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Our Team

Tim Nohr

Mary Ann Perry

Sexton

Mary Ann is committed to supporting the community in understanding after-death care and disposition options, especially home funerals and green burials. Mary Ann’s connection to the ranch began in 2010 with coordinating a teen girls camp with The Rose Circle (now Rogue Valley Mentoring). Her magical wedding weekend  at our campground was in 2014. She lives in Ashland with her husband David and Iggy the cat.

Suzanne Willow and Lanita Witt, owners of The Forest Conservation Burial Ground

Suzanne Willow & Lanita Witt

Owners

Owners Suzanne Willow and Lanita Witt are dedicated to the conservation of a 445-acre gem located at 5,000’ elevation within southern Oregon’s Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument near Ashland. Since 1985, they have focused on restoring balanced working forests and wetlands, and improving wildlife habitat. The owners are committed to land conservation, restoration, and regenerative organic agriculture.

To carry this commitment forward in perpetuity, they established The Forest Conservation Burial Ground as an extension of stewardship beyond their lifetimes.

Joanne Kliejunas, Advisor to The Forest Natural Burial Ground

Joanne Kliejunas

Advisor

Joanne Kliejunas joined our small team in 2019 as a volunteer eager to help us make natural burial an option in our community. Joanne has taught classes in the Ashland area to encourage end-of-life decision making by completing an advance directive and to prompt reflection and conversations with loved ones about life, death and their connectedness. As a textile artist, she encourages our clients to select shrouds repurposed from natural textiles that have been meaningful in their lives. She has also salvaged beautiful, slightly damaged table and bed linens and prepared them as shrouds for purchase from The Forest. Joanne’s professional experience as a non-profit manager has contributed to The Forest’s development and planning, as well as outreach in our community.

Daniel Collay

Laura Hardin

Business Manager

Laura joins our nimble team at Willow-Witt Ranch and The Forest Conservation Burial Ground as an experienced operations leader committed to developing and implementing sustainable business practices and people-first development strategies. With over 15 years experience at the intersection of business design, marketing and sales she is a savvy producer, project and people manager. Laura is an avid community builder, organizer, and event planner with an unwavering commitment to client satisfaction. 

Laura is the proud mom of two young girls, a seasoned trail runner, mushroom forager, and music appreciator. Her newest hobbies include perfecting her pizza recipes, setting new PR’s on the ranch’s Turtle Trot loop, and finding her way into birding circles. She also promises some day she will learn to sew and write her magnum opus on the guitar.

Christine Yee, Administrative and Operations Assistant

Mia Tarduno

Administration and Marketing

Mia brings a unique blend of environmental insight, entrepreneurial spirit, and holistic care to our team. With a BA in Environmental Studies and Anthropology, Mia has a deep appreciation for both the natural world and human cultures. Her journey began managing and owning several guest service businesses in the picturesque mountains of Colorado, where she honed her skills in administration and marketing.

In addition to her business acumen, Mia is a dedicated yoga instructor and a compassionate birth doula based in Ashland. Her work at The Ranch and The Forest is a perfect convergence of her diverse experiences, allowing her to explore and integrate the profound connections between life and death.

Outside of her professional pursuits, Mia embraces an active and creative lifestyle. On weekends, you can find her hiking with her Australian Shepherd, trail running in the watershed, or painting by the river.

Drew Di Prima

Drew Di Prima

Ranch Hand

Andrew (Drew) Di Prima grew up in Northern California. He spent his childhood raising animals and participating in 4-H Club alongside his brothers and sister. Throughout his upbringing, Drew developed a passion for the outdoors, farming, homesteading and self sufficiency. Drew attended College of the Siskiyous in Weed, California where he earned a degree in Communications and graduated from the Firefighter Academy.

Drew worked as a firefighter for 8 years before moving to Oregon in 2023. That same year, Drew found Willow-Witt Ranch where he has enjoyed working outdoors, taking care of animals, gardening and being a part of our team. 

Larry Lacerte

Larry Lacerte

Ranch Hand

Larry Lacerte recently moved to Oregon from Colorado. He was drawn to working at Willow-Witt Ranch by a desire to learn more about off-grid living, working with animals and market gardening. He enjoys hiking, biking, skiing and making music, and is looking forward to exploring his new surroundings.

Contact Us

PHONE

541.625.9697

EMAIL

info@theforestconservationburial.org

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Green Burial Council certified member
The Forest Conservation Burial Ground is certified by the Green Burial Council