Support the Black to the Land Movement!!!!

25 years ago Zappa Montag suggested an idea called Black to the Land. Back then, it seemed like a utopian dream that didn’t seem possible.

Now the dream is coming to fruition, and the honor of land stewardship has been granted on 189 acres of beautiful, pristine land in Boonville, CA (occupied Pomo Land) complete with beautiful, livable infrastructure!!!

Pretty sure this is one aspect of reparations we have been praying for…..

The history of the inhabitants of the 189 acres of the land now called Emerald Earth reflects some of the heartbreaking history of California settlement, and it also holds some real possibility for the future.

History

The area has been the ancestral homeland of small bands of Pomo people for over 10,000 years, many of whom continue to live in Mendocino County. Settlers came and took the land in the late 19th century; there was a small settlement called Peachland that was on the site which included families and a small schoolhouse.

Thirty years ago, a group of white, nature lovers and activists from the Bay Area bought the land from a well-known corporate timber attorney and turned it into the nature-spirit based, non-profit, Emerald Earth Sanctuary. Over those years, the land was held in common, and a community formed with a special focus on living close to nature and building with natural materials.

That community began to decline over the years, with many seeking to reside elsewhere for a variety of reasons. They decided together that they wanted to give stewardship of the land and the nonprofit to people with historic barriers to land access.

Currently, the transition to black led stewardship has begun and the first group of black folks are moving onto the land and slowly building a relationship with the Redwood, Oak, Madrone forest that is Emerald Earth, as well as taking on the nonprofit management. We are also beginning to hold healing retreats and build a new community. This very exciting process contains the seeds for the beginning steps towards repair for some of the wrongs of the past. Help support these efforts!

Who we are!

We are Black to the Land! A Black led organization, working in conjunction with other Black led community groups and allies, for our liberation, land liberation, and healing.

Our vision

To make land, outside of urban space, accessible to Black Folx, to learn and practice land management skills and communication, and most of all to heal with the Sacred Earth who feeds and loves us unconditionally!

One of our prayers is to build relationships of mutual support with indigenous peoples of the area as many of us root anew having been taken from our ancestral homes. We consider this all a possibility as we engage with Her in this sacred environment, coming home to our original Mother in a good way!

Donate!

Help us build black land, in the name of our ancestors, the Original People, for all of us!

Any and all contributions are tax deductible! The Emerald Earth Sanctuary non profit EIN number is 68-0352202

All proceeds from this opening fundraiser will go directly to financially support the current team to steward the land through the winter. We will be learning the systems here, planning and visioning as well as preparing and maintaining the land and structures to be able to receive and support the gatherings that will be in the Spring and Summer of 2024.

We are kicking off this fundraising drive on Giving Tuesday, today, and will continue to seek donations for the rest of 2023. By Spring of 2024, our fundraising strategy will be quite robust and will be coordinated with the help of skilled and committed community groups with decades of experience and networks, so this drive is merely to tide us over until then.

We love and appreciate all of you, and are grateful for any support be it with funds, or through sharing this fundraiser with your communities! Thank you!