OVLC launched Rewild Ojai about two years ago and the community reception has been tremendous. The term “rewild” has come to mean many things. Typically, “rewilding” efforts are really targeted at the recovery of charismatic wildlife species like wolves, peregrine falcon or beavers. The direct and ancillary benefits from these efforts are well documented and successful rewilding projects can lead to landscape scale transformations. 

In more urban and suburban settings, rewilding often focuses on replacing our ever-present non-native landscapes with native plants. The central outcome is to re-establish populations of the native plants (or micro-habitats) that native insects, birds and mammals all co-evolved with, thereby creating pockets that help biodiversity thrive during a time of remarkable stresses. 

The premise is that if the base of the food chain is back for all of the insect pollinators and other invertebrates, then the larger animals will have more patches of habitat to rely on. OVLC partnered with the Ventura County Resource Conservation District to plant ½ acre of native habitat at the Ventura River Steelhead Preserve. I am pleased to report that the California thrashers have moved into the newly created habitat. The thrashers used to only ever be up on the hill but now spend lots of time in the newly established native habitat. I am also pleased to report that mule deer, California quail and several other bird species are routine sightings in the new patch of native habitat and just today we saw a coyote hanging out in there! 

A recent journal article on rewilding efforts observes that ours is not a world of wilderness and nonwilderness. Rather, habitat exists on a continuum of suitability for native species. We can and are making a difference by “going native” in our yards. Research is also confirming that rewilding efforts in more urban settings leads to deeper connections and engagement to our natural world. Ideally, this further leads to stronger and more steadfast support for the benefits of preserving our natural capital while we still can. 

Tom Maloney, Executive Director

If you have been by the Riverview Trailhead lately, you will have noticed a fresh new look. 

This trailhead has been in need of major updates for years. Following years of leasing the property, we secured full ownership last year and prioritized enhancing the trailhead as a key first step. 

The major goals were to improve the parking area, correct drainage issues, replace the old fencing, and consolidate all trailhead signage and the kiosk around a single, improved trailhead entrance. 

Years of erosion had caused considerable damage to the trailhead and adjacent banks leading down to the river bottom. To address this, all existing infrastructure and fencing were removed, and the parking area was regraded to direct water runoff toward a newly installed culvert at the rear of the trailhead. The hillside below, which had experienced substantial erosion, was also repaired and compacted around the new drainage location. 

The newly regraded and re-fenced parking area allowed us to designate head-in parking to accommodate a few more vehicles and discourage the haphazard array of vehicles that had become commonplace. 

With the newly consolidated infrastructure, we are able to better funnel all trailhead visitors through a single entrance that includes our maps, signage, rules, bike bells and dog waste bags. We also installed a wooden trailhead box, as a deterrent against the motorcycles that are not allowed on the preserves. While this may pose an added challenge for some of our equestrian visitors, the change is already proving effective in reducing the number of unauthorized vehicles entering the area. 

This trailhead box was modeled after a design used by the United States Forest Service, but we opted to build it out of wooden railroad ties rather than steel pipes, in order to be a little softer and more gracious to the horse hooves as they pass through it. Just inside the trailhead, we added a large boulder to be used as an equestrian mounting block. 

Trailheads are where our urban and natural environments meet, and one of the most significant changes we’ve implemented at Riverview, on a trial basis, is the complete removal of trash bins. High use leads to high waste. As more people enjoy the preserves, bins fill quickly and managing them daily is not practical or the best use of our limited resources. 

Our trash bins have collected everything from broken beach chairs and household chemicals to fish carcasses, construction debris, human waste, and just about anything visitors decide to leave behind from their vehicles. Contrary to what many assume, trash bins can actually lead to more litter, not less. When bins overflow or are misused, waste ends up on the ground or scattered by wind and animals. This has proven to invite rodents and rattlesnakes who love to shop and live in these bins. Rodents chew through the trash bags, making it difficult to cleanly and thoroughly remove the soggy contents. We want to significantly reduce the interaction between wildlife and this debris, and also thereby decrease the possibility of the spread of disease between both humans and animals. 

This includes a wide variety of bacteria, viruses (hantavirus and rabies), and other pathogens. 

Stewardship starts with each of us. These lands stay clean and healthy when everyone takes responsibility for what they bring in by packing it out. We now provide environmentally friendly compostable dog waste bags. Please use them, as cleaning up after your dog is a preserve rule, and remember to take your bagged waste home with you. By packing out your trash, you help keep this place thriving and beautiful for everyone to enjoy. 

NEW BICYCLE PARKING COMING SOON! The demand for bicycle parking is increasing and we want to accommodate that. Numerous preserve visitors bicycle to the trailheads, then search for a place to lock their bikes before hiking in. Random bicycle parking frequently blocks pedestrian, equestrian, and vehicle access, and a new rack should help alleviate this issue. We are currently in the process of designing new bicycle racks with a local metal artist for installation at Riverview Trailhead. Stay tuned; I think you will be impressed by the result. 

LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE As cooler, moister weather arrives this fall, we will begin planting native plants around the trailhead to help control erosion, crowd out invasive plant species and restore these disturbed areas. We will include only native plants from our OVLC nursery, utilizing specimens propagated from cuttings and seeds from our local preserve flora. If you’d like to help plant new native species in the fall, sign up to volunteer at ovlc.org/volunteer. 

As future budget allows, we intend to install an automatic gate, similar to what we have at the other trailheads, to prevent this location from being a draw for after-hours visitors 

Do you know why we have the preserves closed at night? It is to give nocturnal wildlife a chance to roam and feed without human disturbance. Our nighttime friends include mountain lions, bears, bats, raccoons, owls, skunks, rodents, opossums, coyotes, bobcats, and many others, each playing a unique role in the delicate balance of our ecosystem. 

A few of these Riverview Trailhead changes, like bicycle racks, reorganized infrastructure with motorcycle deterrent entrances, and trash bin elimination, if successful, will be slated for future implementation at other trailheads. 

Thank you for bearing with us during the trailhead construction as we worked to make improvements. A heartfelt thank you to Nick Wingate and his team from Wingate Earthworks for their outstanding work and generous donation of time and effort, which helped us reopen the trailhead quickly during a busy season. We also want to extend special thanks to one of our talented volunteers, who prefers to remain anonymous, for designing the new bike racks, which are still in progress. A huge thank you to all our dedicated volunteers who braved the heat to bring this project to completion. 

We are especially honored to have partnered with members of the Chumash, Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians, who joined us on-site throughout the project in a monitoring role. This land is sacred to them, and their presence reflects a deep, ongoing connection to this place. We are grateful for the opportunity to work together in a spirit of respect and collaboration as we continue to protect and honor the land. 

Keith Brooks, Land Steward

I am an Ojaian, born and raised. Summertime always makes me particularly nostalgic, since I grew up swimming in the pools of the Ventura River, driving to Bates Beach when it was too hot to do anything else, and picking fruit from friends’ trees. 

As a teenager, the closeness of Ojai felt claustrophobic. I couldn’t wait to see the world and moved away as soon as I graduated from Ojai’s Nordhoff High School, first for university in Los Angeles and then for a job in Tokyo. 

