Summer 2008 Vistas Newsletter, Solano Land Trust

8/3/2019 Summer 2008 Vistas Newsletter, Solano Land Trust

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Marilyn Farley, Executive Director

Please use the

envelope provided or

donate online at

www.solanolandtrust.o

Papyrus closes corporate headquarters tocomplete projects and build teams at Rush Ranch

Papyrus Cares Day at Rush Ranch was a day of discovery, hard work, and accomplishment for 80

orporate volunteers. Headquartered in Faireld, Papyrus is a company that sells high-end stationary,

reeting cards and other paper products nationally through 6,000 accounts and 150 stores.

Corporate headquarters virtually closed down on May 14 so employees could team with SLT staffnd volunteers from Access Adventure and the Rush Ranch Educational Council to complete a series

of much needed projects.

They painted new corral fence posts with preservative and cribbing inhibitor; installed irrigation

nd plants for a new Native Plant Garden around the recently installed brick patio; built a tule shade

tructure for the Patwin village; inventoried equipment and supplies for the conference room, ofce,

nd guest quarters; painted the power shed; protected oaks in the picnic area; and cleared the ground

nd installed a gravel pad around the windmill that pumps our water.

Papyrus Cares Chairperson Doris Salas-Flores

and her committee did an amazing job organizing

the teams and preparing for all their needs, fromtools and gloves to water and great food. She said

her team members were eager to get hands-on with

the projects, and very impressed with Rush Ranch

and all the beautiful open space.

Papyrus company owner Dominique Schurman

presented SLT with a generous grant of $3,000 to

increase the already precious donation of their

staff s time, skills and energy.

At the end of the day, volunteers were personally

thanked by Volunteer and Education Coordinator

Teri Engbring for their invaluable help, and were

nvited to think of Rush Ranch as their new home in the country. We hope our corporate partners will

njoy the fruits of their labors at the historic ranch with their family and friends.

Like many of our business partners, Papyrus has a commitment to the environment that has

ecome an integral part of their business practice. Their

website says, Papyrus is committed to protecting and

preserving the environment and to conserving the worlds

atural resources. Papyrus supports the paper manufacturers

whose environmental management and procurement practices

promote sustainability, and result in long-term environmental

enefit. We promote and encourage the use of paper

products made responsibly from our natural resources. Our

nvironmental goal is to become carbon balanced and to create

products that use post consumer waste and biodegradable

packaging materials.

Papyrus has taken the commitment a step further by

partnering with Solano Land Trust to make a difference close

o home. Visit their website at www.papyrusonline.com. We

alue this partnership and others in the corporate community.

earn about our corporate partners and how to become one

t www.solanolandtrust.org.

Papyrus volunteers transplant native plants and install irrigation linoutside the new Nature Center

Photo: Teri Engbring

atching some shade under a tule lean-to built withuidance rom RREC volunteer Grant Ornbaun

hoto: Teri Engbring

Renew yourmembership

today!Help Solano Land Trus

steward the land,

preserve armland, and

provide recreational an

educational opportuni

or schoolchildren, hik

bikers, birders, and

equestrians on our lan

Well keep you inorme

o all the activities we

oer, including ways

you can help. Thank y

or your contribution t

Solano Land Trust!


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Volunteer photographers capturethe magic of the land

Teri Engbring, Volunteer and Education Coordinator

A good picture is worth a thousand words in sharing the wonders of nature and identifying lo

ora and fauna. Photos make our publications, announcements, press releases and yers far m

interesting by grabbing your attention and imagination.Retired Faireld reghter Doug Wirtz is dedicated to photographing the ma

of local wildowers. From the vernal pools of Jepson Prairie to the ridge tops of Ly

Canyon, he has captured the exquisite detail of native plants and blooms. He is n

taking shots for ower photo identication cards for guests and docents to use

SLT sites. Doug has inspired plans for a new color photo version of the Jepson Pra

Preserve handbook.

When we needed a wide range of photographs of local birds to train docents to l

tours on SLT sites, we turned to Sam Steiner for dozens of photos and his expertise

preparing an informative slide show. He also donated his superb photographs and m

hours in editing and layout to create Birds of SLT Properties photo ID cards thatlaminated for a special gift to our volunteers at their 2007 appreciation lunch.

For many years, professional photographer and adventurer Bud Turner has allow

Solano Land Trust to use his photos, including the spectacular photograph of o

gold and dramatic clouds over Olcott Lake, in a variety of publications. Jepson Pra

docents Jim Steinert and Lars Anderson have provided invaluable photos of vernal p

and grassland plants.

