Why this website?

The long term goal of this site is to tie this vision into creating a more sustainable, and impactful, California. My feeling is that California has so much to offer the world. It is Ecotopia, a narrow strip along the Pacific that has so much to give. And the world needs it. The short term goal is to help the bioregion survive the threats to its uniqueness that are now encroaching. By promoting only those practices which are helpful and sustainable, and sending money directly where it needs to go, as well as educating people, we can make a difference.

Ideas we have for helping  beyond the tours we now offer are:

• A marathon through the Sierra, hitting all the Ranchos
• Executive team building exercises using the Ranchos
• Culture tour stopping from rancho to rancho along the way
• Fruits and edibles tours featuring indigenous plants and animals
• Special “journey” tours which include a unique form of a peyote-like plant that appear as big black hairy balls and facilitate spirit questing
• Sustainable structures workshops

So who are we? We are me, Lawrence Comras, and a few dedicated people who have come together to create this resource. And an amazing group of people I have met down there that I want to send people to.

A little more on me: I am an environmentalist that founded and ran a Web company called Greenhome.com. I recently sold it: http://www.triplepundit.com/2010/10/greenhomecom-acquisition-highlights-growth-social-commerce. I spent some time 7 years ago at one of the Ranchos with the head of the ranch. He and I went on a trek into the Sierra de la Laguna, but didn’t get all the way across. And then again this year in January meeting up with a tremendously gifted guide and nature interpreter, who is the focus of the tours we offer.