Calling all green thumbs! Everson Ranch garden is starting up for it's second year of growing! We have been busy preparing the soil, putting up greenhouses and looking forward to another season of gardening fun!

We have a big list of things to do ranging from construction projects to digging and organizing, seed sowing, and planting. There are plenty of opportunities for folks that want to help! We will even have some kids craft activities to do (which will need an adult volunteer to oversee.) Now is also the perfect time to start seedlings indoors. When they are ready to transplant, we would love to give them a home.

Please let us know if you would like to join our garden club! Any amount of volunteering would be appreciated. All you have to do is fill out the online volunteer form and submit it to our Volunteer Coordinator - Rosie. If you don't have time to work in the garden, you're still welcome to come on down for a tour.

Let's get growing!

Kids Science Camp 2017 is scheduled for July 23rd through the 27th. Our goals are to create awareness of environmental issues, resource sustainability, land and habitat conservation. Our program provides the opportunity to experience this unique environment, to expand knowledge of natural world and to instill a sense of stewardship and personal responsibility.

We have reached full enrollment as of April 14th. Interested families may still add their names to a wait list in case of cancellation. Please send info to:

Kids Science Camp is supported by a Saguache County Sales Tax Grant. Thank you Saguache County for your continued support!

Bird watching workshop scheduled for Saturday afternoon, May 20th and Sunday morning, May 21st. Explore Orient Land Trust with nature photographer and bird watcher Jim Welch. There is no charge for this workshop. 

Bird Fun Photography
& Identification Workshop

MAY 20TH & 21ST 

Saturday Afternoon 4:00 – 7:00 pm
Sunday Morning 7:30 – 10:30 am

Jim Welch, Wildlife Photographer

Identify and record the different birds at Orient Land Trust by walking transects across the diverse habitats on the preserve. Those interested in bird photography are encouraged. Jim will use a high zoom point and shot cameras to help in identification. Bring binoculars and your camera!

Please Call to Reserve Your Space!

Identify and record the different birds at Orient by walking transects across the diverse habitats on the preserve.

Orient Land Trust
64393 County Road GG, Moffat CO 81143
719-256-4315 www.olt.org

Next time you check into the Welcome Center, you may notice a few new faces! We'd like to welcome Zoe and Tina to the front desk staff and Jamie to our housekeeping staff. Also welcome Kim, Haven and Sarah who started in housekeeping this fall. Please say hello when you stop in.

Time is running out if you want to be considered for the Orient Land Trust Board of Directors. The Governance Committee, the group responsible for reviewing applicants for the OLT board, would like to begin interviewing soon. If you have an interest, act soon to get your name in front of the committee. Preferred are people who have been to board meetings, have served on a committee, or have been involved with the OLT community. Contact the Governance Committee Chair at:

In conjunction with the San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council, (our local public lands advocate organization), Orient Land Trust is participating in the public comments process as the U.S. Forest Service determines their management plan for the Rio Grande National Forest for the next 20 years. OLT has already submitted a comment package and the OLT Board of Directors is in the process of submitting their perspective.

We are inviting any and all members of our organization to consider submitting individual comments. What will be very effective as the USFS reads our submissions are personal stories that you might have regarding your personal experiences in the wild areas surrounding the San Luis Valley, within the Rio Grande National Forest. Hiking, fishing, horseback pack trips, personal moments of inspiration as you have interacted with wilderness... any and all of these (and more) are valid and welcome. As you describe these moments, consider tying your personal experiences to preservation of these lands and if you see fit to do so, perhaps recommend how you think our public lands agency, the USFS can best perpetuate and enhance these experiences.

USFS Spokesperson Mike Blakeman says, "I want to emphasize that although we have passed the end date as announced in the legal notice published in the Valley Courier, the Rio Grande National Forest planning team is always interested in receiving comments pertaining to the forest plan revision. The RGNF is targeting late May to release the Draft Environmental Impact Statement." They would like your comments by April 15th if at all possible.

For more background on this process, please go to: http://www.slvec.org/projects/rio-grande-national-forest-management-plan. Remember, these lands belong to all of us and it is our right if not our trust to intelligently manage these lands for ourselves and our future generations. Participating in this process is another way that we can encourage our democratic processes.