During the muggy Japanese summers, filled with monsoons and typhoons, the stark contrast between the ever-damp jungle of the Japanese mountains and the much drier shrublands of the California mountains clashed inside me. Despite the novelty of my new home, I yearned for the smell of sage as I hiked to the river to take refuge from Ojai’s dusty, dry heat under lush alders and sycamores. As I reflected on my time away, more than anything, Ojai’s wild spaces make this place home. 

As much as our human community defines the valley, so does this ecological community—the plants, animals, insects, mountains, and creeks. The scruffy sages and buckwheat on our southern hills, the silvery willows and prickly cocklebur in our creeks, and the brambling snowberry and wild rose under old oaks in our canyons make this place Ojai; they make this place my home. Try to imagine an Ojai full of Joshua trees or redwoods—though I’d rather not. This place becomes somewhere else; it’s no longer Ojai. Without these ecological neighbors, so to speak, Ojai is no longer the place I love. 

After years of drought, fire, and flood—and with even more extreme weather predicted in the future—our ecological neighbors need us more than ever. We can welcome them back into the valley by connecting habitat and creating safe haven in our own backyards. Already, many of my human neighbors have been hard at work, planting native gardens and restoring weedy fields for these ecological neighbors, becoming active members of Ojai’s ecological community. In the last year and a half, over 80 acres of native gardens have been certified through OVLC’s Rewild Ojai program. So, I invite you to join this ecological community and help us rewild Ojai. 

There are so many ways to get involved with Rewild Ojai. You don’t have to know where to start. Join the Rewild Ojai mailing list, learn more about caring for native plants, access free landscaping plans, or stop by our Rewild Ojai office hours. However you choose to participate, you’ll be helping restore the wild heart of this place we all call home. 

Claire Woolson, Rewild Ojai & Volunteer Coordinator 

The Ventura River and San Antonio Creek outstretch to one another at the confluence; you can see the water reach into the sky through the leaves of cottonwoods and palms of sycamore. In this canyon, the oaks and walnuts walk downstream to meet the river—hand in hand with sagescrub. Between the communion of plant associations lies Ventura River Steelhead Preserve (VRSP). The 80-acre preserve is below Santa Ana Road, and lightly slopes down to the river. Though surrounded by biodiversity, there are about 25 acres of open field filled with a tangle of invasive species, primarily yellow star thistle (Centarea solstitialis and Centarea melitensis), milk thistle (Silybum marianum), and annual grasses. These species not only prickle canvas work pants and wool socks, but they tell us that a disturbance regime was present, which is not conducive to native habitat. This regime has paused in this state. Invasive species often create conditions that inhibit succession of other habitats, unlike native vegetation communities that change and flow with natural disturbance. 

As restorationists, we must access the land’s history and current conditions to weave the plan for its future. OVLC is evaluating the VRSP for a variety of reasons. We want to restore it to offer beneficial ecosystem function, as well as shift the vegetative fuels. Remnant sycamores (Platanus racemosa) and sagescub (Eriogonum fasciculatum, Lepidospartum squamatum, Ceanothus spinosus) speckle the 100 year floodplain. Elderberry (Sambucus mexicana), coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), and California black walnuts (Juglans californica) zipper old cattle fences. A perfect window into what can be. 

Broadcast prescribed fire was chosen to explore an interaction between native succession and invasive weed management. This kind of planned, careful fire—what we call ‘good fire’—mimics natural processes that once shaped these landscapes. We targeted prescribed fire when the star thistle was bolting—to reduce seed production. We followed the burns with seeding native fire-fellowing annuals—red maids (Calandrinia menzesii), small fescue (Festuca microstachys), and arroyo lupine (Lupinus succulentus). This was a three year burn in collaboration with Ventura County Prescribed Burn Association, University Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR), Ventura County Fire Department, Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, and Cal Fire. Without these partners, we would not have been able to weave good fire into the landscape. 

The first year was a successful burn, followed by native seeding in research plots. On blackened soil we seeded in the rain, flinging handfuls across the plots with 5-gallon buckets. The rain drove the seed into earth, where we saw them germinate the following spring. As we monitored across the field, curiously, the red maids (Calandrinia menzesii) sprawled outside of the plots. Was this a mistake? Did we seed outside designated areas? No, it was the seed bank, awakened by the broadcast fire. The magenta flowers colored the sandy soil. 

On June 6 and July 14 of this year, partners applied good fire to 20 acres of disturbed habitat. The landscape had strips of unburned research plots—paired with seeded and unseeded plots. When the marine layer peeled back, showing morning rays to the north, fire was applied as a backing fire. It crept and consumed annual grasses as the fuel and girdled the thistle. Thistle seed pods cracked, fell off, without viable seed within them. 

This third year of the project was supported by over 200 volunteer hours. The community helped scrape, weed whack, and prepare the control lines around each research plot. Even after the burn, volunteers aided in mop up. With a heat-sensing drone overhead, we targeted embers across the site to ensure a safe finish to the prescribed burn. We thank our community volunteers, who stood side by side with researchers and fire professionals, proving that stewardship is something we do together.

Seeding will occur in fall 2025 and spring entails more vegetation monitoring. Once data collection is completed by UCANR and OVLC, data analysis will begin. Soil samples, fire intensity, and vegetation data will be analyzed. This data can be used at OVLC to inform future broadcast burns, and research results can outline the future management plans for VRSP. This project doesn’t just help OVLC, it provides answers for land managers across Ventura County who are asking how to safely and effectively bring good fire back. 

Sophie McLean, Native Plant Specialist & Nursery Manager

Fiscal Year 2025 (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025) was a year of steady progress and big milestones—many of them years in the making. With your support, we deepened our roots in the Ojai Valley and built momentum for the work ahead.

VENTURA RIVER ACQUISITIONS CAMPAIGN GOAL MET!

Thanks to overwhelming support from our community, we wrapped up fundraising for the Ventura River Land Acquisition Campaign, reaching our $4.1 million goal to support the long-term protection and care of 234 acres along the Ventura River. This was a huge team effort, and we’re grateful to everyone who helped us get across the finish line.

BROIDA BRIDGE - A LONG-AWAITED CONNECTION

This year, we completed the Broida Bridge at the Ojai Meadows Preserve—a long-held promise finally realized. The bridge connects key trails across the Happy Valley Drain and the two halves of the Ojai Meadows Preserve—making the area more accessible for all visitors. It took years of permitting, planning and fundraising, but the result is something our entire community can be proud of. Special thanks to the donors who made it possible and Mike Krumpschmidt for his commitment and tireless efforts in urging the project forward.

REWILD OUR RIVER AND RESTORATION INITIATIVES

We launched Rewild Our River—an effort to tackle invasive Arundo donax and restore native habitat throughout the Ventura River watershed. With support from Cal Fire and the Cutting the Green Tape program, we’ve begun securing the permits needed to take on this work at scale. It’s an ambitious effort, but one that will pay off for people and wildlife alike. 

