Mendo Moves for Standing Rock

An Early Thanksgiving to Support Water Defenders of Standing Rock

On November 6, hundreds of people attended the Mendo Stands with Standing Rock Teach-In, Cultural Ceremony and Fundraiser at the Redwood Valley Community Guild. Neighbors from across the county gathered to hear stories from activists who have been and support others that are going to Standing Rock and to hear about the struggles local tribes face with respect to desecration of sacred sites and disregard for water sources so similar to the issues in North Dakota and many places in the world.

One wall of the hall was stacked with donations of winter gear and medical supplies. Wonderful entrees were shared at a potluck feast. But, most heart warming and why we all cherish living in this blessed bio-region, is that our loving community cares so much that over $9,000 dollars was offered that evening! Our gratitude to Mother Earth, the water defenders and to each other spills over like the great abundance of this wet, fertile year.

Thanks to all who contributed to the feast, donated to the raffle and to the Redwood Valley Community Guild for co-sponsoring, helping set up and especially cleaning up and to the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians for their solidarity.

The Mendo Stands with Standing Rock Legal Defense and Emergency Fund is still accepting donations. This fund assists locals with travel costs, legal aid, emergencies, and to help other water defenders they meet in need. Administered by Cloud Forest Institute, PO Box 1435, Ukiah, CA 95482, www.cloudforest.org 100% goes to the fund and is tax deductible. Fund liaisons are Sara Grusky, homesteadingsara@gmail.com and Jen Burnstad, jen@cloudforest.org. Visit Mendo Stands for Standing Rock facebook page for updates.

Our heartfelt thanks to our community for this great outpouring of support.

Mendo Stands with Standing Rock, Teach In Cultural Ceremony & Fundraiser

Earthquake Consciousness takes us to Ecuador Summer 2016

Because we live in “earthquake country” ourselves may be why our community responds to help wherever earthquakes occur in the world.  In March of 2015 we assisted in producing a fund raiser garnering close to $5,000 in local donations for earthquake relief efforts in Nepal.  CFI sponsors the SherpaCares.org Classroom in the Clouds (HEBS Himalayan English Boarding School) campaign to rebuild a school in Lukla Nepal where construction is underway. See featured video above.

Last month the coastal area of Ecuador experienced a 7.8 earthquake that destroyed many towns and infrastructure in the province of Manabi. Since that time Ecuador has registered over 700 aftershocks, dozens of them over 4.5. The country has united to respond but recovery will take years. Cloud Forest Institute is facilitating placing people as volunteers with relief efforts in July and August this summer. We are fundraising to support communities and partner organizations to build shelters and provide food and water. With an eye on the future we are promoting a long term redevelopment strategy that addresses local food, water, and shelter security by stabilizing deforested slopes with food forests and native building materials

If you or anyone you know of might be interested in going to Ecuador to help this summer please contact Freeda Burnstad, 707.357.1000. freeda_burnstad@yahoo.com  If you are able, thank you in advance for sending a tax deductible snail mail donation to Cloud Forest Institute, PO Box 1435, Ukiah, CA 95482 or click on the Network for Good online donation option on this page. 100% of your contribution will go to earthquake relief efforts and we will report back to you about how your contribution is being used. Optionally you may donate via crowdrise Ecuador Earthquake Relief Cloud Forest Institute | Freeda Burnstad's Fundraiser

2016 is the 20^th Anniversary of Cloud Forest Institute.  We are a tax exempt 501 c3 educational and scientific non-profit corporation founded to create an educational and cultural exchange between Mindo, Ecuador and Mendocino County, California.  Locally, we have been an umbrella organization for a number of groups who work for the public benefit. We fiscally sponsored the Mendocino Organic Network and Common Vision between 2000 and 2012 until they acquired their own tax exempt status.  Currently we sponsor Ukiah Bicycle Kitchen, Chadwick Legacy Project, Butler Cherry Ranch Project, the MEC Environmental Education Fund, and have been working with Earth Cycles and Yokayo Farm School to develop a Forest Stewardship Collective.  Visit the projects page to read more.

In Ecuador we have partnered with Fundacion Cambugan to purchase tracks of land to conserve as continuous wildlife corridors in virgin wilderness in the Andes and with the Amazon Myco-Renewal Project (now known as Co-Renewal) researching the use of oyster mushrooms in the final phase of oil spill remediation.