Brand launched with new products!

OLT's Everson Ranch now has its own brand name and logo thanks to the creativity of Geneva Mixon (OLT's recent Board Chair), Cherrye Williams (OLT"s Office Manager), and Mike O'Donal (Everson Ranch Manager). The idea for the label name, "Everson Ranch Goodness", germinated with Mike and Cherrye. Geneva captured the concept in a wonderful new logo depicting the ranch and its role at OLT. The "Everson Ranch Goodness" label encompasses all the wonderful products already being produced from OLT's Everson Ranch - grass and organically fed beef, pork and eggs. The most recent addition to the "Everson Ranch Goodness" line is our selection of pork sausage, ham steaks and pork chops. Our large, black exotic pigs are known for their pedigree - they are considered "heritage" hogs. They retain the traits of their ancestors that lived on the pastures and woods of England in the 16th and 17th centuries. Hardy animals, they are able to handle the cold and heat and can effectively convert pasture and goodies found in our fields and woods into nutrition. Their pork is micromarbled, has a deliciously Old World flavor and might arguably be considered the best pork available. Future plans for the "Everson Ranch Goodness" line of products include honey, potatoes, and garden vegetables.

The Science Camp this year had more participants. We rearranged the schedule to provide more time for the young scientists to spend time with their families. Parents remarked that they liked the schedule better. In the morning, we met for an hour or two. Sometimes we swam, one morning we had a geology hike at the mine, picking up rocks and looking at unusual formations. One morning there was a trip to a local goat farm where the scientists learned to make cheese. In the afternoons, there was horseback riding, journaling and writing, a hydroelectric tour, and a wildflower walk, Evenings included campfire with s'mores, astronomy, singalong, and a scavenger hunt with an emphasis on fireflies. Friday finished off with a tour of the ranch and a barbecue lunch. The pigs were popular. The night that we had scheduled the bat hike got rained out. However, parents helped by taking their kids on a different night. Thanks to all the participants, parents and children.

This is our chance to give a big Thank You! to all of our members. Thanks for your support! Orient Land Trust depends on your contributions. Your memberships have enabled us to pour water on the hayfields, protect the mine history and bat habitat, stock the freezer with organic grass fed beef, welcome geologists from high schools and colleges, provide research opportunities for biologists, create a thriving habitat for rare fish. Of course, the land has been protected from development and we have protected the open space from becoming a patchwork of splintered properties. Valley View Hot Springs remains the oasis.

During Members Appreciation Weekend, the capacity limits are eased. If you are a member, you are welcome. This means that it is more crowded than any other weekend. We have a band on Friday Night, Gumbo Jets, and we have a second band on Saturday night, Hippies with Blondes. On Saturday afternoon, we invite everyone to provide food at a potluck that is ever changing and reminiscent of the loaves and fishes. Sunday morning, OLT staff cooks you breakfast. Throughout the weekend, the fine espresso and lattes that have in previous years been sold by Saguache Espresso will be for sale again this year. All members are invited! Move over, make room, and share the pools and campsites with members from all over.

Silent Auction: Clean out your Attic/ Garage. Art and artifacts welcome but lower priced items sell better! Bring a unique item to donate for our Silent Auction on Saturday morning. Please email or call Pam Nelson at 719-298-2289 if you are planning to donate something for the auction. 

Historically, the printed annual report was mailed out in the fall. Last year, when the time came to publish the annual report, we decided that it made more sense to publish each annual report earlier in the year as the audit was completed. Therefore, we did not publish an annual report last fall and the annual report that will be mailed soon will include the financial report for two years, 2013 and 2014. In addition to the financial report for both years, you will find updates about Orient Land Trust's accomplishments and a list of the generous people who have donated to OLT. Last year was a good year for OLT and we'd like to thank everyone for their kindness, respectfulness, and continuing to donate to land conservation in the northern San Luis Valley.

Lots of rain, tall grass, bright sun, early summer. Add them all together and you get gnats and mosquitoes and sunburn. Nobody likes them. The bats will help with the bugs. The warm weather encourages us to shed our clothes and enjoy the warmth of summer. Sunblock protects us from sunburn and repellents help keep the pests away. However, we are at the top of a watershed and what we put into the water goes downstream to the fish and flora.

Remember: shower off the lotions and potions before soaking in the pools, be aware of the pollutants that you introduce, other people may not like what you are spraying while you are next to them. Some avoid these products altogether, floating a sarong across the surface of the water, wearing wide brim hats, or using an umbrella. Orient Land Trust protects the water, the land, and habitat. A few precautions help maintain pure water and clean air.

OLT has made progress on the irrigated hay fields project at the Everson Ranch (pronounced "ee-vur-son"). The project, when finished, will provide water to over 50 acres of hayfields that have been dried up for many years. In 2014, Mike O'Donal, the ranch manager, was able to irrigate and harvest 8 acres of hayfields. This year, we purchased and installed over 1100 feet of ten inch pipe that will supply five more gated pipe laterals. We also bought enough gated pipe to run two of those five laterals. We are adding some 6 inch pipe that will irrigate a few acres at the ranch house that will bring water to some new trees as well as grazing pastures for the Black hogs. With the abundant rains of this spring, we will be able to increase the hay harvest and provide lush grazing for the Scottish Long-haired Cattle from Arrowpoint, our organic beef partners.

Science Camp in July. If you're interested in providing a wonderful week for your child with an emphasis on Science, check out the information letter and registration form. The young scientists will be free ($50.00 deposit refunded after camp ends). Parents can make normal reservation arrangements for the week. Ask for more information at the Welcome Center.

Everyone has heard about the WWTP and the long process involved; including recommendations, designs, permits, and the construction process. What may have been lost in the tale is the accumulating cost of the thing. Construction costs were about $180,000. We also paid the design firm and we paid the State of Colorado for permits. Altogether, the WWTP has cost more than $300.000. The good news is that we only borrowed $100,000. The rest has been paid as charges occurred through our admission and accommodation income. Thanks you to everyone that donated to the fund and thanks to everyone who has visited! Your support makes it possible.

If you have considered working on a committee supporting the OLT Board, now is the time to volunteer. If you are considering applying to be on the OLT Board, please send a letter of interest, a resume and references to the Governance Committee Chairs by June 15th. We look forward to hearing from you.