Thanks to all who’ve been part of wonderful memories through the years since 1996. I’ve retired from 17 years (24 years of working on tree projects in town) of community service and am grateful to many special friends made along the way. I’m happy to now just focus on Learning Among the Oaks (go to learningamongtheoaks.org) and life with Bryan, Buster and friends in our garden. After a time to refresh and recharge, I hope to return to focus just on the school forest. It is still a special place as is Santa Margarita.

There is wonderful news coming for this year of changes. One of Santa Margarita School’s extraordinary teachers, Dona Robertson, will be retiring after 50 years (30 + years teaching) in education. Hard to imagine SMES without Dona but she has planned a most fitting, creative, and joyful legacy project that will come to life at the forest. A “Little Library in the Little Woods” will be coming to Santa Margarita!

With gratitude for forest friendships past, present and future,

Beverly Gingg, April 2013

*Special thanks to Andrew, smcf webmaster since  1997, who has contributed countless time and talents to smcf.org   Truly amazing and much appreciated! I also want to thank my husband Bryan, my family and friends, and The Land Conservancy of SLO County.

Adopt-a-tree volunteers ~ retired teachers Sharon Drake and Betty Williams worked with teachers and students to decorate their adopted trees.