What Resource Professionals Have Said About the Ecological Achievements at Liberty Garden

"Lush muli-species 'gardens' have sprung up in places formerly momnopolized by...agressive plants."

-Randall Morgan, past president of Santa Cruz Chapter of the Natvie Plant Society and noted local botanist.

"Ecological restoration of native grasslands has progressed very rapidly -- at least 100 fold..."

-Craig Dremann, Native grass expert and owner of Redwood Seed Company

“The regeneration and restoration of the oak woodlands and native grasslands on the site is quite impressive…The restoration is likely improving habitat values on the site by increasing native food plants of high value and the complexity of habitat structure.”
-Bryan Mori, Biological Consultant

“Today the land continues to recover under the careful management. . .All stages  of land, water and plant restoration can be observed throughout the property.”
-Stephen G. Smith, Forester, November 1995 under the auspices of the California Department of Forestry

“Your particular low-tech, slow and steady, weeding only system of habitat enhancement take a very different approach and has been, to my eyes, more successful and “cleaner” in every way than any planting based project I know of.”
-Randall Morgan, past president of Santa Cruz Chapter of the Native Plant Society and noted local botanist



“This type of management of natural areas within development areas is supported by the department as it respects the natural characteristic of the landscape. The needs of wildlife are incorporated into the project and should be viewed as an enhancement for future property owners. The development patterns that restore, enhance and provide ongoing stewardship of the vegetative habitat conditions of wildlife areas should be encouraged as they will provide for resources of the State in this type of innovative residential development. “
-Ken Aasen, Acting Regional Manager, Region 3 California. Department of Fish and Game


“I think the work you have been doing there over the past ten years has major lessons for anyone interested in management of natural lands, and deserves to be more widely known.”
-Randall Morgan, past president of Santa Cruz Chapter of the Native Plant Society and noted local botanist


“The work that you have done on the property. . .has greatly benefited the native plant and animal communities."
-Richard Casale, USDA Soil Conservation Service


“J.M. Management’s 75 acres rural/urban interface near La Selva Beach is another successful initiative. The accumulation of high level fuels is reduced and the native vegetation and wildlife habitat are enhanced. Both are case studies of the right way to change fire risk and improve the natural and human environment in the process.”
-Dave Mack, retired Chief Deputy Director of Forestry and Fire Protection

“Each year we benefit by seeing your gully, and each year the gully seems to be eroding less and less. Hats off to you for taking aggressive action to stop this gully! Kudos to you again for letting us use your property for educational purposes.”
-Steve Singer, Santa Cruz County Resource Conservation District and Instructor at Cabrillo College


A Tale of Two Counties

 

 Santa Cruz County:


After 26 years, Santa Cruz County and Supervisor Ellen Pirie, continue to block economic use of Liberty Garden



and

 

Alameda County:



Michael Shaw, owner of Lockaway Storage, delivers Misprision of Treason Notice to Alameda County

 


"To release the potential productivity and diversity of a landscape, an owner must be free to engage in rigorous disturbance, and free to pursue a reasoned and creative process of trial and error. This process would be suited to the choice of each individual and the uniqueness of each property,"

–Michael Shaw from Ecological Restoration, Spring 2002