Home, Home on the Range: White Buffalo Land Trust’s Open House

White Buffalo Land Trust has only been around for six years, and it was only in 2021 that the nonprofit dedicated to restoring our ecosystem through regenerative agriculture acquired the 1,000-acre Jalama Canyon Ranch to establish its center to practice, promote, and develop systems of regenerative agriculture for local, regional, and global impact. Located near Highway 1, about eight miles north of Point Conception and a 10-minute drive south of Lompoc, WBLT’s Jalama Canyon Ranch started right in on its mission to foster the evolution of land stewardship and reimagine our food system. 

WBLT’s approach is circular, one that weaves regenerative land stewardship with educating the community and training current and future farmers and ranchers. At the same time, the nonprofit incorporates innovative monitoring and data collection to measure and support scientific research which in turn improves its land stewardship, learning and teaching. The work also collectively brings regenerative products into the marketplace to prove the value of the practices not only on the farm but also in the commercial space, an important factor in creating lasting change.

Despite only working Jalama for 42 months, WBLT has already had a major impact beyond its own “living laboratory,” as its management principles and practices are now seen on more than 150,000 acres of land including the training of hundreds of farmers and ranchers. 

Now, White Buffalo is hosting its first community open house day, a more family-friendly and self-guided access to Jalama Canyon Ranch than its usual highly structured public field days. All are invited to visit the ranch on Saturday, October 26, to discover its beauty, explore WBLT’s approach and participate in hands-on learning as well as enjoy live music and a scrumptious meal on site. 

“We wanted to provide a different and new way for people to access the ranch, to come and spend time there and to learn more about our work in a hands-on way that wasn’t a workshop only for farmers and ranchers,” explained Ana Smith, White Buffalo’s Director of Programs and Engagement. “Our fall open house is about community connection, a chance for everyone to meet our staff and have deeper conversations about our programs, and the research, biodiversity, and human health components of our work enterprise partnerships.”

To that end, the Interactive Exploration portion of the day takes place 10 am to 1 pm, when guests can embark on their own adventures by visiting stations across the ranch where knowledgeable team members will share insights into WBLT’s ongoing efforts in land stewardship, scientific research and innovative enterprises, with visitors being able to see firsthand how regenerative agriculture can contribute to a healthier ecosystem and a thriving community.

The Soil Lab station will demonstrate the tools and techniques used to study ecological health. Guests can get their hands dirty while comparing and contrasting the different properties of soil samples taken across the ranch through touch and feel. Live soil experiments showing how water moves through different types of soils will be performed, and a comprehensive overview of WBLT’s testing protocols and monitoring sites will be highlighted.

At the Oak Meadow nestled in an oak tree grove, the station will highlight the importance of birds in providing biodiversity to the ecosystem, as visitors will learn about WBLT’s partnership with Audubon Conservation Ranching, observe wildlife through provided binoculars, and engage with found bird feathers, nests and more from the ranch. 

Saddle Overlook, located beyond the vineyard, gives guests a 360-degree view of Jalama Canyon Ranch and its boundaries. Visitors will learn about the rotational grazing techniques used at the ranch and WBLT’s enterprise partners including Richards Regenerative beef, Flamingo Estates products, and Coyuchi organic cotton.

At the Elderberry Orchard, visitors will learn about the California native plant and the many offerings it provides, including the details of WBLT’s innovative Elderberry Project. Guests will also have the opportunity to try a variety of elderberry products and learn about the important role this plant has in our local ecosystem.

For families, the nonprofit will provide children’s activity books and projects to work on along the way over the course of the day.

“People can choose their own adventure,” Smith said. “If you’re finding that you’re more interested in the research side of things, you can stay and have a conversation with other staff members. It’s a great opportunity to get to know more of our team in a more intimate way while also having hands-on experiences.” 

The fall field day open house is all part of illustrating in microcosm White Buffalo Land Trust’s circular approach. 

“It’s an opportunity for everyone to see our theory of change in action, to enter into this space of work that we do from whatever doorway they want,” Smith said. “It’s a chance to taste, feel, smell, and hear what makes this work so unique in our Central Coast region and how our work is having an impact beyond.” 

The open house continues from 1-3 pm back at Basecamp with even more activities and interaction, including hands-on crafts for all ages and live music, plus a delicious, thoughtfully prepared lunch using ingredients from the ranch, served for $20 for guests who reserve a plate in advance. 

“Just as our work and on the ground is consistently evolving as we learn new ways of stewarding different living systems and crops, we are also growing in our education and looking for ways to provide new and exciting experiences for our community,” Smith said. “The fall field day open house is a great way to be able to come together and celebrate the work that’s being done as a community.”  

Visit www.whitebuffalolandtrust.org/attend-courses-events/open-house for details and to make a reservation