Avid birder Margo Watson, of Margos Beautiful Images, lets us use her photo

birds taken on our properties, and Terry Chappell has shared impressive scenic photos of Rush Ran

Tim Baskerville specializes in Rush Ranch night photography and training. Talented volunteers, B

Saunders and Halina (who prefers to use only her rst name, like Cher) have helped us out by captu

the spirit of special events such as the fall Heritage Feast at Rush Ranch.

Jorg Fleige is hal f of

a talented team that shares

flower and habitat photos

and information collected on

frequent hikes throughout

the region, including many

on SLT sites. His partner is

amateur botanist, Mimi Fleige,

who recently led a terrific

docent tour and training about

wildowers at Lynch Canyon.

Jorg shoots plants, trails, and

broader scenery, including the

one shown on the opposite

page of historic farm machinery

at Rush Ranch.

Thanks to our skilled volunteer photographe

Sam Steiner encountered this burrowingowl at its ront door

Doug Wirtz in the feld


5/8o inspire us with their generosity and artistry.

Bud F. Turner, WildLight Photography, used a gnarly oak at King Ranch to anchor a distant view o Mt Diablo

Jorg Fleige captured the drama o antique arm machinesat Rush Ranch

Doug Wirtz shows the world in a dewdrop


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Partner Profle (second in a series):

Schene Enterprises rolls with the changing timesSue Wickham, Project Coordin

This is the second article in our series about the livestock operators who run cattle on our prope

Schene Enterprises, Inc. is well known in the livestock business throughout California.

Tom Schene, along with his father Bob, son Eric, and cousin Jimmy, form the cor

a family business known as Schene Enterprises, Inc., headquartered in Dixon. The fa

business began over 40 years ago as an auction yard in South San Francisco. They mo

to Stockton for a time before nally settling in Dixon. In the early days, sheep from all

Northern California were auctioned in May and June at the Schene Enterprise Auction

in Dixon. The livestock gradually changed to a mix of cattle, sheep, and pigs sold at a we

auction yard where Walmart is located today. Over time, Schene Enterprises focused

raising cattle on leased land.

Today Schene Enterprises leases over 25,000 acres of land. They graze cattle

conservation properties such as King and Wilcox Ranches owned by Solano Land Tr

Bobcat Ranch owned by Audubon California, and the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area ow

by the Department of Fish and Game. Schene Enterprises is a highly experienced

steward, as evidenced by the large number of conservation lands placed in their hands. Tom Sch

says that overgrazing and poor management is as bad for the cattle operator as it is for the l

He notices that public agencies are working with experienced livestock operators more freque

now than in the past, forming partnerships that help to manage conservation lands for econo

benet and land stewardship.

I caught up with Eric Schene at a property adjacent to Solano Land Trusts King Ranch w

cows and their calves were being separated for the rst time. In the noise and commotion, Eric

several others were sorting calves and encouraging them to move down chutes to be expertly loa

into transport vehicles. The calves were born in Dixon, but had been moved to King Ranch during

winter-spring grazing season where they lived with their mothers. They were now headed bacirrigated pastures in Dixon where they will graze until they weigh up to 850 pounds, and then so

suppliers such as Harris Ranch Beef Companys all natural program.

Schene Enterprises primarily raise two types of cattle: Angus for beef and Holsteins for dairy

Holsteins are also moved from pasture to hill property. Bought as calves and owned for two years

they reach breeding age, the Holsteins are bred by articial insemination. Just as they are read

calve, the heifers are sold to dairies in the Central Valley .

When asked what has changed in his business over the last

40 years, Tom says that marketing is a lot easier. In the past, you

had to catch buyers on the phone or transport cattle to auction

yards. Today the cattle are videotaped on the ranch and the tapeis posted on the Internet where buyers can browse and purchase

their cattle directly from the rancher.

When I asked Tom how many of his grandchildren will get

into the family business, he said hed just have to wait and see.

He expressed concern over rising grain and fuel prices that

are causing his expenses to skyrocket. These high prices also

impact the feedlot operators who nish the cattle on grain.

The family will continue to do their best to change with the

market and the times.Corralling calves to move them to DixoPhoto: Sue Wickham

Photo: Sue Wickham

Wanted!

Land Steward Ken

Poerner needs a truck in

good working condition,

preerably 4-wheel drive.

Call Ken at

(707) 580-6277.