Please consider supporting SLV Ecosystem Council's recommendations. If you have any questions, please call (719) 589-1518 or e-mail:

Comments are to be sent to three places:

Spokesperson Mike Blakeman; <>

Planner Erin Minks; Minks, Erin - FS <>

General comments: <> (please note, underscore after rgnf and forest)

General US Postal Mail:

Rio Grande National Forest
Forest Plan Revision
1803 US Hwy 150
Monte Vista, CO 81132

By Mark Jacobi

Have you been waiting for your letter from Orient Land Trust reminding you that your membership will be expiring? We are not going to mail those letters this year. The cost in time and postage of sending such letters is significant. Based on the follow up from these letters last year, this was not an effective approach; we had only a marginal response from our mailings. If you are curious about your membership level or the membership expiration date, a quick call to our office can answer any of those questions. Next time you call for a reservation, the front desk staff person you talk to can let you know your level of membership and the date your membership will end. There are many members who are signing up online and electing the option of recurring donations. Perhaps that would work for you! We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause your household.

March madness is in effect at Everson Ranch! The weather is a month of transition with a split personality. It's typically the snowiest month and can be interlaced with early tastes of spring and everything in between. We have new baby animals and thoughts of this years projects and programs are getting some attention. March is also the time of year that Nancy Roberts, of Arrowpoint Beef Company, will bring her fold of highland cattle back to the ranch for grazing until fall.

Holy Cow! Here are a few fun facts about the Scottish Highland breed:

Highland, an ancient Scottish breed, is the oldest registered cattle breed. Highland cattle can withstand harshest conditions and seem to be immune to everything. They live longer and produce more calves than other breeds.

The correct name for a herd of Highlands is a Fold and that long almost comical fringe is called a Dossan. Highlands don't have a fat layer hence their long double layered 'hairy' coat which combined with sweeping horns makes them so recognizable.

Their double coat acts as a natural insulator, and protects them from severe cold, high rainfall, and strong winds. The outer coat consists of long, coarse hair, while the inner coat consists of soft, short, woolly hair. No other cattle breed has such a coat. Other breeds produce a layer of fat to stay warm. The excess fat stored in subcutaneous layers protects them from severe cold. Highland cattle do not need such fat for protection. And it has been noticed that Highlands do not increase their feed intake until the temperature drops to -18 degrees F, while other breeds increase their intake at 32 degrees F. That is why the meat of Highland cattle tends to be leaner than most beef. Tests done by the Scottish Agricultural College have proven that Highland Beef is significantly lower in fat and cholesterol than chicken, and higher in protein and iron than other beef.

Another little known fact associated with Highland Cattle is they thrive on poor grazing, so their ability to improve scrubland makes them a valuable asset in conservation grazing. That's what makes them a perfect addition to our soil restoration program. Along with the pigs, goats and chickens the cows are doing a great job of breaking up the soil crust and adding important nutrients to the land.

Please plan to visit and tour Everson Ranch on your next visit to OLT!

Volunteers are very important to our organization! In fact, we could not do it without them. In 2016, we had 113 volunteers work over 8,000 hours! Thank you to everyone who made 2016 a success!

It's that time of year again when I start scheduling for the summer season. We are looking for individuals who love this special place and have the time, energy, and expertise to share. A positive attitude, understanding of our unique culture, and the ability to work well with others is required. Having visited Valley View Hot Springs is also a plus. We want to match our volunteers up with a job they will enjoy and at which they will be successful. Please let us know if you have special skills or abilities!

Positions that we are looking to fill for the coming season are Camp Hosts, Discovery Hosts, Bat Tour Guides and Astronomy Tour Guides. In addition, this summer we would like some help on the Everson Ranch with the Community Garden and Ranch Tours. These Ambassador positions require a two-week minimum commitment and you have to love working with people! If you have less time to offer, consider helping our facilities staff with trail maintenance, fire mitigation, weed pulling or special projects! For full descriptions of the volunteer opportunities available please go to our web site www.olt.org. Click on the "Get Involved" tab and then "Volunteer." You can download the application on our web site or email Rosie at .

Whether you are a returning seasoned volunteer or coming for the first time, we appreciate, your support and I look forward to hearing from you!

Rosie
Volunteer Coordinator / Visitor Service Manager

Volunteer Application (PDF)

Orient Land Trust is a great place to work! We have a dedicated and friendly staff who work year round to promote the mission of the land trust, maintain this beautiful property and assist guests with their visit.
We are looking to fill several seasonal front desk positions starting in April. These positions are part time, approximately 21 to 28 hours (3 to 4 days) per week. A commitment to work through September is required. Love & enjoy working with people, computer literate, ability to collect money and make change, multi-tasking and working in a busy and noisy office are necessary skills. Flexibility in scheduling is a must! We do not provide staff housing or camping on the property.
To apply, please print and submit application to:

OLT
PO BOX 65
Villa Grove, CO 81155
attn: Rosie

Email:

Or drop it off at the Welcome Center!

OLT Job Application (PDF)