways you can help LandPaths meet our 2010 goals:

1. Get a smartphone (borrow from your friends or family if you have to) and go to (or near) REI

2. Check in at REI Santa Rosa and LandPaths gets $50 at no cost to you (See:http://bit.ly/fRqflj for detailed instructions and read below)

3. Check in again tomorrow (you can check in once per day!(sorry, we just learned that you can only check in again if you use a different facebook account.

4. Tell your friends and family (post on Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

5. Volunteer - please let us know if you would be willing to take a shift at the REI storefront to remind people about this amazing deal!  email me at jonathan@landpaths.org.  

6. Join us at our Gift Wrap Extravaganza at REI this Saturday, Dec. 18. from 10am-2pm we'll host a gift wrapping table, talk with folks about LandPaths programs, and collect donations.  In one easy step, you can buy your favorite outdoor gifts and get them wrapped. We can also use a few volunteers to help us host the table. 

7. Make a donation to our Year End Challenge Match - your donation will be matched dollar for dollar up to $20,000!

8. Green Holiday Gift idea - An annual donation of $10, $40 or more makes a great stocking stuffer that isn't "stuff".  Your gift recipient will receive our newsletter (enews and/or paper) featuring over 100 opportunies to Get Outside in Sonoma County in 2011 - plus a free LandPaths bonus gift (upon request) for each donation of $100 or more. 

9. Stay tuned for the "5 Days of LandPaths" featuring a few of the many ways LandPaths makes an impact in our community.

10. Get Outside!  For our complete listing of Outings/Events, visit our Online Calendar

Thanks for your support!  We hope to see you soon in Sonoma County's Big Outside!

REI Santa Rosa has been a fantastic partner and sponsor of many LandPaths programs!  Thanks to them!

LandPaths' success in diverse community outreach and engagement was essential to the City of Santa Rosa securing a highly competitive grant to improve Bayer Farm as a neighborhood park and community gardens.  This $4.8 million grant will be used for park development at Bayer Farm!

Read more in the Press Democrat article here...

We need your help!  This grant will go to the City for building the park itself, and will not fund LandPaths programs.  Only with your donations are we able to keep programs going at Bayer Farm - from community gardens & school visits to gardening workshops and robust volunteer projects.

The Time To Donate Is Now!

We have another Board of Directors challenge match: raise $15,000 by November 20th. Donate online here or mail a check to 618 4th St., Santa Rosa, CA, 95404. Your early donation saves resources (printing & paper!) and the cost of mailing our annual appeal.  Many thanks for your support!

Thanks to everyone who has worked so far to make this project so amazing - the grantors were obviously impressed!  If you are looking for other ways to get involved, read on for details about another volu