REMEMBERING BETSY

We were heartbroken by the passing of board member Betsy Vanleit this year. Betsy was a thoughtful leader, a passionate advocate for native plants, and a tireless volunteer. We honored her with a community oak planting at the Ojai Meadows Preserve—a space she helped steward and cared deeply about—and continue her legacy through rewilding. 

10 YEARS OF MOUNTAINFILM ON TOUR

This year marked the 10th anniversary of Mountainfilm on Tour in Ojai—a decade of celebrating stories that move, challenge, and inspire. What began as a small gathering has grown into a beloved tradition, bringing people together each fall to explore themes of adventure, activism, and the natural world. Over the years, the event has raised critical funds for OVLC while creating space for community connection. We’re grateful to everyone who has made Mountainfilm a success—from sponsors and volunteers to the thousands who show up each year. 

WHAT’S NEXT

As we begin Fiscal Year 2026, we’re looking to protect significant properties, take on major restoration work in our creeks and river, expand our Native Plant Nursery, and keep creating opportunities for our community to learn, connect, and care for the valley they love. None of this would be possible without your support—thank you for being part of this growing community of people who care deeply about the future of the Ojai Valley. 

COMMUNITY & VOLUNTEER HIGHLIGHTS

• Volunteers logged over 6,312 hours, breaking previous records and showing up for everything from weeding and planting to river cleanups and trail building to newsletter mailings and event support.

• We held our second Native Garden Tour, drawing hundreds of visitors and sharing inspiring landscapes that support native plants and biodiversity.

• The Rewild Ojai garden certification program took off, with 27 gardens certified in the past year alone, now totaling 80 acres across 41 certified gardens.

• Our All About Ojai series continued to grow, bringing fascinating speakers and deepening our connections to the ecology of the Valley we all love. 

BY THE NUMBERS

THANK YOU TO OUR FISCAL YEAR^ 2025 DONORS

^FY 2025: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025, *Deceased

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Matthew Downer is the kind of person who quietly puts in the work, never seeking the spotlight but making a big impact all the same. Born and raised in Ojai, he has deep ties to the land he now helps restore. Long before becoming one of OVLC’s first Volunteer Restoration Crew Leads, Matthew had already logged countless hours in the field, lending his steady hands and humble spirit to projects across the valley. With more than 500 volunteer hours to his name, he brings dedication, local knowledge, and a quiet leadership that inspires everyone around him. OVLC Preserve Manager, Linda Wilkin, recently caught up with him to talk about his roots in Ojai, his path to becoming a Restoration Crew Lead, and why giving back to the land matters so much to him.

Thanks for taking the time to talk with me today, Matthew. To start, can you share a little about yourself? 

I grew up and have lived most of my life here in Ojai. I enjoy outdoor sports—hiking, backpacking, cycling, climbing—and it’s great that Ojai has so many opportunities for all of those. A big thanks to OVLC for helping make that possible! 

Absolutely—the outdoors are the best! Was that what first got you interested in volunteering with OVLC? 

I did Boy Scouts as a kid, and there was always a community service aspect to that. Some of my earliest volunteer work came from there—trash cleanups and building kiosks for various places. I think the Eagle Project kiosk I built might still be up at Steckel Park. 

As for OVLC, I’d always been curious about what they did—was there trail work or other ways to volunteer? Then one day I got a postcard in the mail saying, “We need volunteers!” I thought, “OK, let’s see what’s involved.” The barrier to entry was really low—it was easy to sign up. That was a little over two years ago. 

Nice! I also know you’re a big fan of California native plants. Where did that passion start for you? 

Both my parents are highly educated in plant-related fields, so I grew up around people who really knew their plants. We’d go hiking, and they’d teach us the Latin names for native plants. Having that awareness early on definitely sparked my interest. 

That’s such a great way to grow up—and most of that was here in Ojai, right? 

Yup! On local trails like Shelf and Pratt. My parents had horses and ponies for us kids, so we rode a lot in Horne Canyon and on the Thacher trails. I knew that area well before it became an OVLC preserve. 

Was there a plant that really caught your attention back then? 

I first got interested in carnivorous plants. There are a few California native species, and they’re just so unexpected when you think about plant life. 

I love that. My nephew is into carnivorous plants too—there’s something about kids and plants that eat things! You’re also one of our first Restoration Crew Leads. How did that role come about for you? 

Honestly, I just volunteered a lot! Eventually, you asked me to help lead some events, and I thought, “Well, I’m going to be there anyway.” I enjoy being outdoors with other people and building community. It’s a way to give back to a place I get so much enjoyment from. 

Let’s talk about the Ojai Meadows Preserve. You’ve been leading projects there to help it thrive. What kind of work has been happening? 

A lot of it is invasive species removal—hand weeding, weed-whacking—reducing invasive plants to make space for natives to thrive. The Meadows, like much of OVLC’s land, protects riparian and waterway areas. That’s important because many have disappeared from the valley. For example, in my yard there’s a little barranca where a creek used to be, but now the water is diverted into a storm drain instead of recharging the aquifer. It’s important to reclaim some of that natural flow where we can. 

Have you noticed any changes since that work began? 

Definitely. If you drive down Highway 33, the difference is striking. On the Conservancy’s side, you see a variety of plants; on the unmanaged side, it’s almost all invasives. That diversity of plants on OVLC’s side supports more birds, mammals, and reptiles—it’s had a huge impact. 

It really is such a stark contrast. And it’s great to see the preserve holding strong even next to areas with so many invasive seeds. 

It used to be all yellow mustard on both sides. Now, the difference is obvious. 

Do you remember what the Meadows was like when you were growing up? 

Yes, I went to Nordhoff High School, so I was around there a lot. It’s changed so much. Seeing the valley oaks thriving along the highway has been especially rewarding. 

Do you have a favorite native plant growing there now? 

I’m not great at picking favorites, but the valley oaks really stand out. Once they get big, their canopy is huge, and they support so many other species. 

The handful along Nordhoff are gorgeous—probably 200 years old. 

Well, and the preserve land is also special in the valley because there are standing and fallen dead trees. This is an important part of a tree’s life cycle. Even after it’s dead, it creates an incredible amount of habitat—woodpeckers nest in it, fungi break it down, insects move in, and all kinds of other creatures benefit. 

Oh yes—and our vulture friends. There’s a dead tree in one of the restoration fields that’s always littered with bones and other remains from their feasts. 

Exactly! Vultures are incredible birds. Another nice thing is that we don’t rake or blow leaves on the preserves, which is important for soil health. The leaf mulch supports salamanders, millipedes, and many other species. 

For anyone inspired by this, what’s the best way to get involved? 

It’s easy—just visit OVLC’s website and sign up. We have a couple of events each week. The preserves are special because you don’t have to pay to enter, and there aren’t many places like that left. Hopefully, having places where people can just be in nature encourages more appreciation for it. 

One last thing—you’ve also rescued and transplanted native plants from trail reroute areas. Can you share how that works? 

On a few trail projects, there were plants right in the planned path. I went ahead of the crew and dug them up. Luckily, we had some rainy years, so I could leave them in a seasonal creek until I replanted them—things like peonies, black sage, currants, and soaproot. It’s always nice to save a plant when you can. 

