Summer is upon us and the ranch is bustling with the circle of life. Just this week you can find the summer camp students exploring the forest, a family placing a beautifully engraved stone at their beloved’s grave, farm hands harvesting vegetables and collecting eggs, and the burial of our dear livestock guardian, Luna (pictured above). It can be intense to work in a space where all of the components of a full life are in your awareness every single day. And, it’s a gift to be able to show up for all of it.

I’m excited to announcing that WE’RE HIRING an Asst. Cemetery Manager!  Please spread the word and support us in finding a wonderful addition to our team. Job description and application here. 

Please come up for a visit this summer. The baby goats are cute and playful and will surely brighten your spirit. Remember that we’re at nearly 5,000′ so it’s cooler up here! Schedule a Farm Tour or enjoy a self-guided visit any day of the week between 11am and 5pm. Remember to follow directions on the website and contributions to the educational non-profit, The Crest, are always welcome from visitors.

Please consider joining us for the next seasonal shift this fall. Honoring the earth and welcoming our community is important to us. Mark your calendars for the Autumnal Equinox Celebration on Sunday, September 21, 2025. We will offer a guided tour at 2pm and the celebration begins at 3pm. You’re welcome to bring a poem or song to share.

With care,
Mary Ann Perry, Cemetery Manager

This beauty is one of the most abundant birds across North America, and is a a regular sight here at the ranch, especially around the turtle pond. The males are easy to spot; you can’t miss the red and yellow shoulder patches, which they can puff up or hide depending on their confidence level. This birds conk-la-ree! sound is catchy and a wetland auditory staple. Listen here. 

August 8 & 9 (Hike & Learn with Friends of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument) Grasshoppers of the Monument (Sign up here.)

Sept, 17, 24 and Oct. 1 (Wednesdays) 12:30-2:30pm Adventure Awaits at Willow-Witt Ranch (OLLI Class – must pre-register) Join us for 3 fun-filled days exploring all that we have to offer: nature education with The Crest, farm and ranch experiences and a tour of the burial ground. Come early for a BYO lunch picnic.

Oct. 12 & 19 (Sundays) 3:30-5:30pm Nature Healing: Conservation Burial and Forest Bathing (Ashland Parks & Rec. – must pre-register) Join us for a talk at N. Mtn. Park on the benefits of conservation burial and experience Forest Bathing at The Forest.