"Pepperwood's reserve sits within the traditional homeland of the Wappo people. We respect and honor past, present, and future generations of Wappo and their continued connection to this land. We are grateful for the opportunity to gather in this beautiful place and we give our respect to its first inhabitants."
Authored by Clint McKay (Dry Creek Pomo, Wappo, Wintun)
Pepperwood's 3,200 acre reserve serves as a refuge for over 900 species of plants and animals. We are leaders in ecosystem-climate research, producing critical science to help guide our region's natural resource management and conservation planning. Pepperwood also offers environmental education opportunities for all ages to cultivate an ethic of conservation in our North Bay region.
With four main initiatives, we're cultivating a path to resilience for our entire community.
Sign up for classes and events
Register today as most workshops, hikes, wildflower walks, and retreats will sell out!
View our recorded classes, webinars, and other educational videos on our YouTube Channel.
What's new at Pepperwood?
The Sonoma County Forest Conservation Conference 2023
Posted by Stephanie Beard on June 2, 2023Honoring Ben Benson at Pepperwood’s Annual Fundraiser
Posted by Stephanie Beard on June 1, 2023Pepperwood’s Spring Magazine Focuses on Creating Connections to Nature
Posted by Stephanie Beard on May 27, 2023An Inspiring Year of SCENIQ (in photos)
Posted by Stephanie Beard on May 23, 2023
Pepperwood Field Notes
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Ben Benson’s Vision for Art as a Bridge to Nature
Posted on June 1, 2023Continue readingFor the last two hundred plus years, America’s economy has been founded to a large degree on consumption and exploitation of our natural resources. Now we’re facing some extraordinary environmental challenges – many of which are exacerbated by our own actions. To Ben Benson, yes, solutions involve science. But they will also require cultural evolution: “art is one of the ways we can stimulate awareness, that we can open people’s hearts to the majesty of Nature.”
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The Ethics of Open-Source Data in Community Science
Posted on May 22, 2023Continue readingLearn about the ethics of community science and open source data collection. It might surprise you to learn that there can be a dark side to all of that great community science data collection – but don’t worry, by following a few simple guidelines in your community science and data gathering practices, you can ensure that you’re science-ing responsibly and ethically.
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Cross-continental Conservation Connections
Posted on May 15, 2023Continue readingI recently returned from Chile, which is a country that experiences many of the same challenges that we do here, principally biodiversity loss, drought, and wildfire. I came away from this experience feeling empowered and inspired, and with a clear sense of our path forward in our globally shared dilemma of climate change.
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May is for Monitoring Our Grasslands
Posted on May 1, 2023Continue readingWith Michelle Halbur, Preserve Ecologist – Every spring at Pepperwood, our research team spends a half-month out in the grasslands conducting grassland monitoring. We’ve been doing this at the same exact time every year for twelve years, and this May marks our thirteenth season. Why do we do this? Because we are monitoring the long-term health of our heroic – YES, heroic – grassland communities.
Upcoming Events
10 Jun, 23
¡Vamos a Acampar! (LLENO)
June 10, 2023
Pepperwood Preserve, 2130 Pepperwood Preserve Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, USA
21 Jun, 23
Art Exhibit Opening: “The Lure of Pepperwood”
June 21, 2023
Pepperwood Preserve, 2130 Pepperwood Preserve Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, USA
08 Jul, 23
Volunteer Workday
July 8, 2023
Pepperwood Preserve, 2130 Pepperwood Preserve Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, USA