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Spring has Sprung!

As March closes out and April rolls in, The Crest has felt a burst of springtime energy. Goat kids continue to be born at Willow-Witt Ranch, Earth Month has just begun, and our spring volunteering kick-off is only a week away!

If you are interested in volunteering and haven’t yet completed our Volunteer Application Form, please do so and we will add you to our volunteer email list. This will ensure you hear about all of our volunteer opportunities!

Registration for our Nature Summer Day Camp will be opening shortly, and Outdoor School is close on the horizon. We are happy to be welcoming students back to The Crest soon.


What Are We Up To?

Earth Day Oregon partner

It’s Officially Earth Month!

The Crest is a nonprofit partner for Earth Day Oregon 2022, a campaign to amplify Earth Day and Oregon-based nonprofits that work towards sustainable development goals.

Thank you to our local Earth Day Oregon business partners: Ashland Food Co-opPaddington StationAshland General Hardware, and Ashland’s Creekside Campground and RV Park, for supporting The Crest and helping amplify Earth Day! 

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The Crest will be bringing goat kids from Willow-Witt Ranch to the following Earth Day events! Come visit us at:

Southern Oregon University’s Earth Day Extravaganza at The Farm at SOU on Friday, 4/22 from 3:30-6:30pm.

Ashland Food Co-op’s Earth Day Celebration at the Co-op on Sunday, 4/24 from 12-3pm.



Take Action, Learn More

Spring Volunteering Kick-Off


Willow planting on Thursday, April 14th from 10am – 1pm

In the fall, we prepared Willow shoots which we will now be planting in the wetlands at Willow-Witt Ranch! Willow is a very important plant for the health of wetland ecosystems. 

Please contact Jess at Jessica@thecrestatwillowwitt.org for details and to RSVP for this volunteer event.

Who’s Flying?
board member Jim Janousek

Sandhill Cranes

Greater Sandhill Cranes, or Antigone canadensis tabida,have been spotted at Willow-Witt Ranch this past week!

Southern Oregon is a breeding ground for these tall, gray birds. These Cranes like to live in open places such as marshes, prairies, and bogs.

Read more about Greater Sandhill Cranes here.

Photo: Keith Kohl

What’s Growing?
red-breasted nuthatch

Lettuce

This lettuce was transplanted in the hoop house and will be an early-season crop. The thin, light brown rice hulls that you can see in the soil are a very important part of the potting mix! They help allow air and water to get into and through the soil.

Rice hulls are the outer husk that covers a grain of rice, and are a byproduct that we can repurpose and bring new life to! Rice hulls serve a similar purpose to pumice or perlite in potting mix, but unlike these two, there is no mining required. Plus, the rice hulls break down fairly quickly.

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Get involved...

Suzanne Willow talks to a group of students visiting The Crest

The Crest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

The Crest nonprofit organization relies on donations to support youth programs and give community groups the chance to experience the wonders of nature to learn about and feel a connection to the natural world. Our volunteer opportunities are a great chance to get outside, connect with others and learn more about your local ecosystem. Please consider contributing to this natural legacy by making a tax-deductible donation.