Sonoma Ecology Center, Pepperwood, and Occidental Arts and Ecology Center recently launched a new, free in-depth online resource for Sonoma County land stewards.

While Sonoma County is full of experts in land management, this expertise has been scattered and overwhelming for users until Tending the Land summarized it in one easily accessible and understandable resource. Alongside Pepperwood, Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, and dozens of partners, we have summarized this expertise into Tending the Land, an easily accessible and understandable resource.

Local professionals and volunteers igniting a prescribed fire at Pepperwood Preserve. The new resource, Tending the Land, would provide anyone involved in land stewardship easy-to-understand information on fire-wise best practices, such as prescribed burns such as these. Photo Credit: Ian Nelson.

Distilling deep regional expertise into a step-by-step process for planning and caring for the land, the new website explains in plain language how to achieve multiple land stewardship objectives over time.

Anyone who stewards land can use this resource, from landowners, volunteers, and non-profit organizations that help care for open space, to land management professionals. Because of its accessible language and format, the new resource bridges the gap between professionals and the public.

Anyone can use Tending the Land, from individuals who are interested in land management, to volunteer groups, to professionals.

“We hope Tending the Land will be the first resource that land managers of all kinds will reach for when approaching the stewardship of a site in Sonoma County,” says Eric Schoohs, Sonoma Ecology Center Land Management Planner and Tending the Land’s Project Manager.

Among many useful topics covered by Tending the Land include the benefits of forest thinning, prescribed fires, case studies of successful ecological land management, and Indigenous land gardening knowledge.

Following a simple Learn, Plan, Do model, Tending the Land provides high quality, scientific and Indigenous gardening knowledge in simple terms.

“As a longtime education and demonstration center for regenerative land stewardship, the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center is proud to share this much-needed resource for land owners and managers in Sonoma County seeking to take an active role in tending resilient landscapes. Rich with case studies, ecological principles, and planning resources, Tending the Land offers accessible management strategies that reduce wildfire risk and also provide co-benefits like wildlife habitat, soil health, beauty, and biodiversity,” says Hannah Wilton, Development & Program Manager at OAEC.

Users can find many useful types of information to start the process of land management, whether it be for their residential home or a large open space area.

Devyn Friedfel, Assistant Preserve Manager at Pepperwood Preserve, shares his excitement, “It is great to have a community resource that incorporates so much nuance of Sonoma County ecology. Tending the Land has value to all land stewards in our county, whether they are professionals, land owners, or interested community members.”

“It’s been an honor to make this guide with so many dedicated people, getting their expertise into one coherent information resource. They are amazing experts and amazing human beings,” shares Caitlin Cornwall, Sonoma Ecology Center’s Senior Project Manager who oversaw this project.

Tending the Land gives simple definitions of common best practices in ecological land management, and guidance on how to carry out the work of caring for the land.

This project was accomplished through joint efforts among Sonoma Ecology Center, Pepperwood, Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, and dozens of contributors from organizations including CAL FIRE, Resource Conservation Districts, Sonoma Land Trust, LandPaths, Permit Sonoma, UC Cooperative Extension, and Indigenous knowledge holders.

Tending the Land was funded by Sonoma County’s Vegetation Management Grant Program, Fire Safe Sonoma, the Redwood Chapter of Sierra Club, and a generous anonymous donor.

We are deeply grateful for all of our partners, funders, and contributors who have made this project a reality.