Queer Pile and Patch Burn Workshop

Queer Pile and Patch Burn Workshop

Ocean Song-Myers Occidental, CA

April 11, 2026

9am - 4pm

Greetings community fire tenders,

The Queer Forestry and Fire Program is designed to create a safe space for queer identifying persons to come together for a project to restore a forest/grassland ecosystem and return good fire to the land. The Good Fire Program's mission is to return fire to the land in a safe, respectful, and meaningful community-oriented way. This workday will be a collaboration of the two programs and will be an opportunity to learn the basics of the role of fire in land stewardship. We believe that stewardship is an ongoing relationship between people and land, and we seek to develop a healthy and reciprocal relationship based on respect and trust.

Thank you to our friends at Sonoma County Ag + Open Space  for helping to make this stewardship event possible! There is no charge for this outing, which is made possible by the taxpayers of  Sonoma County who fund the work of Ag + Open Space with a quarter-cent sales tax. 

All burn days will involve burning piles, including pile prep, lighting, tending, and extinguishing. Any burn day may involve a patch burn of exposed grasslands or timber understory if the weather permits and the site is appropriate.

We are committed to expanding access to the land through fire, and so there are no certifications necessary to participate and no age limit. This day is designed for LGBTQ+ identifying folks, so please be mindful of that space and consider attending a different Good Fire Program day if you are not queer identifying. If you have accessibility needs, please reach out and let us know how we can help!

Tasks for the day will include:  

• Hiking up and down moderate slopes 
• Carrying and using long and short handled tools, backpack water pump, drip torch, propane torch, and other tools
• Lighting, tending, and extinguishing burn piles 
• Gathering fuel, including hand sawing and lopping trees and shrubs, and adding to piles
• Taking weather readings
• Maintaining exquisite vibes

What you should bring, if you have it: 

• Enough water for the day; we recommend 2 liters minimum
• Picnic lunch and snacks
• A backpack to hold your gear
• Sturdy boots or shoes that can get muddy
• Long pants and fully non-synthetic clothing (this means cotton or wool is OK, polyester and other synthetic clothing is NOT OK)
• Sunglasses or safety glasses
• Bandana for your face/neck
• Leather gloves  
• Brimmed hat and sunscreen

What else do you need to know? 

• Your participation in this day will not affect your ability to apply to the Queer Forestry and Fire Program and you do not need to participate in the program to attend this day. 
• Expect to do a 1.5-mile round trip hike up a somewhat steep but well-graded trail to the project site
• You will be asked to sign a liability waiver
• Restroom may be on-site
• No potable water available on the property
• No pets or smoking

Directions: From the town of Occidental, head west on Coleman Valley Rd for 1.8 Miles. Turn right to remain on Coleman Valley Rd and continue an additional 3.4 miles to the main entrance to the preserve. Once you are out of the trees, pass the pond on the left, and have a view of the ocean,  turn left into the preserve at 19100 Coleman Valley Road. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ADDRESSES ARE NOT IN NUMERICAL ORDER ON COLEMAN VALLEY ROAD. Do not turn left until you see the address 19100 otherwise you will get lost and go down the wrong road and arrive at a locked gate. Please follow these directions carefully and do not use Google Maps or GPS to find the address. If you do, you might get lost and/or confused. 

If we need to cancel due to weather or other circumstances: You will immediately receive an email if the program gets cancelled. However, if you would like to confirm, check back on this post; it will say "CANCELLED" if the program is called off.

Thank you for your interest in tending the land with LandPaths. We look forward to seeing you out on the land!