Do you want to get away from urban life, live in the country and live on a ranch helping with ranch, grounds keeping, and garden chores? Orient Land Trust is asking for 2022 ranch volunteers starting now. 

Live and work in a remote, peaceful setting on the 150 year old Everson Ranch. The garden and ranch buildings are only four miles from the base of the Sangre de Cristos and the views are inspiring. The Everson Ranch is 760 acres and offers unlimited lots of peace and quiet. There is an abundant array of hiking trails and the Sangre de Cristos are designated wilderness. There are two hot springs nearby. Valley View Hot Springs, part of Orient Land Trust, and Joyful Journey Hot Springs and Spa. The greenhouse provides fresh, mostly organically grown vegetables and organic eggs from our flock of chickens. For pictures and background information go to the website at olt.org or watch Historical Everson Ranch, Orient Land Trust on YouTube.

Volunteer housing is rent free. A small, solar heated cottage (no running water) with wifi is near the bath/kitchen for showers, bathroom and a fully equipped kitchen. Possibility of camper or tent camping is also available. Use of Valley View Hot Springs as availability permits (about 1-3 times per week). 

We ask that you commit to at least 2 weeks. Longer stay for the right person could be arranged. For more information contact Doug Bishop. Email:  

Everson Ranch at OLT: 

Learn and apply permaculture concepts at this unique and historic ranch site that connects guest visitation, farm & ranch, gardens, education, and land conservation in a clothing-optional setting. We are excited to partner with Pikes Peak Permaculture for this event.

2 1/2 DAY COURSE INCLUDES
•    Meals
•    Camping at the ranch
•    Instruction from experts
•    Working in teams on site
•    Designs using permaculture knowledge & techniques

COURSE WILL COVER
•    Water & Soil
•    Composts
•    Micro-climates
•    Greenhouses
•    Forest Gardens
•    Zones & Sectors
•    Chicken Charts
•    Plants & Animals on the Land

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Register at https://olt.ejoinme.org/permaculture2022

Have questions or want to learn more contact Scott

Cost: $400 (Early Registration)

Register by May 15 and Save

Scholarships available for local San Luis Valley residents. Contact us to learn more.

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DRAFT SCHEDULE (Subject to Change)

FRIDAY

4:00PM
Welcome & Introductions & Orientation

4:30-5:45 PM
VISION BOARD FOR THE WEEKEND’s EFFORTS

Introduction to Permaculture Principles:
An introduction to the ethics and principles underlying
permaculture. This session will give students a
foundation for incorporating permaculture principles
and practices into a site design.

6 PM Dinner

7 PM SITE TOUR OF THE FARM AREA...
Observations up on board..   Goals of the project. (From Scott)
People care in this world and Social Permaculture
People on the land – what is wrong?  What is missing?

- - - - - -

SATURDAY

7:30 AM Breakfast

9 AM Planetary Systems & Permaculture systems   Water/microclimate/compost & soil
(quick & Dirty) Techniques as greenhouses, forest gardens, plants & animals on the land...
Zones & Sectors, chicken charts basic PC design

11 AM  
Brainstorm of Design Ideas
Participants will do individual design brainstorms
to generate ideas

12:30 PM Lunch

1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Form teams...   Group Work
Participants will work in groups to create a site
design for the property, incorporating
permaculture principles and the knowledge gained.

6 PM Dinner

7 PM More team work time – teachers available

- - - - -

SUNDAY

7:30 AM Breakfast.

9 AM Compost & Soil in deeper – Soil is base!

11 AM Group Work for conceptual presentations
Participants will continue to work in groups.
(Instructors available)

12:30 PM Lunch

1:30–3 PM Teams present their work – conceptuals

3:30 PM Design Weaving (Best picks from all designs)

FOLLOWED BY CLOSING

Meet the Instructors

Becky Elder has been gardening on the Colorado Front Range for over forty  years. Certified in permaculture design, 2002, Becky works with Pikes Peak Permaculture, teaching the permaculture certification course and other community programs. A life-long organic gardener, Becky owns Blue Planet Becky the gardener, an award winning, organic gardening company. Fifteen years with the Master Gardener program and twenty years in Permaculture Design gives her a solid base. Her years as a wildlife rehabilitator, and certification as an Environmental Consultant keeps her connected deeply to nature and her local Colorado ecology. Permaculture, protection of soil and water, along with the flora and fauna is clearly Becky’s passion and her path.

Jayme Domejka is a Colorado native who grew up loving dirt, insects, animals, and nature. First certified in permaculture in 2014 she has continued her education to further her skills in many topics that reside under the permaculture umbrella which includes completing her certification from the Soil Food Web school in 2020. Jayme is currently the course convener for Pikes Peak Permaculture where she teaches and is the owner of Wild Oasis Permaculture, a consultation and design firm. Through her work with students and clients she is living her passion. Permaculture, design for life. 

[coming from Sabine 2022 "the 7 animal photos sent on April 2nd" ... double-check that 2nd thumbnail matches]

Orient Land Trust honors founder, Neil Seitz, on July 10, 2022.