That’s wonderful. Matthew, thank you for sharing your knowledge and for all the work you do to keep our preserves healthy and thriving. 

WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBER, ANNIE NYBORG 

Annie is the Head of Environmental and Social Impact for Peak Design, a product design company and certified B Corp. She oversees the company’s environmental and social initiatives including supply chain standards, government affairs, 1% for the Planet giving, and decarbonization. Annie is particularly passionate about public lands conservation and restoration. She has served on the board of CalWild, a California based conservation organization, and is the current board chair of The Conservation Alliance, working on national conservation campaigns. Born in Ojai, Annie returned home after spending 13 years in San Francisco. She is happy to be back in the place she loves most, enjoying the slower pace of life and beautiful trails with her family. 

WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBER, JIM FINCH 

Jim Finch is a third-generation Ojai farmer, continuing a family legacy that began in 1952. After earning a degree in agricultural economics from UC Davis, he worked for Dole and Wonderful Citrus before returning home in 1996 to farm alongside his father. Today, Jim manages 650 acres of citrus and avocados from Piru to Ojai, including some of the same groves his family planted decades ago. He has served as chairman of the Saticoy Lemon Association, sits on the Sunkist board, and is active in local water agencies. A graduate of the California Ag Leadership Program, Jim also served on the boards of Monica Ros School and the UC Davis Foundation. He and his wife, Kristen, a veterinarian at Thacher School, raised their two children in the Ojai groves. In his free time, Jim enjoys mountain biking and skiing. 

WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBER, TIM RHONE 

Tim Rhone brings a blend of conservation and business experience to our board. Since 2009, he has co-owned The Mob Shop in downtown Ojai and previously spent eight years with Patagonia in retail and marketing. Raised on a Pennsylvania dairy farm, Tim developed an early passion for sustainability that grew through hands-on conservation work with The Gaia Institute and the creation of Patagonia National Park in Chile. He holds a Certificate in Green Energy Management from SDSU and has studied at several universities. An advocate for sustainable practices and cycling, Tim lives in Ojai with his wife, Rachel, and their daughter, Reva. 

WELCOME CADEN CRAWFORD, RESTORATION FIELD CREW 

Caden grew up on a nursery in the mountains of Montana, where his love for plants and working the land first took root. That early connection shaped a lifelong respect for natural spaces and a deep appreciation for the work it takes to care for them. After years spent photographing landscapes and wildlife throughout the West, his path led him to Ojai, where he was captivated by the valley’s diverse ecology. Now, as part of OVLC’s restoration field crew, he’s committed to protecting native habitats and the species that depend on them. When he’s not in the field, Caden is usually outside getting lost with his camera, continuing to learn from the place he’s come to call home. 

Defined by their charismatic swirls and cryptic nature, terrestrial snails are one of the most overlooked members of local ecosystems. Restricted in their distribution, most land snails are endemic to the regions they occupy. Found tucked within sycamore bark and in nooks of sandstone talus, genera such as Helminthoglypta are represented by only a few species in the Ojai region. One species in particular, H. willetti, is found in oak woodlands and riparian zones throughout the watershed. They rely on fallen limbs of established trees for refuge, where they conceal themselves in moist lignin. Their sedentary nature proves them useful as indicators of habitat quality. We are eager to begin work this fall to improve local forest health by the removal of non-native species like giant reed (Arundo donax), Spanish broom (Spartium junceum) and tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) and replacement with native plant communities such as the California sycamore - coast live oak alliance in hopes of restoring habitat suitability for species like the shoulderband snail. 

Martin Schenker, Restoration Field Crew Manager 

You’ve probably seen them circling above the valley, wings held in a shallow V, wobbling a bit as they ride the thermals. Turkey vultures (Cathartes aura), nature’s quiet custodians, are often misunderstood or overlooked, but they play a vital role in the ecosystem. By removing carrion before it can spread disease, they recycle nutrients back into the land and keep the whole system in balance.

With their featherless red heads and impressive six-foot wingspans, these graceful gliders are scavengers, drawn not by movement but by scent. Unlike most birds, which rely heavily on vision to hunt or forage, turkey vultures are guided by invisible trails of scent rising from the hillsides, riverbeds, and roads below. Their nostrils are perforated, open slits that allow air to flow straight through. There is no sniffing involved, just steady airflow while they glide. That constant breeze across their beak gives them one of the strongest senses of smell in the bird world, making them incredibly efficient at locating what’s been left behind.

Their role mirrors that of their rarer cousin, the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus). While condors are larger and federally protected, they share similar behaviors and face overlapping threats like lead poisoning, often from animals that were shot and left behind. Even though turkey vultures are more adaptable and widespread, they’re still at risk. On nearby public lands where hunting is permitted, such as Los Padres National Forest, switching to copper ammunition is a simple step that helps protect all scavengers, from condors to the vultures we see overhead every day.

So next time you spot one drifting in circles, take a second look. That bird isn’t just coasting. It’s doing the dirty work that keeps this place clean. You won’t hear much from them aside from the occasional hiss or grunt, but their presence speaks volumes. These aerial recyclers remind us that every species has a role, and every piece of the puzzle matters.

To learn more about wildlife species that call the Ojai Valley home, visit our website at ovlc.org/wildlife.

Caden Crawford, Restoration Field Crew

Together with Mountainfilm on Tour in the fall, the Rewild Ojai Native Garden Tour in the spring is becoming a hallmark of OVLC’s seasonal calendar. We are thrilled to see the community embrace the intention and practice of “going native” in their yards! In its first two years, the tour has concluded at the beautiful Birdsong Ranch, which highlights the full breadth and beauty of what native plants contribute to a well-designed landscape. 

So, in anticipation of another great Garden Tour, my wife and I invited close friends from LA who are dedicated native gardeners. As the owners of a yard that has been featured in Theodore Payne Foundation’s native garden tour, they were excited to come see what Rewild Ojai had to offer. 

Unlike many of OVLC’s other events, a fair number of folks come from out of town for the Garden Tour. However, it was a totally unexpected visitor from much farther away that got the morning off to an auspicious start! At about 6:30 in the morning, as I was getting ready to go to Birdsong to help set up, I started hearing from birders from LA that they would be up in our area to see “the bird.” Having been entertaining the night before, I had no idea what they were talking about and checked eBird to see what was in the area. 

Amazingly, someone had reported a swallow-tailed kite the night before from Birdsong Ranch! As can be seen in the photo, there is no confusing a swallow-tailed kite for any other bird! I alerted Lizzy Chouinard (OVLC Board member and our host at Birdsong Ranch) that the bird had been reported and got a pithy and incredulous response. This is understandable since this bird, which was refound and watched at Birdsong for over an hour, represents only the third occurrence in California for that species. Accordingly, by the time I drove over to Birdsong, birders were lining the road! 

