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Monthly Newsletter 2025

February: Fall in Love with Community Supported Agriculture!

“Work is love made visible.​” – Kahlil Gibran

This time of year when our collective focus turns to love, and red and pink decorations seem to adorn every corner, I’m taking some time to reflect on what’s important to me; people, places, activities, all of it. Of course farming is a big part of that. At its core farming is a labor of love. It​’s hard work that you have to feel passionately about ​in order to stay motivated, and when practiced regeneratively the work is all about care​; caring for the land, the ​water, the creatures that we share ​this place with and caring for our community with good food and beautiful flowers.

As we prepare for CSA registration (Opening Tuesday, March 4th!!) I’m rereading our end-of-year survey from 2024 to build inspiration for the year ahead. There’s a lot of love and appreciation shared there, plenty to warm my heart. Here are a few for you to enjoy.

With love,

Lanette Anderson, Hidden Villa CSA Manager

​”Picking up our basket on Thursdays has become a ritual for me and my kids. I’m in awe of how much care, love, and work go into the program and so appreciative of all the farmers and staff who make this happen.​”

 

“I love the feeling of community created by the team. I love knowing my produce is sustainably grown near my home.”

 

“My kids have grown up with Hidden Villa. I love that it is a part of our family.​”

-2024 CSA members

 


Centennial Corner:

 

Prose to Hidden Villa

(Pictured: Hidden Villa summer camp counselors-in-training carry their acrylic legacy mural they dedicated to Hidden Villa, a piece that highlights Hidden Villa’s five pillars and their shared social ideals.)

Teen leader, Content Corps Creator, and Counselor-in-Training, Kathleen Zhu reflects on what makes Hidden Villa a cherished home for environmental stewardship and social justice.

Hidden Villa,

I wonder if many who visit know about your origins. Do they know about the native Ohlone people, Hidden Villa’s earliest known settlers? Or that the creek once ran year-round? Do they know about Frank and Josephine Duveneck and their four children who chose to create Hidden Villa with their land? How about how much of a feminist and knowledge-lover Josephine was?

There is a lot to unpack with Hidden Villa. With their history in mind, this will be a love letter to Hidden Villa, those who came before, and those who helped build it.

First, to the Ohlone who came before, I will forever think of Hidden Villa in memory of you. As I walk near the creek, I can see you fishing in the creek. As I walk in the valley, I can see you gathering bunchgrasses in the valley for basket-weaving. As I walk on the hill, I see you hunting deer and gathering acorns. I feel your presence on this land, and thank you for taking care of it.

Second, to the Duvenecks who built Hidden Villa, I will forever thank your generous, compassionate family for seeing your property as an opportunity to improve the land by creating a watershed, advance social justice by housing World War II refugees and Japanese-American victims, and promote environmental education for children. Thank you for creating such an inclusive and beautiful space. 

Lastly, to those at Hidden Villa, thank you for carrying on their mission. As I work with Hidden Villa, I feel their values in the people on this land. Here, there are people who love and respect nature just as much as I do, and those who share my views. Here, I feel at home and at peace. Thank you for making this the space I see it as today.

To Hidden Villa’s 100th anniversary and continued flourishment…

Love,

Kathleen Zhu


A Legacy of Love

Each year on Valentine’s Day, our Legacy Circle comes together in the historic Duveneck Home for a warm and cozy tea-time celebration, rekindling their shared love for Hidden Villa. With finger foods and treats made from ingredients grown on the farm, the annual gathering is a heartwarming tradition.

Many members of the Legacy Circle have expressed their desire to make a lasting impact through planned gifts to Hidden Villa. These generous legacy gifts have been instrumental in supporting us through challenging financial times, and we are deeply grateful for their support.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to include Hidden Villa in your estate plan, please contact [email protected].

Josephine’s Retreat

Hidden Villa’s cherished spaces are available again for your meaningful gatherings! From Frank’s gift to Josephine—a writer’s sanctuary turned romantic retreat—to our versatile group facilities, each venue tells a story. Whether you’re planning a nonprofit retreat, family reunion, or secluded getaway, experience the magic of our historic grounds.

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Announcements:


Summer Camp is Around the Corner!

Join us for Hidden Villa’s 80th summer of pioneering multicultural camps! Experience farm adventures, wilderness exploration, and inclusive community building where youth develop leadership skills embracing environmental stewardship and social justice. Explore our programs at our March 29th Open House, and register now for Summer 2025.

After School Adventures

Let your child’s love for nature bloom at Hidden Villa’s After School Adventures! Every Friday, 2nd-4th graders explore our farm and wilderness, connecting with animals, discovering hidden trails, and learning through hands-on experiences. New sessions begin February 7 and April 4. Join us from 3:30-5:30pm for eight weeks of outdoor discovery.

 

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Calling All Makers!

Hidden Villa’s beloved Sheep Shearing and Fiber Arts Festival returns on Saturday, April 19th! We are looking for fiber artists and makers who would like to showcase their work at the festival. If you or someone you know is interested in displaying their creation(s) at the makers gallery of the event, please submit your interest below.