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Thanks to the following volunteers who arecritical to our success

Teri Engbring, Volunteer and Education Coordinator

As a small nonprot, we depend upon the enthusiasm, knowledge, expertise and time of volunteers.

ou enhance, protect and improve our properties. You inspire and educate the public about our lands,

wildlife, and natural resources. We are privileged to work with such a delightful, dedicated and capable

eam. On behalf of the staff and board of directors, thank you all!

Nominateyour favoritevolunteer!

We would like help in

the challenging task

o identiying an SLT

Volunteer o the Year,

who we will eature in

our next newsletter.

Please send me a brie

paragraph on why you

nominee qualies or t

honor by July 10, 2008

You can email it to me

teri@solanolandtrust.

or mail it to 1001 Texa

St, Suite C, Faireld, C

94533. Thanks.

Save the Date!

Saturday, November 1,

2008 or the SLT

volunteer appreciation

lunch at Rush Ranch

Chris Abess

C. J. Addingtonan Anderson

ars Andersonrank Andrews

Cindy Apaka

Roger Banerin Beaversob Berman

Carol BermanDarrin BerardiRandie Boardman

Robert Boardmanane Bogner

Ryan Boyntonarry Broderickrianne Bradford

Melissa BradfordKenn BrowneGerardo Bueno

Marime Burtonoanne Castro

ay Chamberlined Champagneerry Chappell

erry ColbornAl Colombano

arbara Comfort

atricia Cooperusan Cotterel

Nicole Cousino

Debbie DannucciCarl Debevec

Yolanda Dillingereff Dittmereslie Dittmer

ean Dolterarah Doolittlem Dunn

Mike ElliottMary Estep

Malcolm EvettMarilyn Farleyohn Fazel

Mary Lou FazelCheryl FilarskyMimi Fleige

org FleigeCharles Fordlizabeth Fry

Ed Gallagher

Rosemary GacutanAleta George

Roy GillRusty Gray

Ann Grove

Meg GrowBurrows HamiltonDoug Hampton

Del HardyMichael HardyPhil Harris

Ursula HeffernonJane Hicks

Buzz HigginsDoug HintzKathy Hoffman

Jennifer HoganDan HomerickBill Honeycutt

Russell HuddlestonBing Huey

Cheryl HurdJohn IsaacsonJulie Jacobs

Peter JacobsenTineke JacobsenTorsten Jacobsen

Sheri JaviusBill JohnsonCarl Joyner

Christine KenastonEsther Kerster

Doris KleinDuane KrommHalina Krukowski

Nancie LagomarsinoEdla Larson

Albert Lavezzo

Mike LessRussell Lester

Kira Levin-StuerzlSarah Levin-StuerzlMonique Ligouri

Sascha LinJim LitsingerPaul Lum

Rebecca MannionSean MarquisMort Marsh

Debbie Martin

Kate MawdsleyMike McCarney

Lindsey McWilliamsJ. D. MillerBob Mintzer

Beth MintzerJane MitchellJane Moody

Joel MooneyPat MoranFrank Morris

Marsha MorrisPamela Muick

Michael MuirAndrea MummertKirsti Muskat

Mark MyersPam NelsonFred Nelson

Moira NeutermanDung Nguyen

Grant OrnbaunCathy OSheaMichael OShea

Marc PandoneAnn ParkinsonScott Parrish

Sharon PetersonAlan PlutchokAlice Plutchok

Ken PoernerDiane Powell

Esther PryorSean QuinnLisa Quintero

Jim ReikowskyTodd RewickOscar Reyes

Mary Ann RichSlow Ries

Jeannette RobertsonBonnie Ross

Vance Russell

Mike RydjordBrett SaundersMike Savino

Dottie SchenkSuzy ScherffMary Schiedt

Michael Schmutz

Janet SchunkVirgil Sellers

Lisa SeraniDan SilviaEric Simoni

Little Bear(Nieves)SiraCharlie SmithLinda Sonner

Sam SteinerMichelle Steiner

Jim Steinert

Michelle StevensStephen Stringer

Derek StubbsSandra Stubbs

Karen Swan

Earl SwenertonJohn TakeuchiMary Takeuchi

Don TayntonRobbin Thorp

Mika TolsonDan Tolson

John Vasquez

Liz VasquezAmber VierlingGenevieve Walden

Jim WalshDave WarnerMargo Watson

Aileen WeddellSarah Weimer

Barb WelchTi Wellman

Jerry Wickham

Sue WickhamChris WhiteBilly Wigley

Mary Kay WilliamsDoug Wirtz

Rollye WiskersonCarol WithamMaxine Wright

Gary WyattLucille YoungCelia Zavatsky

Mike Zeiss


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For latest news on events and directions to

our lands go to www.solanolandtrust.org

Unless otherwise noted, all events are ree and require noadvance registration. Workday groups should call ahead. For

more inormation on events (unless noted otherwise) contactTeri Engbring at (707) 432.0150 x200, [email protected]. With the exception o Suisun Hill Trail across rom RushRanch, dogs are not allowed on SLT properties.