Birds so far out of range are referred to as vagrants and for many birders represent the pinnacle of the birding experience. For me the birding pinnacle is witnessing migration in full swing. Many Garden Tour participants saw the bird and questioned whether this wanderer was a consequence of our changing climate or some other environmental factor. There are many theories on the causes of vagrancy in birds but perhaps the most hopeful is the theory that vagrants are the outer fringes of an expanding population. Less hopeful is the thought that habitat destruction causes these individuals to need to explore further for suitable habitat. Conservation and restoration of habitat is therefore important for our native birds. 

The assembled birders all watched the bird circle up and head south. The last report of a sighting was from downtown Ventura where someone saw it heading south over Victoria Avenue. 

Tom Maloney, Executive Director 

Ceanothus, aka California lilac, dapples our mountains and hills with a multitude of diversity. On the cusp of spring, the flowers burst with color and scream of place and existence—hearkening to the clicks and ticks of winter’s cues. Its tall stature billows over trails like an elven tunnel in chaparral landscapes and speckles the coastal sage scrub. I point to the periwinkle-colored flowers puffing out, and declare it an angel, a cloud, a vector of light. This illusion must be the long-flowered panicles that filter the light in a mesmerizing spring glow. 

The diversity of the genus is incredible. We have close to 15 species in Ventura County, each occupying their own niche. Bigpod ceanothus (Ceanothus megacarpus), dusty and white, stands broad on the fingered foothills of the valley. The glossy greenbark ceanothus (Ceanothus spinosus) crawls closer to the valley floor. The hairy ceanothus (Ceanothus oliganthus) wanders into the woodland shade. Even if you do not understand where they belong, their characteristics will tell the story for you. I approach each looking at the thickness of the leaves and how that protects it from the sun. The depth of green gives me a window into how the chlorophyll arranges to talk to the light. All of this leads me to more questions. How did the genus get to this point? What was the mode of evolution? 

We must travel back to the end of the Pliocene—when the weather shifted from hotter and wetter to cooler and drier and the mountain ranges lifted and formed at drastic rates. Ceanothus first occupied niches as a hard-leafed (sclerophyllous) understory plant that frequented dry rocky outcrops; however, a section (sect.) of ceanothus took advantage of a changing topography and climate. This new subgenus of Ceanothus, Ceanothus sect. Cerastes, rapidly hybridized and established newly adapted species for the varied ecological situations occurring. They moved into dry mountain tops, understory canopies, and 5 

canyons. Individuals in this group are all over the valley—distinct with their opposite leaves. Another important distinguishing characteristic is that they are obligate seeders. Their seeds are readily available in the seed bank after a fire (lasting for decades), instead of recolonizing through basal sprouting. They tie this readiness back into their greater landscape, by partnering with a particular Frankia bacterium. They flood the soil with nitrogen, and prepare the ecosystem to shift to other habitat types. 

However, though the sect. Cerastes branched off to fill the mosaic of the California Floristic Province, there is a group that stayed close to its primitive roots (quite literally). Ceanothus sect. Ceanothus (alternate leaves) does not hybridize readily, nor rely on seeding after disturbance. Instead, this group reflects its sclerophyll ancestry by focusing on resprouting after fire. This allows for quick vegetation immediately after blackened ground—nursing the fire-following annuals that relish in the canopy’s shade. I am continually curious to see how Ceanothus utilize these adaptations to respond to the next wave of a changing climate. Will the obligate seeders diminish due to invasive weed competition after fire? If more frequent fires occur, will it impair the ability of the sect. Ceanothus to resprout? How this genus will respond is unknown; however, it is clear that the diversity gives strength to a varying degree of change and disturbance—whether that be fire, climate change, or uplifting mountains. The plant populations within the valley have been evolving for millions of years, and we hope to bolster their health so they can continue evolving and thriving. 

Sophie McLean, Nursery Manager & Native Plant Specialist 

Often shadowed by the eminence of steelhead trout, clinging to cobbles in channels throughout the watershed, lies another anadromous fish. As a California State Species of Special Concern, the pacific lamprey is threatened by diminished habitat conditions throughout Southern California watersheds. They are ranked S1 by NatureServe, signifying their population in our watershed is critically imperiled. 

Pacific lamprey, a species with a lineage tracing back to the Ordovician period 450 million years ago, is an ancient fish. The life cycle of the pacific lamprey begins in slow moving silts, where stream velocity is low. Fine substrates allow the larvae, known as ammocoetes, to burrow and embed themselves, where they will spend three to ten years filter feeding algae, microorganisms, and detritus at night. In this stage, they lack eyes and teeth. Metamorphosis occurs over a couple of months, oftentimes reaching completion between winter and spring. Once transformed to have teeth and vision, individuals make their way downstream into marine waters. 

In the ocean, pacific lamprey will spend up to seven years growing until reaching maturity. As ectoparasites, juvenile pacific lamprey will feed by attaching on their host’s skin and draw blood and fluids for nutrition. Once an adult and ready for reproduction, they will make their way up rivers during the spring and summer until they come across pheromones released by larvae, which indicates that habitat conditions for redds (nests) could be found just upstream. Migrations upstream occur at night. Conditions for breeding grounds preferred by pacific lamprey are gravelly substrates with sufficient dissolved oxygen. Artistically, they create redds by moving substrate with their mouths, creating a lined circular depression. After spawning, their life cycle comes to a close—Pacific lampreys die shortly after, leaving the next generation to emerge from the gravel. 

Conservation of this enigmatic species relies on improving in-stream conditions preferred by all life stages of pacific lamprey. In order for these habitats to properly develop, sorting of sediment must properly distribute into areas with cobbles, granules and silts, where each life stage can persist. Impairment of sediment distribution can result from excess sediment deposition from upland habitats, channelization of streambanks from invasive species, and large impediments such as dams. OVLC’s efforts in restoring riparian and upland habitat are drastically improving habitat for not only the southern steelhead, but also for the pacific lamprey. 

Martin Schenker, Restoration Field Crew Manager 

Ojai Meadows Preserve is a living example of what sustained community commitment and thoughtful stewardship can accomplish. Since the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy acquired the property in 2000—thanks to the vision and hard work of dedicated local residents—thousands of volunteer hours have gone into restoring this landscape into a thriving ecosystem that supports a rich diversity of native plants, wildlife, and pollinators. But restoration doesn’t end when the planting is done or when grant funding runs out. True ecological recovery takes time, persistence, and ongoing care. That’s where our Stewardship team and dedicated volunteers step in. 

In recent years, we’ve seen increased pressure from invasive species across parts of the preserve. These include aggressive non-natives such as black mustard (Brassica nigra), curly dock (Rumex crispus), yellow star-thistle (Centaurea solstitialis), and stork’s bill filaree (Erodium cicutarium). These species outcompete native plants, disrupt habitat structure, and undermine the ecological gains made through earlier restoration efforts. 

Recognizing the need for a long-term solution, I teamed up with two of our committed volunteers, Mark Silbernagel and Matthew Downer, to create the Restoration Crew Lead Program. This initiative empowers trained volunteers to lead targeted invasive species removal projects and assist with monitoring plant communities across the preserve. With support from OVLC’s Stewardship staff, these crew leads help implement seasonal best management practices—strategies informed by plant phenology, field observations, and outcomes from past restoration work. Together, we’ve logged thousands of volunteer hours focused on restoring balance to the landscape. Every invasive plant removed helps protect native species and maintain the integrity of this special place. 