Register for Sheep Shearing!

You’re invited to our annual Sheep & Fiber Arts Festival! Watch expert shearers, try hands-on fiber crafts, and explore sustainable textile traditions. Enjoy live music, local artisans, and farm-fresh food while discovering the journey from sheep to shawl. Don’t miss this family-friendly celebration of craft and community.

Breathwork Umoja Pranayama

Join gentle, thoughtful instructor Adeshina Shindara on a guided journey in breathing techniques to support stress reduction, self-regulation, and self-compassion. Adeshina creates a beautiful space in which participants can tune into their breath and body and feel relaxed, content and connected.

Make a Wild Salad!

Learn the art of ethical foraging at Hidden Villa! Join us March 8 or 22 to discover edible wild plants, harvest safely from our wilderness areas, and create a fresh communal salad from your finds. Bring your favorite dressing to share as we celebrate nature’s bounty together.


Community Corner:


Team Volunteering

Is your team or group interested in volunteering at Hidden Villa? We have regular weekday volunteer opportunities for groups and teams looking to get outside together to do good and have fun. Email us at [email protected].


Join the Team:


Seasonal Farm Assistant

Hidden Villa is seeking two Seasonal Farm Assistants to join our farm team!

Property Director

The Property Director is responsible for the care, support and maintenance of all structures, buildings and grounds on the Hidden Villa property.


January: Happy New Year!

 

IN MEMORIAM

With heavy hearts and deep gratitude, we remember Peter Thurston, our beloved Farm and Wilderness Guide of 15 years and former Board Trustee. Peter’s joyful approach to connecting children with nature—whether crawling through garden tunnels or introducing kids to banana slugs—touched thousands of lives and embodied Hidden Villa’s mission.


FEATURE

Growing Forward- Hidden Villa 2024 Highlights

As we welcome 2025, we’re reflecting on a remarkable year of growth, learning, and community at Hidden Villa. In our centennial year, we deepened our commitment to environmental education and accessible outdoor experiences for all.

Our Environmental Education Programs reached 9,528 students across 215 schools, spanning 82 zip codes. Through farm tours, wilderness explorations, and youth development programs, we awarded over $56,000 in scholarships, ensuring nature-based education remains accessible to all Bay Area youth. 

Summer Camp celebrated another vibrant season, serving 710 campers from 130 different zip codes. Last year we provided nearly $230,000 in camp scholarships and introduced Watershed Wanderers, our new backpacking program focusing on watershed ecology for older campers.

Our centennial celebration brought the community together with Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer’s inspiring keynote and a delicious farm-to-table meal cooked by guest chefs Jesse Z. Cool and Bryan Thuerk. We broke records with Outstanding in the Field, having their longest dinner table to date. 

Thanks to generous supporters, we welcomed two new tractors to tend our land. Our commitment to food security continued through regular produce donations to Community Services Agency Mountain View and we returned to the Los Altos farmers market. We expanded our annual sheep shearing event with a new fiber arts and sustainable fashion exhibit.  

Thank you for being part of our journey as we enter our next century of environmental stewardship and education. We look forward to the opportunities the new year has in store.


ANNOUNCEMENTS

Get Ready for Summer Camp 2025!

Have you heard? Summer Camp 2025 is going to be the best summer yet! Camp Registration starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday, January 18! We would love to have your camper join us for the first time on the 13th!

What kind of programming do we offer?

  • Day Camp for kiddos entering Kindergarten – 4th grade
  • Overnight Camps for those entering 4th grade – 12th grade
    • 5 day and 12 day programs
  • Teen Leadership Opportunities!
    • Backpacking Programs in the Santa Cruz Mountains for rising 9th – 12th graders
    • Leaders in Training (LIT) program for rising 11th Graders!
    • Counselors in Training (CIT) program for rising 12th Graders (2 PAID, one-week internships after the training session)!


Who is camp for?

Everyone! Especially those who like being outdoors, might get a thrill from hugging a goat, want to try a vegetable they’ve never tasted, enjoy getting to know new people from different backgrounds, want to learn about nature, and immerse themselves in the wonders of wilderness. Maybe this sounds new to your kiddo or maybe we are speaking their language- either way, our team is trained to meet each camper where they’re at and work to make them feel comfortable and safe. Camp is a great time to put down technology for a little and sink your toes in the cool creek water, sit in the shade and make a friendship bracelet or challenge yourself by trying something new like archery, backpacking or the high ropes course!

Can I afford to send my child to camp?

We have a robust Financial Aid program. Anyone who applies during or after registration is eligible to receive some amount of aid. Please do not let finances be a barrier to sending a loved one to camp. Spread the word far and wide because people sometimes think that Hidden Villa Camp is outside of their means and we know that Josephine Duveneck would not want that to be the case! 

ALSO! We are hiring! What’s camp without the incredible people who make it happen? Check out our openings HERE!

Any and all questions should be sent to [email protected]. Let’s have some fun!

Register Today!


