Caring for creation

At El Monte, we believe the land is a gift entrusted to our care. Rooted in the biblical call to “work it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15), we tend these nearly 400 acres not as owners but as stewards of God’s creation. Every tree we plant, every spring we protect, and every pasture we restore is an act of gratitude to the Creator — and a promise to the generations who will come after us.

Our conservation work is holistic and hands-on. Through reforestation with native species, food forests, planned grazing, and rainwater harvesting, we are rebuilding healthy soil, protecting our water, and weaving biological corridors across the property. Our goal is to be “net positive” — to give back more life, water, and biodiversity than we consume — so that the land grows richer, not poorer, under our care.

The fruit of this work is already returning on its own wings and paws. Native wildlife is coming home to El Monte: toucans, hummingbirds, iguanas, coyotes, and white-faced capuchin monkeys — and even the shy northern tamandua (anteater), the sunbittern, and the yellow-headed caracara — have been spotted across our forests and gardens. Each sighting is a quiet reminder that when we honor creation, creation flourishes. We invite you to walk our trails, listen to the birdsong, and witness what restoration looks like when the land is offered back to God.