Our plan for the land

Our Plan

When Ole Schell was a boy on his family ranch in West Marin, California he recalls thousands of majestic Western Monarch Butterflies in overwintering sites around his family ranch and coastal community. He would shake Eucalyptus branches and thousands would flutter away. Now, in adulthood, he may only see one or two a year. In fact a recent study by the esteemed, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation counted less than 2000 in California when there were once millions. Ole Schell has partnered with Xerces and veterans group, Guardian Grange, to create a monarch sanctuary full of pollinating and nectar plants and flowers to help restore the population devastated by the effects of habitat loss, climate change and likely pesticides. Without enough nectar/pollinator plants, Monarchs will become extinct. Thankfully, there are organizations, biologists and ordinary citizens dedicated to stopping this from becoming an inevitability.

After an environmental survey of the Schell property, Xerces made a plan to plant up to 1239 native pollinator/nectar flowers, shrubs and grasses on the land to complement the existing blueberry, passionfruit, apple and other fruit and berry crops, which also serve as healthy Monarch habitat. Some of the natives already purchased include: Coffee Berry, California Aster, California Red Buckwheat, Gumpla, Golden Bush Lupine, Foothills Penstemon, Cleveland Sage, Lilac Verbena and more.

Working with Veterans

With Xerces making the plan, Ole Schell working with Guardian Grange to do the requisite land management including: fencing, infrastructure and planting. Guardian Grange was founded by Iraq War combat veteran and Navy Seal, Mark Matzeldelaflor. It's mission is to bring combat veterans to the land to work as it is proven to help alleviate PTSD, trauma and heal the wounds of war as they reintegrate into society. The Schell land is the ideal location for these men to get away, give back and recover emotionally and mentally from their time as soldiers.

The Schell family and Guardian Grange honored 9-11 2021 by building a fence, mulching and wrangling a host of native pollinator and nectar plants. Together they hope to build a better tomorrow, one in which future generations of children might experience the delicate and sublime Monarch Butterflies for decades to come.