Paicines Ranch Learning Center

Educating, inspiring and connecting people with new ideas and networks that advance soil health

Life in the soil is at the core of each gathering, convening and workshop that we hold. And the land is our key collaborator in the work to solve complex ecological and social problems. With our regenerative agricultural community, we are exploring and mapping a radically different path forward, and a commitment to educating ourselves.

Learn More

Upcoming Events

Gathering Fire Facilitation Training

June 3-6, 2024

A residential deep dive into facilitation skills for women leaders in rural communities who find themselves at the center of important and challenging conversations.

Learn more

Dr. Christine Jones Workshop: Life is a Living System

JUNE 20-21, 2024

Christine draws from a truly amazing depth of understanding about soil ecology and presents in a manner that is interactive and dynamic. We are thrilled to have her back at Paicines Ranch!

LEARN MORE

NRI Flash TANGO!

Summer 2024 (date TBD)

A high tempo 90-minute version of the wildly spirited Tango convening designed for the NoRegrets Globetrotter Foundation grantees, Cienega Capital investees, and funder community.

Learn more

Sign Up to Learn About Future Events!

Who We Are

We are a team of educators, farmers and ranchers, facilitators, ecologists, investors, designers, and storytellers who are passionate about bringing together people to connect with the land and eachother.

meet us

In the Words of Participants...

“Groundwork reconnected me with the reasons I originally became involved with the food system, and helped me to see pursuing regenerative agriculture as a career as far more possible and approachable than I really have before.”

- Groundwork Participant

I left the ranch with a sense of possibility and hope. And a list of stuff to get done. And a mind blown. Life ruined. You know.

- Learning Journey Participant

"The course was the closest thing to magic that I’ve experienced on zoom to date.”

- Groundwork Participant

"I am incredibly grateful to all of you who helped to organize and gather such an amazing group of people for such a wonderful interactive program. The interactivity, time on the land (hands in the soil), and for me especially, the time with the farmers were all transformational experiences."

- Health From the Soil Up Participant

"I really enjoyed hearing about the actual examples in the Beautiful Portfolio (and also I love this concept). I met quite a few people that I look forward to collaborating with in the future. I am excited by the idea of being able to leverage our grants and investments through collaboration."

- Learning Journey Participant

“Groundwork inspired me at a time when I really needed new ideas to revitalize my
experience of the food system. I’m so grateful for the connections I was able to make, the
diverse array of subject matter we covered, and the hundreds of vital ideas the program
sent through my mind every single day."

- Groundwork Participant

"Even during the short time I was on the ground in Paicines, I was inspired and energized to push the envelope of our work further. I am grateful to have had the chance to see your team in the context of the ranch—a beautiful landscape brimming with energy and biodiversity. I so appreciated the intentionality of the event—from the values-aligned catering, to the activities in the field, every moment was planned without being rigid."

- Learning Journey Participant

My biggest take away was how important it is to be in community with each other, testing and and iterating upon system design and shaping the words to tell the story of the movement we are building so that we can each take this experience outwards to our communities.

- Learning Journey Participant

"I left with more [than a sense of possibility and hope] -- I left with a sense of optimism that things could get done. And with the folks who were there, I believe we are the folks who CAN get things done."

- Learning Journey Participant

Support Our Work

Your support contributes to the development of new convenings and programs, and to our scholarships to help us ensure the participation of farmers, non-profits, students and other diverse voices and perspectives that are crucially important to our workshops and convenings.

DONATE