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“There are no unsacred places. There are only sacred places and desecrated places.”
-Wendell Berry
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Dear Friend,
More than one hundred years ago, Josephine and Frank Duveneck were wandering home from a camping trip in the Santa Cruz Mountains, above the headwaters of the Adobe Creek. They looked down into the valley at what would soon become Hidden Villa, their home, and imagined a place where bold ideas, and hope, could take root.
The world has changed, but Hidden Villa has never ceased to inspire us, and give us hope.
It is a place where we can forage for fungi, gather wool from sheared sheep, climb Ewing Hill and Black Mountain, witness rainbows and welcome the chill hush of rain and fog rolling in off the Pacific. It is where children learn about their role in protecting the environment and benefit from healthy, fresh food, where teens learn valuable life lessons about themselves, and the world around them, where families gather and friendships are made.
We launched the Hope Blooms at Hidden Villa campaign last month in partnership with donors Ralph Eschenbach and Dr. Carol Provan, who pledged to match every donation we receive up to $150,000.
With the rising cost of caring for animals, running our incredible summer camp and environmental education programs, and maintaining this beautiful 1,600-acre refuge, we can’t afford to leave a single cent on the table.
This matching gift campaign is the real deal; we have to earn your donations. We have raised nearly $100,000 to date, leaving us about $50,000 short of our goal. Every dollar makes a difference. Please, DONATE here if you can.
Together, we can ensure that Hidden Villa will be a source of hope for the next 100 years and beyond.
Thank you,
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Elliott Wright
Executive Director
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SPOTLIGHT:
HONORING GARTH HARWOOD
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CELEBRATING 26 YEARS OF INSPIRING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
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After 26 years of passionate service, unwavering dedication, and profound impact, we bid a heartfelt farewell to Garth Harwood, our Senior Naturalist, who is retiring from Hidden Villa this month. Garth has been a cornerstone of our environmental education mission—a teacher, a guide, a mentor, and above all, a tireless advocate for the natural world.
Since coming to Hidden Villa in 1999, Garth has personally guided over 60,000 students, visitors, and colleagues through the wonders of the natural world, always with patience, joy, and curiosity. As an instructor and a director, Garth brought ample knowledge and passion to his roles, but also a rare gift for connecting people to the environment. Whether it was leading a group of wide-eyed children on their first hike in the wilderness, designing innovative programs to engage learners of all ages, or simply sharing a quiet moment of wonder at a bird’s song or the shape of a leaf, Garth inspired others to see the world with new eyes.
What truly sets Garth apart is his identity not only as a sharer of knowledge but as a lifelong student of nature. His curiosity is contagious. A walk in the woods with Garth might include a spontaneous lesson on bird calls, a story about the history of a trail, or a joyful pause to marvel at a tiny mushroom—each moment an invitation to see more, learn more, care more. With students of all ages, Garth has always met learners where they are—with warmth, humility, and an unshakable belief in the power of education to spark change.
Over the years, Garth has helped shape countless programs, mentored hundreds of educators, and inspired thousands of learners young and old. His impact ripples outward, from the farm and forests where he teaches, to the communities now more connected to nature because of his work.
Even in his retirement, Garth’s work will not cease. He intends to continue his teaching, both here at Hidden Villa and beyond. As we celebrate this milestone, we do so with gratitude, admiration, and joy. Thank you, Garth, for all you have given- and continue to give. You are a reminder of what’s possible when passion meets purpose.
-Christina Emmett, (she/her)
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BEHIND THE BARN DOORS:
FARM ANIMALS OF HIDDEN VILLA
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Natures Landscapers
Our beloved goats are thriving as Hidden Villa’s ultimate employees; they work for food and never call in sick! These four-legged landscapers are busy munching through bushes and shrubs, helping us with maintenance duties and thinning vegetation for fire safety. Who needs expensive landscaping equipment when you have goats with appetites?
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Guardian Geese
Our three new guardian geese take their job very seriously! These feathered sentries have joined our egg-laying pullets, serving as the farm’s alarm system. They won’t wrestle coyotes, but their keen eyes and impressively loud calls deter smaller predators from bothering our chickens. Think early warning system with built-in sirens!
