Mountainfilm on Tour 2021 Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors. You help make this event bigger and better every year! Interested in being an event sponsor? Or donating to the silent auction or raffles? Fill out the form below, or contact Tania Parker at tania@ovlc.org or (805) 649-6852 x6.Download Sponsor Level Packet » Fox Canyon Sponsor Ilvento Sponsor Ojai Valley […]
Mountainfilm ’19 Recap

We want to say thank you to our amazing OVLC community for joining us at the 5th annual Mountainfilm on Tour Ojai. We are so grateful to everyone who told a friend, showed up, volunteered, posted on social media, and helped make this year’s fundraiser so incredibly successful. We had 2,000 people in attendance this […]
Film Line Up

Under the Open Sky Friday, September 20 Broken Jon Wilson lost a leg to cancer at 23. He found joy some years later by developing a solitary routine of skinning and climbing up a ski mountain on his remaining leg, at night, and skiing back down. Wilson wrote and narrates this tone poem about perseverance […]
Brian Stark Has Left The Building

Brain Stark, Executive Director and employee of 9 years, leaves the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy.
Tania Parker Named Deputy Director of the OVLC

In recognition of her critical role in the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s growth and success, the OVLC has named Tania Parker as Deputy Director. Tania Parker has been with the OVLC for over 5 years, and in that time she’s made a sizable impact on our fundraising and community outreach programs, including doubling our membership […]
Comments on Pending Criminal Case
August 19, 2019: Many of you have already read the articles that were recently published in the Ojai Valley News and Ventura County Star which reported that the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC) was a victim of theft. The Ventura County District Attorney has filed 14 counts of grand theft and forgery against our former […]
Welcome, Baby Juniper!

Please join us in congratulating Jill Lashly (OVLC Conservation Director) and her husband Evan on the birth of their beautiful daughter Juniper Jean Lashly. We are so excited to have a new member join the OVLC family. Here’s to the next generation of conservationists! Click here to make a gift in honor or in memory […]
Annual Fire Clearance

On May 20, the OVLC will begin routine fire clearance on parts of our preserves that border structures or roads. Thanks to a grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), this work will be completed by the local Concerned Resources and Environmental Workers (the CREW) and an additional contractor. They […]
Arundo removal

For over a decade, multiple agencies and organizations have been working to remove the invasive plant, Arundo donax (Arundo), from waterways throughout the Ventura River Watershed and all through the state of California. Since this work began, over 150 acres of the plant have been removed in the Ventura River Watershed. This work continues in […]
Directions to the OVLC Office

The OVLC office is located at 370 Baldwin Rd, Bldg A4, Ojai, CA 93023 on the old Honor Farm After the main entrance, when you come in the gate, stay to the left and follow the signs for the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy. You will drive by the farm and the road will wrap around the old […]
The Importance of Native Gardens

In a drought-ridden state like California, it’s so important to do everything that we can to preserve water and take care of wildlife. There are many ways to do this, but one you may not think about is growing native plants in your own yard. This video from Wild Yards Project speaks to all the amazing […]
Allan Jacobs Trail Update

The progress continues on building the newest OVLC trail in the Ventura River Preserve. As of October, we’ve had 108 people, both volunteers and staff, working on the Allan Jacobs Trail. So far we have created 791 feet of trail! This averages out to about 1.94 feet of trail built per person per hour. Why […]
Farewell Marti!

Thank you to everyone that came out to celebrate Marti and her retirement! Photos by Stephen Adams. At the end of December, the OVLC will be bidding a fond farewell and happy retirement to our long-time office manager Marti Reid. Marti joined the OVLC in November 2009, as our part-time bookkeeper, and over time assumed […]
Thank You

Together, We Are The OVLC from Ojai Valley Land Conservancy on Vimeo. Love the OVLC? Donate Today »
Property Donation Among Largest One-time Gifts to the OVLC

In August 2018, the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy received one of its largest gifts ever with a donation of property in the City of Ojai. The property, appraised at $515,000, is an undeveloped one-acre parcel in an Ojai neighborhood that was donated with the intention that it be sold to generate funds to support local […]
Fundraising Campaign with HELIO Solar Lights