Start the new year with fresh air and fresh perspectives! Join us for weekend adventures at Hidden Villa, where our engaging programs offer the perfect blend of discovery, outdoor fun, and community connection.

Start Off Your New Year with Some Focused Calm and Self-Care

Join instructor Adeshina Shindara for an Introductory Breathwork Course on either January 19th or February 16th. In Umoja Pranayama you will learn new techniques or remember important practices of deep relaxation, stress release, and self-mastery.

Learn More

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Take aim at a new skill this year! Our weekend archery sessions combine expert instruction with the serene backdrop of Hidden Villa’s oak woodlands. Whether you’re a first-timer or a returning archer, discover the focused calm and excitement of traditional archery on our historic grounds.

Learn More

Curious minds unite at Natural Science Saturdays! Start your year with wonder as we explore Hidden Villa’s diverse ecosystems. Each session brings new discoveries – from tracking local wildlife to investigating seasonal changes in our watershed. Perfect for budding naturalists of all ages.

Learn More


SPOTLIGHT: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AT HIDDEN VILLA

New Year, New Arrivals!

Meet our first arrivals of 2025! Esme the sow welcomed 9 healthy piglets Visit the farm to see these adorable newcomers, but remember to give mama and babies plenty of quiet space to bond.

Sheep Shearing 2025: Saturday, April 19, 2024

Join us for a day of fiber arts, sustainable fashion, and farm festivities! Watch our sheep get their spring haircuts while exploring local makers’ crafts, learning about sustainable fashion, and enjoying farm-fresh treats. A Hidden Villa tradition you won’t want to miss.

Yarn Sale

We’re super excited to have yarn for sale! Our locally-spun 3-ply yarn blends sturdy Horned Dorset wool with fine brown fiber from Ursalina, our California Variegated Mutant, creating a durable 200-yard skein perfect for long-lasting garments.

Order Yarn


CENTENNIAL CORNER

With a heart filled with gratitude, I am excited to share that we met our year-end fundraising goal with nearly 400 gifts totaling over $300,000!

Our year-end fundraising campaign is one of our largest appeals of the year and provides a critical foundation for our operating expenses. Thank you so much for investing in your favorite things at Hidden Villa. Our donors are one of my favorite things at Hidden Villa! Truly – thank you so much for supporting this very special place.

Historical Essay Contest for Grades 3-6

The Los Altos History Museum’s 41st Margaret Thompson Historical Essay Contest invites students to explore Hidden Villa’s history through founders Frank and Josephine Duveneck’s eyes.

Cash prizes are awarded per grade level. Submissions are due March 8. The museum’s Hidden Villa exhibit is open through March 1, 2024.

Learn More

Share Your Hidden Villa Love Story

Whether you met your partner during summer camp, formed a lifelong friendship while volunteering, fell head over heels for a friendly goat, or discovered your love of nature on our trails – we want to hear your story!

Send us your Hidden Villa love story by Friday, January 31st for a chance to be featured in our Valentine’s edition. Include a photo if you’d like!

Share Your Story!


COMMUNITY CORNER

Baby, it’s cold outside! Warm up with a cozy winter recipe from our CSA Manager, Lanette. She’s sharing her favorite dish featuring ingredients we grow right here at Hidden Villa. Get ready to bring some farm-fresh comfort to your kitchen.

  • 1 very large winter squash (5-6 lbs) Kabotcha or Butternut are great
  • Olive oil
  • Salt
  • 6-8 large fresh tomatoes or 16 oz tomato puree
  • 2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon finely minced fresh rosemary
  • 6 oz asiago or aged gouda cheese, freshly grated

Preheat over to 400. Peel the winter squash deeply so that all the skin is cleanly removed. Cut the squash in half and scape out the seeds and pulp. Slice the squash meat into large ‘rainbow shaped’ slices that are about 1/2 inch thick. In a large bowl, toss the squash with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 ½ teaspoons salt until well coated. Lay out the squash in a single layer onto oven trays and roast in the oven for 35 minutes or until tender and golden browned (on the underside). While the squash is roasting, prepare the tomato sauce. In a large skillet over medium heat sauté the tomatoes with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of salt, garlic, vinegar, oregano, and rosemary. Stir regularly, stewing the tomatoes down into a thick and chunky sauce. This should take 30 minutes, Remove the squash from the oven. In a large casserole dish or cast iron pan spread a thin layer of tomato sauce on the bottom, next a thin layer of half the roasted squash pieces, and then a generous layer of tomato sauce but not more than half of what is left. Sprinkle half of the cheese on top and then repeat with another layer beginning with the other half of the squash, then sauce, and then the remainder of the cheese. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Voilà! Winter Squash Gratin!


JOIN THE TEAM

 

Seasonal Farm Assistant

Hidden Villa is seeking two Seasonal Farm Assistants to join our farm team!

Learn More

Volunteer on the Farm

Share your passions, learn by doing, and lend a hand! You don’t need any experience to volunteer with us. We’ll provide training and support to make for a positive experience. Click below to learn a variety of ways you can lend a hand at Hidden Villa!

Learn More