In addition to countless hours of hand-pulling invasives and removing literal tons of non-native thatch and seed material, we’ve also worked with longtime contractor Brad Haley to manage larger, heavily impacted areas through strategic mowing. When timed correctly—aligned with the life cycles of invasive annuals—this mowing has led to visible improvements across the landscape. Many of the purple needlegrass (Stipa pulchra) meadows on the preserve, which Brad originally helped seed, are now thriving. These native grasslands have become denser, more established, and significantly less affected by invasive species. Grassland restoration is especially critical in our region, where native perennial grasses play a key role in supporting wildlife, building soil stability, and preserving ecological balance. 

This year, while walking the site together, Brad and I shared what we jokingly called a “Mary Poppins moment”—a rare opportunity to pause and take in sweeping fields of native grass, so vibrant and thick they were nearly impossible to walk through. After years of effort, moments like these remind us why this work matters, even when the road to long-term stewardship feels daunting. 

Stewarding Ojai Meadows Preserve is about more than protecting a piece of land. It’s about honoring the efforts of those who came before us and ensuring this habitat thrives for generations to come. Whether you’re a volunteer pulling mustard in the field or a donor helping fund our tools and training, you are part of a larger story—one of restoration, resilience, and community. We’re incredibly grateful for your support. Let’s keep growing this work together. 

Linda Wilkin, Preserve Manager 

Thanks to a mix of showers, sunshine, and perseverance, spring is here and our two wonderful interns, Celeste and Lilac, are blooming right alongside the wildflowers! Just like the pollinators drawn to the sweetness of a hard-earned reward, they’ve been transforming the nursery into a season of growth, organization, and emerging leadership. 

During the cooler months, we sowed tray after tray of native seeds. Every raindrop, sunbeam, and hour dedicated by our interns has resulted in stellar germination rates. To prepare for the seedlings’ next stage of growth, Lilac and Celeste have equipped the nursery with sanitized pots and freshly amended soil. The interns have been giving the seedlings the space and resources they need to thrive, as they have been repotting these little sprouts with gentle and persistent care. 

At our nursery, we’re proud to grow native plants not only for OVLC’s restoration projects across the valley, but also for private landowners, local organizations, and community members. These plants mean more than pretty landscapes; they support long term habitat conservation and help create a more resilient valley. Thanks to our Nursery Internship Program, Celeste and Lilac are at the heart of this mission. Just a few weeks ago, Lilac and Celeste assisted a contract grow order, processing Horsetail (Equisetum laevigatum), Mugwort (Artemisia douglasiana), and Mulefat (Baccharis salicifolia) cuttings. As the weather warmed, our interns kept pace—transplanting seedlings and stepping up in new ways. Celeste and Lilac led weekly volunteer sessions and even took charge of watering operations while OVLC staff attended a conference. This spring, they also contributed meaningfully to a native planting event co-hosted by Pax and the Ojai Valley Green Coalition, helping restore a private lands site in partnership with the Turtle Conservancy. Now in its third year, the project is showing remarkable progress. Celeste was especially excited to see the Purple Sage (Salvia leucophylla) she seeded just two years ago thriving in the field. 

Looking ahead, Celeste is gearing up for vegetation monitoring training. With guidance from our restoration team, she’ll help launch long-term monitoring at the Oranges to Oaks restoration site in the Ventura River Preserve. This work will support local biodiversity and deepen our understanding of the region’s ecosystems and ongoing restoration efforts. 

Spring is a season of renewal—and for our interns, a time of transformation. Through hands-on work with native plants, they’re not just caring for the land, but growing into empowered stewards of the environment. Their journey goes well beyond the nursery, and we’re excited to share how their skills and confidence in ecological restoration continue to take root. 

Madison Moore, Nursery Assistant & Restoration Field Crew 

Last creature feature, we were acquainted with our native ‘blue jay,’ the California scrub jay (Aphelocoma californica). This time, we’re trading feathers for scales. Known to many as ‘blue-bellies,’ the western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) is a critter most of us are likely familiar with from time spent at any of our preserves—or really, anywhere in California and our neighboring states. They’re a jack-of-all-trades, found from sea level to dizzying heights above 10,000 feet! Western fence lizards inhabit a variety of habitats, from woodlands, forests, and grasslands to suburban gardens and farmlands. In these varied settings, they play an important role in nutrient cycling, pest management, and disease control.

Hike in any one of our preserves, and you might notice an unwanted hitchhiker crawling up your pant leg or latched onto your furry trail companion. Ticks are tiny arachnids that act as transmission vectors—particularly those within the genus Ixodes, which are known to carry Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. It’s important to note that Ixodes ticks do not inherently carry this bacterium; rather, they become infected after feeding on an already infected animal. This is where our scaly superhero comes into focus. Flowing through the veins of our fence-loving squamate is a protein that, when ingested by a tick, eradicates the bacteria—effectively curing the tick of infection. Over time, these lizards help reduce the incidence of Lyme disease and, in the process, support the health of the Ojai Valley’s ecosystems. However, they can only do so much. Ticks can transmit other diseases that lizards can’t mitigate, so do yourself a favor and be field-savvy: always perform a tick check!

Lastly, our friendly neighborhood fence lizard also dabbles in a behavior known as ‘tail autotomy.’ When stressed and faced with danger, western fence lizards will break off a piece of their tail. Though not fatal, the tail does grow back—usually shorter and weaker than before. The amputated segment serves as a distraction to would-be predators (and curious humans) due to its wiggling, caused by the twitching of nerves, giving the lizard a window of opportunity to escape.

While a clever survival strategy, the ordeal can be quite taxing for our Lyme disease-fighting heroes, so we kindly ask you to refrain from scaring their tails off. With that said, whether they’re basking on rocks on warm sunny days, scampering up fence posts, or doing push-ups to assert themselves, give thanks and be considerate to our blue-bellied neighbors.

Anthony Gomez, Restoration Field Crew

OVLC and Ojai’s Agora Foundation marked the 75th anniversary of Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac with a joint event on February 1. It is clear that the Ojai Valley is entering a time of profound intersection of legacy and responsibility. Leopold’s vision, a call for a “land ethic” that regards soil, water, plants and animals as a community, remains as relevant as ever. Our two organizations came together to promote the understanding of Leopold’s land ethic in this time when individual and collective responsibility can advance profound benefits.

Leopold’s land ethic, a radical idea in 1949, challenged us to broaden our view of “land.” Leopold wants us to embrace land as a community to which we belong and to which we owe responsibility. This land ethic transcends the notion of simple stewardship; it is a commitment to conservation and restoration as a moral responsibility. In a time of climate change, this expansion of ethics couldn’t be timelier.

Leopold’s message was never solely for farmers, ranchers, and other land managers. It was, and is, a call to society. In society at large, the land ethic struggles to take hold. Many of us enjoy the benefits of conservation—scenic vistas, clean air and water, and trails—without fully appreciating the responsibilities that come with these privileges. This imbalance poses a challenge, especially as urban areas grow, rural lands shrink, and pressures on natural resources increase.