Get a great solar light and support the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy! HELIO is an ultra-efficient 100% Solar Flashlight, Lantern, and Powerbank all-in-one. This handy tool is great for camping, hiking, emergencies, charging your gear, and much more. HELIO is a true off-the-grid solution for portable light and power. Makers4Good is a proud sponsor of […]
Nathan Wickstrum Art Show

The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s very own Field Crew Supervisor is having a photography show this Sunday! So many of the photos on our newsletters, website, and social media are Nathan Wickstrum’s beautiful work. Grab a cup of coffee and appreciate this talented local artist! Photos will be for sale at the event. Sunday, September […]
Community Volunteers

The OVLC works to steward the land of the Ojai Valley for the benefit of the community, so when the community shows up to volunteer as stewards themselves, we feel even more inspired in our mission. Since the Thomas Fire, there has been a marked increase in community engagement with the OVLC on the preserves. […]
Gourmet Picnic Bags

Gourmet Picnic Bags are no longer for sale. Order early next year! Order a gourmet picnic for 2 or 4 to pick it up at the event Saturday night! The picnic will include your choice of: omnivore vegetarian vegan any picnic can be made with gluten-free products We have gathered together local organic farmers, bakers, […]
Restoration After the Thomas Fire

The native vegetation that covered the preserves before the Thomas Fire is adapted to fire—meaning many of the plants will grow back. We are already seeing shoots emerge from the base of laurel sumac, yucca, wild cucumber, and soap plant; oak trees that lost their leaves have already begun to leaf out and are now […]
Jill Lashly Promoted to Conservation Director

Jill Lashly Promoted to Conservation Director
Jill Lashly has worked at the OVLC for three years as our Restoration Program Manager—promoting habitat restoration and conservation in the Ojai Valley…
Celebrating a Life

The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy lost a dear friend, dedicated volunteer, and conservation champion with the passing of Allan Jacobs on October 8. Allan led a life dedicated to helping others, including an extended tour with the Peace Corps in Bolivia, decades as an estate attorney, and his involvement with the Rotary Club of Ojai […]
Leaving a Legacy

Jerry Gale Jones, esteemed Portland businessman, philanthropist, spiritual seeker and meditation teacher, peacefully passed away on December 29, 2016, at his home in Ojai, California.
New Stewardship Director

The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy is excited to announce the arrival of our new Stewardship Director, Brendan Taylor.
Ventura River Preserve Signed

A huge thanks to our 10 volunteers who helped us sign the canyon trails on Ventura River Preserve on Wednesday morning! Split into two groups, we hiked and signed the Orange Grove, West River, Oso Ridge, Fern Grotto, and Wills Canyon trails. When you’re out on the preserve, you’ll see the green and blue […]
Volunteers clean melted irrigation pipe and plant hundreds of acorns

Last week, with the help of OVLC volunteers and students from the Thacher School, the OVLC cleared 27 acres of melted irrigation pipe and planted hundreds of acorns to replace the thousands of young oak trees that burned in the restoration area along Rice Creek. Katherine Holden, OVLC member and volunteer, was inspired to write […]
Life After Loss: Thomas Fire Recovery

Life After Loss: Thomas Fire Recovery By Patt Wilson McDaniel The Channel Islands Chapter (Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties) of the California Native Plant Society has many members and neighbors who have suffered horrendous loss in the Thomas Fire. We are all greatly saddened but are relieved that there was not more loss of life. […]
An idea for renewal

[a haiku]
The Great Burn surrounds.
A feral pause in the scorched.
Stillness in stirred ash.
Mountainfilm Festival 2018 was the Best Year Yet!

What a weekend! Our Friday event, Under the Open Sky was pure magic. Thank you to the 1,700+ people that came out to our Saturday event, Mountainfilm on Tour and made it such a success!
2017 Mountainfilm Festival was epic!

Wow – what a night! Thank you to the 1,500+ people that came out to our Mountainfilm on Tour event September 23 and made our event such a success!
San Antonio Creek Update

Since the fall of 2016, the OVLC has been removing arundo from San Antonio Creek along Creek Road. Arundo, which is native to the Indian sub-continent and looks similar to bamboo, has infested watersheds throughout southern California, including the Ventura River Watershed. Arundo crowds out plants that are native to our creeks and consumes a lot of water—see below. It also creates a major fire threat, increases flood risks, and deprives habitat for wildlife.