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Seeds for the Future

 

Karinaland & Bay Area Community Land Trust

Gathering and Celebration on Sunday August 16, 2026

 

Here a kaleidoscope of our afternoon, so deeply meaningful for me. Long planned and envisioned – in collaboration. On Saturday, mild summer weather, setting up the back patio with 22 chairs in oval formation. Decorating the perimeter with colorful fabrics. Transforming the space into an open “tent” which is able to hold several worlds. Aysha and Alejandro help to put up a shade cloth, tables for food and drink, cleaning the chairs.  On Sunday, Rebecca joins us early with utensils. At 3 pm, friends start arriving, bringing delicious food to share, mingling with BALCT’s staff, guests, and board members.

 

We eat and converse. Then I ask people to sit in the circle, or rather oval. Welcoming everyone, I start with sharing in broad strokes Karinaland’s history of 35 years, weaving together the threads of my life and work as artist and teacher. Vision and creation. Perseverance. Change. Loss. Passion and respectful listening. Generations of deer.  In 2008, the garden sheds want to emerge, terracing the hill, a fruit orchard, 108 steps to the top. Stewardship. Transformation. Hard physical work. More losses. Change, again and again. Trust. At the bottom, a metal gate I design. Social justice. Collaborating. Inspiring others to live out of the box, with curiosity and courage. My mantra always: what wants to be known, seen, heard, expressed?

 

Then, program manager Rebecca Orozco gives a gracious introduction to the Bay Area Community Land Trust’s work. Next, Rick Lewis (founder & past director of BACLT) who is a veteran in the field, and knows so much history about community land trusts. Heartfully, he recounts how we met in 2024 to talk about bequeathing the property to BACLT upon my death. In 2025, this gift is legally completed in my Living Trust. Stewardship manager Noah Compo eloquently introduces the concept of the “greater good” and our collaboration. We are still in the process of envisaging how my decades-long approach to stewardship of the land, life, art, and teaching can merge with BALCT’s practice of creating affordable housing, cooperative living, social justice. Letting my legacy live on, including the Memorial Mural on the garage doors. Trusting all will be in good hands. The BACLT staff is generous with their appreciation. I am inspired by BACLT, they are inspired by Karinaland. Possibilities….


Today is special. 35 years after moving in with my late husband Bob Blauner – knowing that after i die, or even before, this magic and alive place will not just become a commodity, part of the speculative market, but rather will be made available for the greater good. Perhaps for a family, or artists with little means, like I was and am. For people who can’t afford the Bay Area, would otherwise have to leave. It will be stewarded as affordable housing by non-profit BACLT which is celebrating its 20th anniversary on August 29.  Karinaland – residing on Ohlone Land – will perhaps become a coop, with artist residencies for people interested in permaculture, healing herbs, photography, painting, dancing, meditating, etc. Nothing would be better, I feel blessed. Embodied values. And a full circle for me, growing up in post-war Germany in a socialist family. Danke Bob. Danke Mama und Papa. Matthias und Dinah.

 

From here on I must keep praying to the gods for protection. To the gods of the elements, fire, water, air, earth. Up here everything is more extreme, fire danger, storms, floods, temperature swings. Now, time for questions – many knew little about community land trusts. Then, in little ceramic cups I serve my garden herb tea, the heavenly pistachio cake by Fern, and a toast to the future. A smaller round of friends stays, sharing from their own lives.



For me, the presence of 15-month-old Cosmo is the wonder and awe. Throughout, i am acutely tuned into his various vocal expressions. The parents, Noah and his wife, take turns wandering with him up the hill into the garden. His joyous squeals, or bored crying, are spicing up our gathering. In the “tent” on a low tray, my offering for everyone is displayed. 25 little boxes which I origami-folded from old calendars, filled with nasturtium seeds. Seeds for the Future. Everyone chooses one to take home. Cosmo is the first, eagerly he takes steps toward the mysterious riches – you can see, they are at his level. Curiosity, the child’s delight with colors, shapes, sounds, so much to be explored, touched, discovered. Part of our circle, he is steeped in precious values necessary for sustainable living. Thanks to his parents, Cosmo is the future – participating fully.


May the seeds sprout

 

May we all participate, vibrantly alive,

greeting joy and sorrow, challenges and gifts.

May we all be delighted

 

Many thanks to all who attended

Please check out BACLT https://www.bayareaclt.org/

Come to their Community Gala on August 29

 

Upper: Noah and Rick (BACLT) – Lower: guests, at right Rebecca (BACLT)


Poster of my Karinaland “hill” with prompts to brainstorm about stewardship by Angela (BACLT) –  forgot to hand them out, ask me for one :)
 

Stills of people by Fern, more here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/nDPKE1tExidGs4YA8



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