One of my favorite Leopold quotes is, “A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.” In a time when environmental news is so dire, I find this quote as intensely hopeful. It is a clear guidepost for individual decisions. Indeed, as OVLC has rolled out the Rewild Ojai program, we have been inspired by how many people have embraced “going native” as a meaningful way to help Ojai “preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community.” In today’s vernacular of climate change, “stability” can be thought of as “resilience.”

Leopold’s significance as a forefather of modern conservation cannot be overstated. Through his writings he is now recognized as the father of wildlife management, wilderness preservation, ecological restoration, and remains a seminal voice in environmental ethics. Despite that lofty perch, A Sand County Almanac remains completely accessible as a guide to each of us to extend our notion of community to include the soil, water, plants, and animals that comprise “the land.”

Tom Maloney, Executive Director

It is with heavy hearts that we honor the life and contributions of our dear friend and board member, Betsy Vanleit, who passed away on January 8. Betsy was a dedicated community leader, a passionate environmental advocate, an inspiring mentor, and a true force for good. She devoted her time and energy to organizations across the Ojai Valley, including the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, the Ojai Valley Green Coalition, Ojai Trees, and HELP of Ojai. Her absence leaves a profound void—not only within our organization, but throughout our entire community.

Betsy’s impact on the valley can be compared to that of a mighty oak. Oaks foster extraordinary biodiversity: they provide nourishment for wildlife and pollinators, shelter for countless species, and create a foundation for vibrant ecosystems. Similarly, Betsy enriched our community by offering support, guidance, and opportunities for growth. Her deep commitment and unwavering dedication cultivated new ideas and initiatives, much like an oak’s deep roots prepare the soil for future growth.

Like the oak’s generous canopy that offers shade for new plants, Betsy provided the space and support for emerging leaders and community projects to flourish. The acorns of an oak—small yet full of promise—symbolize the seeds of hope and renewal she planted through her mentorship and vision. Even in her absence, her legacy will continue to thrive. Just as when we lose an oak it is often transformed into a standing snag and it still nourishes its surroundings—providing homes for wildlife, serving as a granary for acorn woodpeckers, and offering perches for raptors—Betsy’s influence endures. Her work remains embedded in the growth and resilience of our valley, inspiring all who continue the journey she so passionately championed as we, like seedlings, grow into mighty oaks in her honor.

At OVLC, we are committed to carrying Betsy’s legacy forward, nurturing the community and environment with the same care and dedication she exemplified. As we honor her memory, may we all draw strength from her example and work together to create a more beautiful and resilient Ojai Valley.

Parkway Preserve has the potential to become a thriving native ecosystem within the industrial stretch of north Ventura Avenue. This transformation requires repurposing the 22-acre parcel into a space that both protects and enhances the surrounding community. Before OVLC took ownership, the site had been used as a dumping ground for construction materials. While that is no longer the case, the land remains overrun with invasive plants. By clearing the property down to bare earth, then grading and recontouring it, we can shape the landscape to welcome seasonal flooding whenever Cañada Larga Creek overflows.

Encouraging flooding on a property might seem counterintuitive, but in this case, it offers multiple benefits. Most notably, it will help reduce flooding on developed properties downstream in the Ventura Avenue community. Additionally, allowing water to move slowly through the preserve will provide sustained moisture, essential for restoring a diverse meadow habitat. Another key environmental benefit is improved water quality. By capturing runoff from Cañada Larga Creek—often laden with cattle manure and other pollutants—and filtering it through a series of catch basins, we can ensure that cleaner water flows into the Ventura River and, ultimately, to the ocean.

Beyond flood mitigation and water purification, Parkway Preserve will create new opportunities for the community to connect with the land. Planned trails will link the existing bus stop on Ventura Avenue to the Ventura River Bike Path, which runs through the property. Scenic gathering areas will be created on higher ground overlooking the Ventura River, where invasive giant reed (Arundo donax) will be removed to restore open views. Recreational features will be designed with flooding in mind, meaning hardscape infrastructure like benches will be minimal and placed in areas outside the 100-year flood zone. Some facilities, such as restrooms, may not be feasible due to flooding concerns or permitting challenges, but wherever possible, OVLC will remain responsive to the needs of the community—especially those who have helped shape this vision. Over the past six months, OVLC has actively sought community input to guide the design of Parkway Preserve. Last June, we hosted a Spanish-language outreach event at the preserve to gather ideas specifically from the Ventura Avenue community. In November, we held a follow-up Spanish-language event at Bell Arts Factory, along with an English-language public meeting at Leashless Brewing in Ventura. Throughout this process, we have also engaged in discussions with Chumash Tribal representatives to incorporate their perspectives.

Using this collective input—along with guidance from city and county officials regarding permitting requirements—we have developed a first-draft conceptual plan. This plan outlines the locations of catch basins, visitor pathways, and key restoration features. While still in the early stages and subject to refinement over the next three to four years as we secure funding and move toward construction, one thing remains certain: Parkway Preserve will support a thriving native ecosystem while strengthening the connection between people, water, and land for generations to come.

Brendan Taylor, Director of Field Programs

Fire has consistently shaped and driven ecological processes for millions of years. We observe this first in charcoalified plants in the late Silurian, about 425 million years ago, which record some of the first forest fires on the planet. Fast forward to the early Cretaceous, 145 million years ago, continuous fire aided in the diversification of early angiosperms, which quickly adapted. More recently in the late Pliocene, around 3 million years ago, uplift in California established a mediterranean climate, with wet winters and dry summers. Oak woodlands and associated sclerophyllous vegetation began to dominate Southern California, including the establishment of chaparral and coastal sage scrub ecosystems following the last glacial maximum, 20,000 years ago. 

Around the same time, stewardship of lands by indigenous peoples across the state, utilizing fire for proliferation of native plants, drastically increased the levels of diversity throughout the state. When we talk about fire, we talk about ecological succession. Native ecosystems are well prepared to follow fire, as they always have. It is the introduction of non-native species, combined with fire suppression, which has drastically impacted the cycle of disturbance in the landscape. Indigenous peoples use cultural fire to burn in mosaics, creating varied fire intensities—high, mixed, and low—each resulting in a unique post-fire landscape. This is where the most diversity occurs. After the Thomas Fire, the hillsides around Ojai revealed parts of its character that had been buried for so long. The soil was awakened and expressed in multitudes of Humboldt lily (Lilium humboldtii ssp. ocellatum), fire following campion (Silene multinervia), large-flowered phacelia (Phacelia grandiflora), chaparral snapdragon (Antirrhinum thompsonii), golden eardrops (Ehrendorferia chrysantha), and deerweed (Acmispon glaber). 

As the charred hillsides lit up with color, riparian ecosystems painted a vastly different story. Columns of matchsticks, giant reed (Arundo donax), choked riparian zones and lined edges of the floodplains, encouraging the spread of fire. Did you know that giant reed’s flammability and height can facilitate the spread of embers for up to two miles in large wind events? As the plant matures and stems desiccate, stands of giant reed become riddled with dry material, and the fuel builds up fast. Moisture content within giant reed, especially during its dormancy through late fall and winter, increases fire susceptibility dramatically. 