Preserving Farmlandsand OPen sPacethrOughOutsOlanO cOunty

Solano Land Trust1001 Texas Street, Suite CFaireld, CA 94533

(707) 432-0150

NonP

Organiz

US PosPaid

Fairfe

CA 945

Permit #

BOard memBers

Bob Berman,President

Ian Anderson,Vice President

Darrin Berardi,Secretary

Frank Morris,Treasurer

Sean Quinn,

Immediate Past Pres.Frank J. Andrews, Jr.

Jeff Dittmer

Elizabeth Fry

Jane Hicks

John Isaacson

Albert Lavezzo

Russell Lester

John M. Vasquez

staFF

Marilyn Farley,Executive Director

Teri Engbring,

Volunteer and Education

Coordinator

Jennifer Fernandez,Administrative Assistant

Rob Goldstein,Land Transaction Specialist

Nick Meckler, Field Steward

Jane Moody, Bookkeeper

Cathy OConnor,Finance Ofcer

Jessie Olson, RestorationPlanner

Ken Poerner, Land Steward

Ben Wallace, ConservationProject Manager

Sue Wickham,Project Coordinator

Aleta George,

Editor, SLT Vistas

Logo design based onoriginal art by Don Birrell

Jepson Prairie ReserveWe bid a ond arewell to springtime wildfowers and vernal

pool creatures. Come back next year or our docent-led

tours. Until then, take a sel-guided tour o the grassland

prairie any day during daylight hours.

King and Swett RanchesThe King and Swett Ranches are currently open to the public

only during sta or docent led activities.

Scenic Hikes and BirdingFirst Saturday of the month:

Jul. 5, Aug. 2, Sep. 6, 2008. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Moderate pace. Meet at the Park-and-Ride lot at the

Hiddenbrooke Parkway/American Canyon Road exit at I-80.

Lynch Canyon Open SpaceLynch Canyon is open to the public Wed. through Sun. rom

8 a.m. to posted closing time. Trail maps are available at

parking lot kiosk. Carry your own water. As a Solano County

Park, there is a $5 per-day, per-vehicle parking ee.

Trail Run and Community HikeSaturday, Jun. 21, 2008.

Race day registration starts at 6:30 a.m.

Events begin at 8 a.m.

Join the un or the rst-ever Lynch Canyon Trial

Run (10K & hal-marathon), and Community Hike (all

ages and abilities). For more inormation go to www.

lynchcanyontrailrun.blogspot.com.

Scenic Hikes with Docents and RangersFourth Saturday of the month:

Jun. 28, Jul. 26, Aug. 23, 2008. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Guided Equestrian Tour o LynchSaturday, July 19, 10 a.m.

Reservations required. Call Christine at (707) 469-6341

Volunteers needed! Bay Area Ridge Trail-

Solano Trails Day at LynchSaturday, June 14, 9 a.m. to noon

BYO work gloves. No parking ee.

Volunteer WorkdaysSecond Saturday of the month:

Jul. 12, Aug. 9, Sep. 13, 2008. 9 a.m.

Bring gloves and a avorite planting tool. Water, snacks

parking ee available or volunteers.

Rush Ranch Open Space

From March to October, Rush Ranch is open everyday r8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Access Adventure Youth DaySaturday, June 14, 2008. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Students and youth interns will demonstrate what they

learned about drat horses, carriage driving and commu

service. Call (707) 432-0152 or details.

Volunteer WorkdaysFirst Saturday of the month:

Jul. 5, Aug. 2, Sep. 6, 2008. 9 a.m.

Get some resh air while helping with ranch and trail

maintenance. Contact Ken at (707) 580-6277.

Blacksmith Shop Demonstration & Access

Adventure Carriage RidesThird Saturday of the month:

Jun. 21, Jul. 19, Aug. 16, 2008. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Watch or participate in the art o blacksmithing and ex

Rush Ranch on a horse-drawn carriage.

Summer 2008 Vistas Newsletter, Solano Land Trust

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