FUEL!
Check out this trailer on the new Sundance Films winner!

http://www.youtube.com/thefuelfilm

First there was "An Inconvenient Truth"
now there's a solution. I like it!

Can it work? Yes. It can work if we do it. How do I do it? Let me get back to you or you can get back to us... I'm going to go ask Roy.

Love,
Chela

Mountain Lions need our help...

Here's a good link to Joette Snyders blog. She'll tell you all about the people trying to help our Wild Cats. Here is one of here latest works entitled: Watching

http://drawing-wild-things.joettesgallery.com/drawing/

It's amazing to think of these huge cats roaming the countryside. When you get over the fear and realize that WE are at the top of the food chain they are all the more awesome. Am I crazy? I wouldn't seek them out, but I have seen an adult cross the river in front of our ranch, and one time I had a rare siting of a youngster as it left its investigation of our home... and last winter the biggest paw prints were seen crossing our empty pasture... thankfully the horses were in the barn.
I suspect it's common for the horses to see the big cats as our cluster of old Pinion Pines had one hanging out among its limbs when we first moved in. They live here too, I guess. And here I thought it was only bobcats and coyotes and bunnies... lots and lots of bunnies. They are the featured attraction on the wildlife menu. We raise'em here.

If you want to see a youngster (rare) and watch it grow up... and help out the people raising it you can go to the California Living Museum outside of Bakersfield CA where they just received an abandoned cub named Willow. She is gorgeous... I'm painting her portrait for you!

love,
Chela

Time passes so quickly...

Here's the Lockwood Gorge watercolor.... created in spring of 2010

Mt.Pinos Native Plant Garden

http://www.turnto23.com/video/21716755/index.html



this is what became of today November 24th, 2009!!!
-Welcome, I am Michelle Nosco, Founder and Director of ARTS FOR EARTH FOUNDATION.
With the International Climate Summit starting soon in Copenhagen we are inviting the public to join in and make a difference in our local quality of life. FAMILIES and INDIVIDUALS are invited to PARTNER with Arts For Earth and the Forest Service to build: Mike Fosters Native Plants Garden and Amphitheatre right here. This is one solid way we can make a good, positive impact on our quality of life.
This FUN education center is called the FOSTER BOTANICAL CENTER. But we lovingly call it Mike Fosters Garden.
-This Native Plants Garden is a memorial to MIKE FOSTER, the FOREST BOTANIST who LOVED and studied the unique NATIVE PLANTS growing here from 5 surrounding eco-regions,
-The Mike Foster Botanical Center will be a GATEWAY to Forest Life and recreation in the Mt.PINOS District of the Los Padres National Forest.
-Come here first to plan your visit to the forest.
-Volunteers and Donations to ARTS FOR EARTH.org for the Foster Botanical Center will create:
1. a native plants garden : with
a. wheel chair accessible trail and
b. An able bodied hiking trail that links to hundreds of miles of hiking, equine and Off Road trails.
2. Forest Interpretive Center ART GALLERY
3. an outdoor amphitheatre with concerts, workshops and lectures on forest life.
4. Located in Lockwood Valley at the Mt.Pinos Ranger headquarters of the Los Padres National Forest
5. Sections of Garden will display native plants that are UNIQUELY ADAPTED to growing here in the mountains. Some of these plants are normally found in:
a. Mojave Desert b. Sierra Nevada Mountains
b. C. Central Valley d. Central and e. South Coast
Mike Foster’s LEGACY is his love of our unique FOREST PLANTS and ANIMALS.
Arts For Earth Foundation is bringing together many partners in the mountain community and surrounding areas, to continue Mike Fosters legacy ,
Including the National Forest Association-Los Padres, Los Padres Bear Aware, Tejon Tribe, Bakersfield Tribe, Chumash Tribe, California Native Plant Society, EarthSkills, Condor Group of Sierra Club, the Tejon Ranch
-Come to Mike Fosters Botanical Center first to plan your visit to the forest.
-Volunteer with Arts For Earth, Learn to grow native plants,
meet every 2nd Sunday of the month, 2pm in Forest Ranger Station. See artsforearth.org or call 661-245-1523
To Donate much needed funds and for more information see www.ArtsForEarth.org

-Visit our Arts For Earth Nature Center Gift and Art Gallery:
3408 Mt.Pinos Way in FP to buy maps, t-shirts, books, gifts, art gallery show.
Come See Paintings of Area Landscapes, Plants, and Animals
-Proceeds help fund Foster Botanical Center.
-We offer the arts of mountain animals, plants, landscapes. First Show includes work by:
Abbe Gore, David Beigle, Susan Ssjoberg, Phyllis Oliver, Alan Holland and Michelle Nosco
-We offer Forest Talks and Walks by Docents, Forest Service Rangers, EarthSkills, California Native Plant Society, Sierra Club and Audubon Society.
-Our Forest Service Junior Ranger program starting in the new year will include programs with various Nature Groups .. such as : CA Native Plants, Sierra Club, Audubon Society and EarthSkills and Arts For Earth.
-Grand Opening Dec.5th Holiday Festival

-After our Grand Opening on Saturday December 5th, We are open Wednesday – Sunday 11-5pm.
-Arts For Earth Foundation is in partnership with the Forest Service. We design interpretive displays with paintings, sculptures and photographs of life in these mountains.

Los Padres National Forest

Los Padres National Forest

October 14th is a big day!

Okay, perhaps yesterday led up to today, but today the partnership agreement between Arts For Earth Foundation and the US Forest Service was announced. A few more signatures are needed, like ours. But, all in all... we are ready to send out Grants to fund the Mike Foster Native Plants Garden at the Chuchupate Ranger Station in the Mt.Pinos District of the Los Padres National Forest.

We are also geared up for our new interpretive center at the Station headquarters. The little blue house gives us a place to develop both the Garden and the Interpretive Center. Interesting how it all comes together. It looks like an art gallery, our displays will be interesting, artful and evocative.

From the finest photography to the most sensitive paintings. The Arts invite our guests to experience the wilderness with their hearts as well as their bodies.
more later,
love,
Chela

A nice place to visit, with bed and breakfast nearby.

3404 Mt.Pinos Way, Frazier Park, CA 93225
How can such a funky little house hold such great promise? This one does.
We had to show you the "gallery" in it's "before" condition to make sure you appreciate the changes it will go through. It's as good as done.
Check in often. When it's ready to host an opening, we hope you'll join us for a concert, poetry readings, performances on the "stage" to the left of the building. Seating will be in the native plants garden (weeds to the left). Inside will be a lovely gallery of original paintings, sculptures, giclee prints, cards and a huge "digital" showcase of the many pieces too large or cumbersome to display. We'll also feature original one of a kind clothing and handmade fiber art from "Lebecie Girl".
Our goal is to give it an inviting feel. A place that people will want to visit and hang out. It will be a touchstone for people coming to visit the amazing features of the "mountain". Our programs include networking between the fascinating artists living on the mountain and the fascinating artists visiting from the valleys below. Programs will be held in various business' throughout the mountain communities.
more later, check out our website (in progress) at:
www.artsforearth.org
love,
Chela