Did You Know? Healthy Soils = Thriving Eastern Sierra
Did you know that healthy soil is one of our region’s most powerful allies in climate resilience and ecosystem vitality? Soil is more than dirt; it’s the foundation for nutrient cycling, water purification, and thriving wildlife. At ESLT, we’re committed to keeping these soils alive, on working farms, ranches, and open landscapes, so our land can continue supporting families, wildlife, and generations to come.
Highlights: Soil Health in Action
Here are a few things to share from our soil health efforts:
- Four core principles of soil health, maximizing living roots, balancing disturbance, and maintaining soil cover, to ensure soils continue working for nature and production.
- Healthy soils act like nature’s own water treatment systems, filtering pollutants and retaining air and moisture, crucial for both our gardens and our landscapes.
Notes From the Field
Each year, conservation easement monitoring takes us to some of the most remote, beautiful, and rarely visited corners of protected land.
We’ve started many a day watching coyotes trot through the meadow and many afternoons navigating knee-deep mud in wet pastures after forgetting our mud boots.
On working ranches, we’ve pulled mullein under wide skies, once stopping short at the buzz of a rattlesnake, an exciting first.
Monitoring days are full of surprises: an old homestead foundation telling stories of the past, curious cattle who decide to follow you around for a while, or panoramic mountain views that make you forget you’re at work.
Beyond photos and GPS points, these visits are a chance to reconnect with the land, the seasons, and the landowners who steward these places. It is muddy, humbling, and endlessly rewarding work that reminds us just how alive and dynamic these landscapes are, and we are so grateful they will be protected for years to come.
— Carly Stines & Chris Brady
Community Connections at Work
Great Sierra River Clean Up
Saturday September 20th
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Join Friends of the Inyo and Eastern Sierra Land Trust for a morning of stewardship along the Owens River, with coffee and donuts provided!
Fall Cover Cropping and Soil Health Workshop
Sunday September 21st
9 am – 12:00 pm
Join the UC Master Gardeners, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Eastern Sierra Land Trust at the Bishop Community Garden for a hands-on workshop learning about the soil ecosystem in your own backyard.
Lands & Legacy – Denim & Diamonds: Boots on the Ground
Parallax Mammoth Mountain
September 11th 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
From one-of-a-kind local experiences to treasures you won’t find anywhere else, our live and silent auctions are packed with amazing items. Don’t miss your chance to join the fun! Only a handful of seats remain.
Demonstration Garden Glow-Up!
Our Demonstration Pollinator Garden at the ESLT office has a fresh new look! Thanks to generous support from the City of Bishop, the garden now features beautiful new signs that help visitors learn more about the plants, pollinators, and the importance of creating pollinator-friendly spaces at home.
This update was made possible through funding that also supported the Eastside Pollinator Garden Program this year, helping community members plant and grow pollinator habitat across the Eastern Sierra.
We invite you to stop by the ESLT office and check out the garden’s glow-up—explore the new signs, see what’s blooming, and get inspired for your own pollinator garden!
Would You Like to Help ESLT?
- Invite a friend to join ESLT and attend an upcoming event.
- Volunteer at a stewardship day and get your hands in the dirt for conservation.
- Support our work with a monthly gift through the Bristlecone Club.
Together, we’ve protected over 23,000 acres of working lands, wildlife habitat, and open space. With your continued support, the future of the Eastern Sierra is bright.
Thank you for being part of this legacy.
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