Leok Po – Cultural Fire workshop at Cache Creek Conservancy
Geoff Benn • December 5, 2024
Event leader Diana Almendariz discusses how native plants respond to fire.
On November 8th, Tuleyome staff members Geoff, Darlene, and Nate attended the Leok Po workshop on cultural fire at Cache Creek Conservancy. Cultural fire refers to a range of approaches used by tribes in California to steward the land through the controlled use of fire. This was an all-day workshop led by members of several different Northern California tribes with the help of staff and volunteers from Cache Creek Conservancy and CalFire.
In the morning, we heard from Diana Almendariz, Danny Manning, Clint McKay, and Ali Meders-Knight about the relationship between cultural fire and plants, different approaches and goals for cultural fire, uses of native plants, and about the growth of cultural fire programs at Pepperwood Preserve.
Tuleyome staff member Geoff and others work to pull the fire downslope.
In the afternoon, we participated in a cultural fire to prepare an area to become a native food garden. This involved cutting fire lines, watching for flying embers, and using hand tools and water pumps to guide the fire. The knowledge and perspectives gained from the workshop will help inform our ongoing stewardship and education projects.
Tuleyome staff member Nate and others monitor the fire line.
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