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Every donation matters. Support our volunteer and education programs, preservation of ancient forests, and restoration of the natural and cultural resources that help make park visits cherished memories.
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September 1, 2023
Dear Stewards,
Visitors come to Armstrong Redwoods for the feeling they get observing a protected redwood forest. In our case it is designated as a "reserve." Feelings of calm, perspective, inspiration. There are so many ways we, as individuals, experience it. Kind of like art; which has been on my mind lately...
Tomorrow, there's a show at Oli Gallery in Guerneville titled "Redwood." 10% of the proceeds for all sales at the event will go to Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods! I'll be there. Come say hi! Big thanks to Donavan at Oli Gallery for hosting us as a beneficiary, and for curating a show dedicated to redwoods! Multiple pieces depict Armstrong Redwoods and Austin Creek. Perhaps my favorite is a painting of the "bottle brushing" (a wildfire after effect specific to redwoods) at Bullfrog Campground in Austin Creek. You'll have to see it in person (info below).
Months ago, we applied for the "Art in Parks" grant program in partnership with California State Parks. Both submissions were approved! We will soon have in-hand critical funding to support the Artist in Residence Program at Pond Farm Pottery and a new program "Sylvan Sounds" to offer a musical performance series in the Redwood Forest Theater in partnership with community sponsors.
On Monday, we hosted a reception at Pond Farm for August Artist in Residence Alieh Rezaei, and today we penciled in an event for Friday, September 29th with Elliot Mercer, who arrived today as the September Artist in Residence.
Last weekend's Bodega Seafood Art and Wine Festival was a huge success, and we look forward to launching our art auction next week in partnership with River Arts. We have been so blessed with an outpouring of donations for the auction.
Last but not least, Pond Farm Pottery has passed the second to last step in becoming a National Historic Landmark with the National Park System Advisory Board recommending it for approval by the Secretary of Interior! If you haven't heard about Pond Farm, check out the new video or join us for a tour.
While we remain steadfastly an environmental nonprofit, we are immersing ourselves in the arts and connections between art and nature. Join us or donate to support our work!
 Sincerely yours,
Justin Lindenberg
Executive Director
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Join us tomorrow, September 2nd
16215 Main Street #1
Guerneville, CA 95446
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At the Bodega Seafood Art & Wine Festival
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Once again, the Bodega Seafood, Art and Wine Festival was a huge success! We made new friends and supporters for our work, interacted with thousands of members of the public, sold lots of nature and educational "merch," and introduced generations to the wonder of tidepools at the tidepool touch table!
Stewards will receive a grant of $12,000 from the festival as a beneficiary, and we had $6,700 in sales. These are very important funds that will be put to use in your local parks. Thank you to all our volunteers, and we hope to see you next year!
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Children enjoying the animals from the Tidepool Touch Table at the Bodega Seafood, Art and Wine Festival 2023. Photo Stewards Staff.
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Stewards introduced children and adults to tidepool life with critters on loan from the Bodega Marine Laboratory in Bodega Bay.
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Upper right photo: Baby Sea Stars in a clam shells! So tiny! All photos above by Stewards docent, Amber Durica.
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Older kids learning about tidepool animals from Stewards docent, Tom McBride. Photo by Stewards docent, Amber Durica.
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Baby's first introduction to tidepool life! Photos by Stewards docent,
Cynthia Jackson.
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Alieh's August Art Reception at Pond Farm
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"Ascending from the public redwoods preserve, navigating the winding country road, and immersing myself in profound solitude – all find expression in my creations. This body of work is crafted using carded and fluffed wool in a variety of colors, a reflection of my time at Pond Farm residency. Continuously inspired by Marguerite Wildenhain’s legacy, this place imparts both life wisdom and creative insight. " - Alieh
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Utilizing contributions to the Michele Luna Tribute Fund, we repaired the trellis in front of Marguerite Wildenhain's cottage at Pond Farm. See below for before and after photos of what we're accomplishing with donor funds. Michele remains a cherished advisor to Stewards and Pond Farm. She recently rejoined Stewards as a member of the Advisory Board.
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California Orb Weaver in Armstrong Redwoods
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8.26.2023 - Orb Weaver spider spotted in the front of Armstrong Redwoods, Guerneville. Photo by Operations Assistant Manager, Rachel Hallaway.
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Armstrong Woods Trail Crew Report August 30, 2023: Braving the prospect of smoky skies and soaring temperatures, nine volunteers joined Scott Lawyer (Stewards Operations Manager) at the Bullfrog Pond Campground, continuing the post-fire cleanup before welcoming back the public. The agenda was simple, but not easy: buck up downed logs into firewood lengths, process the rounds into finished firewood and stack the product, and flush cut a stump in front of the upper restroom.
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Two sawyers immediately took chainsaws to the downed logs scattered about the site, while a third sawyer dismantled the large stump by the restroom in piecemeal fashion, due to its size, before joining the other two sawyers reducing the number of logs laying about.
One crew utilized The Beast to process what looked to be at least a cord of firewood, while another solitary soul used The Guillotine to process more rounds further up the campground road.
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Two rovers, armed with loppers, eliminated miscellaneous sprigs and branches, while re-establishing a cross-campground trail leading to the refurbished restroom, now adorned with a low tree stump bench for high-demand restroom waiting periods.
As the mercury was climbing and the air quality was deteriorating, the trail crew ate lunch capped off by a remnant batch of Famous Flora's cookies. All rejoiced when she personally appeared and delivered a fresh batch of new and exciting flavors, before they called it a day, dispersing to areas of lower temperatures and fresher air. -- Paul Schwarz, CSP/Stewards Volunteer Trail Crew Co-Coordinator
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Photos by Mark Anderson and Scott Lawyer
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If you would like to join Stewards Volunteer Trail Crew, give us a call at 707-869-9177 ex 1 or email stewards@stewardscr.org. Learn a new skill... meet new friends... enjoy the beautiful outdoors! And don't forget, all the free homemade cookies you can eat for lunch!
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Upcoming Events and Classes
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Interested in developing new skills as an outdoor educator, or nature enthusiast? Join Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods for a two-part series of The Art of Interpretation, by David Berman.
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Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods invites you to Yoga Under the Redwoods, with Cathy Johnson. Cathy is a Registered Yoga Teacher, who has completed a 500-hour training with Yoga Alliance (E-RYT 500).
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Join a docent-led tour of Pond Farm Pottery and Immerse yourself in the history and natural beauty of this significant cultural site, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a National Historic Landmark. Learn about the dreams and challenges of internationally-renowned ceramicist Marguerite Wildenhain, the first woman to graduate from the Bauhaus as a Master Potter.
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At Sonoma Coast State Park, 7900 Carlevaro Way, Bodega Bay, CA 9492. Be sure to bring beach/lawn chairs, water/snacks, and dress in layers. This event is free to the public, with a capacity of 200 attendees.
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Author Greg King: The Ghost Forest
Wednesday, September 27, 2023, 5PM to 7PM
Join us and welcome award-winning journalist and local activist Greg King to Armstrong Redwoods Forest Theater for his new book – The Ghost Forest: Racists, Radicals, and Real Estate in the California Redwoods. The discussion will be followed by a Q&A.
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River Arts and Stewards Art Auction
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This September 2023: River Arts and Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods are hosting an online auction for the month of September, 2023. Our goal is to raise money to benefit the efforts of both of these organizations by enriching our community through the arts and the preservation of nature. The auction will launch next week!
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