Egg-cellent News!
Mark your calendars, our egg program returns this fall! This spring we welcomed 50 new laying hens, starting smaller scale than before. Our new chicken run allows us to safely keep a small, educational “home flock” at the Poultry Palace for visitors to enjoy, and provides a place for our pastured flock to return to at the end of the grazing season, when the land needs rest. We hope that the guardian geese will allow our pastured hens to thrive with minimal impact on the wildlife who also call this land home.
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“Of course, Kiwi is my favorite farm animal. He’s so sweet and cuddly! The thing I first liked about him, when I was a Farm Tour volunteer, was that he would come and say hi if he felt like it, and if he didn’t, you could admire him from afar. If he is not feeling like an extrovert, he will not pretend.
– Lara, Registrations Coordinator
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LEND YOUR OPINION! TAKE THE COMMUNITY POLL!
While we’re still enjoying the summer sunshine, our Community Programs team is already excited about what’s ahead! We’re in the early planning stages for our Fall and Winter offerings and would love your input to help shape our upcoming classes. (Follow the blue button below to learn more about each class offering.)
We’re curious, which of the following programs would interest you?
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A) From Udder to Butter: Butter Making Basics ($60/person)
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B) Chicken Butchering 101 ($70/person)
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C) Good Clean Fun! Soap Felting Class
($30/person)
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While our animals enjoy summer camp break, you can visit our neighboring farm animal friends at Deer Hollow Farm.
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Check their hours and plan your visit. Learn what’s happening at our neighbor’s farm.
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Stay connected to Hidden Villa this summer! Volunteer with our farm team Wednesdays and Saturdays.
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Check out the Mountain View Voice article to learn more about our farm volunteer days.
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Please Note: There will be no open weekends this summer.
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FALL CONTENT CORPS APPLICATION NOW OPEN! (SEP 2- NOV 4, 2025)
Hidden Villa understands the power and influence social media has on society and culture. Social media is by far the most influential author of the culture of our time. Now, more than ever, it is important that we get the story right!
During this free 10-week online program, high school youth will develop their creative voice, meet new peers, unpack intersectional environmental topics, and craft a compelling social media campaign that inspires positive change. Youth will build their digital portfolio while earning volunteer hours and inspiring a more just and sustainable world.
(10 spaces available)
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Property Director
…is responsible for the care, support and maintenance of all structures, buildings, and grounds on the Hidden Villa property.
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Fundraising Campaign Manager
…leads annual giving and a comprehensive campaign. Manages appeals, events, database, and grants while implementing strategies to identify and cultivate new funding sources.
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RECIPE OF THE MONTH:
RHUBARB QUICK BREAD
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A New York Times recipe, refined by our resident baking aficionado, Lanette Anderson. I’ve included her recommendations.
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Ingredients:
Yield: 8 servings
- 8 tablespoons/113 grams unsalted butter (1 stick), melted, plus more for the pan
- 1 cup/200 grams plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated orange/citrus of your choice zest
- 1⁄3 cup whole-milk yogurt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 3⁄4 cup/223 grams all-purpose flour, plus more for the pan
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups chopped rhubarb, cut into 1⁄4-inch pieces
- ½ teaspoon cardamom (optional)
Preparation:
Step 1
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour an 8 1⁄2-inch-by-4 1⁄2-inch loaf pan.
Step 2
In a large bowl, whisk together the butter, 1 cup of the sugar, orange zest and yogurt until well combined. Whisk in eggs. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cardamom. Add the flour mixture and 1 ¾ cups rhubarb to butter mixture and fold until combined. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and smooth out the top. Sprinkle the top with the remaining 1⁄4 cup rhubarb and 2 tablespoons sugar. Bake until the loaf is golden brown and set and a skewer inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 55 to 60 minutes.
Step 3
Transfer the pan to a rack to cool for 10 minutes, then cut around the edges and carefully flip the loaf out of the pan. Turn it right side up and let it cool completely before slicing.
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Click on the images below for the latest news on your favorite farm topics.
Here are Quick Links to the latest news for June 2025:
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Photo Credits: Susana, Kaitlin, Zain, HV Archives, Jessica, & the Farm Team
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