In comparison to an arroyo willow thicket, which has a relatively high moisture content and lower surface to volume ratio, giant reed acts as kindling. Not only does giant reed alter fuel loads and increase the intensity and spread of fires through the riparian zone, but the consequences of these fires are also a concern.

Traditionally, fire moves through these ecosystems at low intensity, allowing riparian vegetation to survive and recolonize post-fire. During high intensity fires encouraged by giant reed, surrounding plant communities suffer, resulting in destabilization of banks and upland areas. 

Timing of these fire events are often followed by rainfall, which can completely wipe out large portions within the channel. Stands of giant reed, in areas that are supposed to be firebreaks, actively pose a major threat to the wildfire resilience of the Ojai Valley. Our work in collaboration with CAL FIRE, Pax Environmental and Ventura County Resource Conservation District addresses the urgent necessity to restore our watershed’s corridors, and replace stands of giant reed with lush riparian forest.

Martin Schenker, Restoration Field Crew Manager

Hi Greg! Thanks for meeting with me on this crisp winter day. You’ve been a core OVLC volunteer since around 2017, always bringing light-hearted humor and a knack for problem-solving, no matter the project. To start, can you tell me a little about yourself?

I was born in Hollywood in 1961 and grew up in Burbank. I was lucky—I had a classic middle-class, bike-riding childhood, and right across the street was a mountain range. That was unusual for such a developed town. The land where I used to play is now covered in houses, but back then, we could hike straight from my house, cross a couple of ranges, and end up in La Crescenta-Montrose. It was unstructured, wild, and an absolute blast. That’s where my love for nature started.

I moved up to Ojai about ten years ago when my wife followed an employer, and I tagged along. I love it here. I have a real fascination with rivers, river restoration, and steelhead trout. OVLC keeps me moving—it gets me off my butt and working! These days, I work as a professional landscaper, which lets me combine my love for the outdoors with hands-on, creative work. I spend my days shaping landscapes, restoring spaces, and—most importantly—getting my hands in the dirt.

What led you to working outdoors as a career?

Playing in the mountains as a kid. I’ve always had two passions: music and nature. I spent my twenties and thirties in Hollywood recording studios, working long hours indoors. When my daughter was born, I knew I couldn’t keep up with the 80-hour weeks. So, I pivoted. I started working at a nursery for a bit, and long story short, that led me to landscaping. It happened naturally—people kept asking me to do projects, and I kept saying yes. No one complained, so I kept going! Eventually, I got my license, built a career, and raised my kid.

You’ve mentioned music as one of your two passions. Can you share more about that?

I’ve been obsessed with music for as long as I can remember. Even as a kid, I was always spinning records. When I was nine, my mom got a piano, and I just started banging on it instinctively. I took lessons for about a year, but I didn’t love being told what to play—I just wanted to play Skynyrd! My teacher had me repeating chords, and I was like, “This isn’t why I’m here!” A couple of years later, I got a guitar and taught myself how to play. I still write and play all the time—it’s just part of who I am.

What do you enjoy most about trail work?

There’s no single answer, but honestly, the number one thing is the camaraderie. It’s a wacky world these days, and it’s hard to find people who believe in what I believe in. The folks at the conservancy—the staff, the volunteers—they just get it. At least as far as I can tell, they’re rooted in reality. Sure, the fresh air and exercise are great, but mostly, it’s about being around good people.

Absolutely! And it’s the people who show up, too.

Exactly. There are two ways you can help—one is to throw money at something. And don’t get me wrong, nobody’s giving more than they can afford to a cause they believe in. But time? That’s a finite thing. You can always make more money, but you can’t make more time. The people who put in the hours—the ones who really show up—those are the winners for me. As for a favorite trail, I’d say Wills Canyon and El Nido Meadow. But honestly, I’m usually just enjoying the river.

What keeps you coming back after all these years?

Fear of dying—ha! I mean, that’s one way to stay motivated, right? Toby Keith had this song, “Don’t Let the Old Man In.” I didn’t know much about it until he passed, but I heard the story. He was at a pro-am golf tournament, and he got paired with Clint Eastwood. Clint was 88 at the time, still working, and said he was in the middle of writing and directing The Mule (2018). Toby asked him, “Why the hell do you keep doing this?” And Clint stopped, thought for a second, and said, “I don’t let the old man in.” I loved that. That’s me. I might be getting older, but if you tell anybody...well, I’ll just keep going until I can’t!

Do you have a favorite memory or project you’ve worked on with OVLC?

Not one favorite—what I have are memories. I’ll be out hiking and suddenly think, “Oh man, I remember when we hauled that concrete up here for this bench!” Or I’ll see a section of trail and think, “This used to go a different way, and look how well it grew in after we rerouted it.” So for me, it’s not about one big moment. I just like checking up on “the kids” and seeing how they’re doing.

I’ve been thinking a lot about all of us who work on the trails—how it’s like we’re creating a living legacy. The sweat, the effort, the memories we tie to certain sections of trail...those places wouldn’t be the same, or even exist, without that work.

Exactly. Great societies are built by people who plant trees whose shade they will never sit under. I live by that.

That’s beautiful. I know you also volunteer with Los Padres Forest Association and the Ojai Raptor Center. What does volunteering mean to you?

I have a lot of thoughts about money, and one of them is this—volunteering puts you in control. Most of us go to work because we have to. I mean, I can tell you love what you do, but a lot of people wake up in the morning, drag themselves to work, and just do what they have to do to make a living. Volunteering? That’s my choice. Money or no money, this is valuable to me. This is what I want to do. I’m lucky enough to have the freedom to make that decision, and I don’t take it for granted.

And by the way—if you love something and then start doing it for a living, you might stop loving it. I heard about a study on parents who pay their kids to take piano lessons. Those kids almost never stick with it. It has to be organic—something you truly want to do. That’s how I feel about volunteering. I do it because it means something to me. Plus, you know...I’ll take the juice boxes and Nature Valley bars at the end of the day.

What would you say to someone who’s thinking about joining us for trail work but feels intimidated?

I’m a huge believer in the healing benefits of nature. There’s plenty of science to back it up—just being outdoors, doing something—it’s good for you. So don’t overthink it. Be a part of it. Be alive. A lot of us hesitate to step into something new because we don’t want to feel out of place or like we’re not pulling our weight. I get that. But here’s the thing—volunteering isn’t just about what you give, it’s about what you receive, too. I used to think saying no to help was the safe choice, but now I see that when you turn down an opportunity to connect, you’re actually taking something away from both sides. So don’t be afraid to jump in. And if I can make you laugh on the trail? Even better—because that means you’re already part of the team.

You do plenty of that! You always keep us laughing—honestly, one of the best reasons to show up is to hear one of your jokes. Greg, we really appreciate you. It’s always a highlight to see you roll in behind the wheel of that old International Harvester Scout, ready to get to work. You’re truly the best, and it’s a pleasure having you on the team.