December 22: The Giving Edition

There are so many ways to give. While the Mendocino Land Trust will, of course, happily receive your financial donations, we also thrive on the goodwill of our community’s generous service and expertise. Read on to hear about how different gifts can help MLT work with you to protect the land.

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Great Good People of MLT: Jeff and Lena

Nicolet Houtz, MLT’s Director of Stewardship, was recently raving about two amazing volunteers from Point Arena: Jeff Gyving and Lena Bullamore. “They act as stewards for MLT,” she said, “with eyes on Pelican Bluffs when we aren’t there.” They walk the preserve regularly and report back when anything needs looking after, from trail maintenance to vandalism to garbage accumulation. They do a volunteer job that is essential to us, rendering our work in our sprawling county easier.

Read on to meet them!

SAVE THE DATES

Mark your calendars now for these fun opportunities to be together:

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Navarro Point Stewards

When: Thursday, January 12, 2023

Time: 10:00-noon

Meeting Location: Navarro Point Preserve

Navarro Point Preserve is owned and managed by Mendocino Land Trust. We rely on volunteer stewardship workdays to maintain our network of public access trails and beaches. Volunteers spend the day pulling invasive plant species, picking up garbage, maintaining the trail and taking in the beautiful scenery. Stewardship workdays are scheduled for the second Thursday of each month and are open to all ages and experience levels.

What to bring/wear: Dress to get dirty. Bring gloves and water. Tools will be provided.

Hare Creek Beach Stewards

When: Saturday, January 14, 2023

Time: 9:30 a.m.-noon

Where: Hare Creek Beach

Park at the Mendocino College Coast Center

Hare Creek Beach is owned and managed by Mendocino Land Trust. We rely on volunteer stewardship workdays to maintain our network of public access trails and beaches. Volunteers spend the day pulling invasive plant species, picking up garbage, maintaining the trail, and taking in the beautiful scenery. Stewardship workdays are generally scheduled for the second Saturday of the month and are open to all ages and experience levels.

What to bring/wear: Dress to get dirty. Bring gloves and water. Tools will be provided.

If you can’t make these regular gatherings, or you’d like to do different kinds of work, please sign up for our volunteer email list. Send a note to [email protected] or use the form at the bottom of our volunteer page.

TAKE A WALK WITH US

Outdoor Social Club:King Tides Walk and Photography Lesson

Saturday, January 21, 2023

9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Join the Mendocino Land Trust Outdoor Social Club and the North Coast chapter of Latino Outdoors for a walk near Pudding Creek to observe the King Tides.

King Tides are a nonscientific name for extremely high tides that happen during the year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Higher than normal tides typically occur during a new or full moon and when the moon is at its perigee. King Tides offer a chance to think about rising sea levels, the science of tides and to marvel at the ocean's awesome power.

Esme Plascencia, Program Coordinator for Latino Outdoors North Coast, will lead us to the Pudding Creek Trestle Bridge and give a short lesson on nature photography. After we stroll along the coast, trying out our new photography skills, we will gather for snacks and a debrief.

We will meet at 9:30 a.m. at the parking lot of the Noyo Headlands Park near Rossi's at the intersection of W. Elm St. and Glass Beach Dr. Please bring your cameras – whichever camera you prefer – and lots of layers as it will undoubtedly be chilly.

Head here to sign up: https://bit.ly/3F8grnz

This is just one of the many outings Latino Outdoors sponsors. To find out more, head to their Facebook page.

Bequests & Estate Planning

Last month, we discussed how Conservation Easements are a great way to protect your land for future generations. But we also discussed how they can be expensive to establish. There is an alternative that is far simpler: donating or leaving your property to the Mendocino Land Trust.

You can name MLT in your estate plans and donate your beloved property to help us continue our work. There are a number of ways to structure your gift that may make it possible for us to permanently protect the property’s conservation values with a conservation easement. Donations of property create a legacy far beyond the life of a property owner and allow conservation of areas all over Mendocino County. These gifts are an investment in the future of our local natural resources.

Properties are not the only thing that can be donated to us, of course. Monetary gifts, and bequests of stock or other assets, and all other planned giving are important ways to ensure the future of conservation in Mendocino County.

Your personal circumstances will dictate the best way for you to make a lasting impact with your donation. When compared to a traditional cash gift, planned gifts might provide greater income tax benefits, or current income, or estate tax benefits. We encourage you to talk with your attorney, financial planner or tax specialist before deciding on a course of action.

If you are interested in a planned gift benefiting Mendocino Land Trust, we would be honored to work with you and your advisors to carry out your wishes. Please email [email protected] or call 707-962-0470.

Happy Holidays!

Everyone at the Mendocino Land Trust wishes you a joyful holiday season and only the best for the New Year! May the end of 2022 find you surrounded with love as we welcome the returning light.

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