Those of you who pay attention to the availability calendar might have noticed that the July 10 date has filled in. We have reserved the hot springs on July 10 for a memorial service for invited friends and family of Neil and Terry Seitz. Some accommodations have multiple nights due to the distance some of the guests are traveling.

We know that many people would like to recognize Neil and his phenomenal contribution to the hot springs, the community, and the land trust. We may be able to hold a large memorial at some point but this date is a more subdued event. We appreciate everyone's cooperation and understanding.

It's that time again!

Every year, a group of dedicated volunteers participate in our annual weed pull!

We hope to offer opportunities for individuals to get their hands dirty and volunteer by pulling weeds. Noxious weeds are "non-native invasive plants that displace desirable vegetation and degrade natural and agricultural lands. They threaten our drinking water supply, agricultural crops, pasture lands and native habitats." Most of the weeds we pull are from the state of Colorado's B list. These include Bull Thistle, Houndstongue, and Henbane.

OLT is committed to working on our weed issue without using chemical sprays or weed killers, so volunteer power is critical.

This year, volunteers will arrive on the 25th for a day of relaxation before the work begins at 8am on the morning of the 26th. We will start the day by gathering and receiving training on which invasive species we are targeting and how to properly remove them. We will work until noon on the 25th and 26th.

There are a few more volunteers needed for this year's workshop. VVHS admission fees and tent camping will be provided on May 25th and 26th.

Contact our volunteer coordinator to sign up! Email Crystal at

Volunteering at the Everson Ranch in 2022 Last year's volunteer program at the Everson Ranch was successful. Our gratitude goes out to those volunteers who got the work done. The support and help we received was amazing. This year, OLT is once again recruiting ranch volunteers starting in May. Do you want to get away from urban life, live in the country and live on a

Last year OLT hosted their first free 2-3 hrs. mini workshops at the Everson Ranch for OLT guests and neighbors. Volunteers shared their expertise on several different subjects.

We had a hands-on class on how to build your own beehive box, a lecture on the history of tea, a lecture about bees in general and another hands-on experience on harvesting weeds from the garden and preparing a meal with them.

We are hoping to provide a similar educational program this year for all ages. These events will be posted in the newsletter and/or on the board by the welcome center. We are looking for classes that support the practical aspects of the ranch and garden on topics, for example how to protect and build topsoil with mulch and cover crop, improve soil health, crop rotation and drought resistant landscapes. How to turn a small garden area into an edible landscape, on herb gardens, canning food, making compost tea, restoring wooden fences, treating wood for preservation, building shade structures for the chickens and more. There is always something to do at a ranch. Hands-on! You might have other great ideas that would support the preservation and development of the Everson Ranch and provide others with practical skills to implement in their lives. You would support OLT's mission of lifelong learning for all ages, preservation and stewardship of the land in a fun project for all involved. Should you be interested in volunteering to teach at the ranch on a subject that you feel knowledgeable and passionate about, please email Sabine at . You are welcome to camp at the ranch for 1-2 nights on the days of the workshop.

Saturday May 7th. at the Everson Ranch. 
The ranch will open at 9:30am. We are starting to work at 10:00am and as long as people like to help that day. 

"This is an invitation to participate in an international, annual event where gardeners and non gardeners come together to celebrate gardening in the open. Usually it is a fun, lighthearted and a liberating experience. 

You can wear as much or as little clothing as you wish. You might want to dress in layers since the weather in early May at the Everson Ranch is unpredictable. Could be mild and comfortable but it could also be windy and cool. Precipitation, rain or snow, is also a possibility. 

Please bring: sunscreen, sun hat, sun glasses, water bottle, solid shoes, and gardening gloves. Because we are still dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, also bring your face mask. You might like to bring your lunch to enjoy after gardening. After lunch there will be a tour of the ranch for those that would like to stay longer. 

It is still not known how much we will be open to visitors and guests this year. We could use your help in the greenhouses, the garden and grounds keeping." 

Please join us!

Every March we get a kick start and reminder of how many people want to visit Valley View. We are not only seeing a return of guests that have not been here since our COVID closure, but also many new residents of the San Luis Valley and tourists wanting to experience the uniqueness of Orient Land Trust and Valley View Hot Springs. Every one of these visits begins with a phone conversation. Our phones ring non-stop much of the time. Many calls are from those who have never been here and require more time on our part to make sure they understand what OLT and Valley View represent. Since our offerings are so unique this can take some time and multiple calls. You may find yourself leaving a message; we will call you back. There are times a message is not understandable due to poor cell service. If we encounter a full voicemail box we don't try again. If you have not heard from us after 2 hours please try again.

The Welcome Center is currently working very well as office space and guests may come in to register and use the restroom at check-in. We continue to sell ice, ice cream, Everson Ranch eggs and a few snacks. In the past coffee and tea were available for guests. However, that is not available now. Please come with everything you will need for your stay. Everyone has access to a kitchen with a coffee maker or stove, so as long as you come prepared with your own supplies there is no need to feel deprived.
Thank you for your continued support and patience,

All of the Visitor Service Staff (Kelley, Lisa, Crystal, Katelyn, Jamie and Cherrye)