September 2024:
Celebrating 100 Years
*Special thanks to Eric and the Hidden Villa archive team for the photos!
More Than A Celebration:
On September 28, over 400 members of our vibrant community will gather together for Hidden Villa’s Centennial Celebration. Though this occasion is more than just a celebration, it’s so much more than a mere party—it’s an evening for connection. We will gather together to honor our past, relish our present achievements, and vision our course for a sustainable future. Every element of the evening holds great significance and has been planned with great care and intention. Together we will connect with the land, the food, and the enduring mission of this special place we all know as Hidden Villa.
We have great news! A few tickets have recently become available for our Centennial Celebration. We hope you can join us in person on September 28.
Connecting with the Land:
We’re excited to be working with Outstanding in the Field. They are known for curating dining experiences that aim to connect diners to the origins of their food while celebrating the hardworking hands that feed us: chefs, farmers, fisherpeople, cheesemakers, vintners, brewers, and many more. They’re honored to have welcomed some of the world’s most renowned chefs and culinary artisans to join us and cook in their field kitchen.
Connecting with our Food:
Our guest chefs, Jesse Cool and Bryan Thuerk, from Flea Street, will interweave gourmet cuisine with transformative ideas, an embodiment of Hidden Villa’s commitment to nurturing both land and community for the next 100 years. The multi-course dinner will be prepared using ingredients grown right here on the farm.
Connecting with our Mission:
Before we savor the bounty of our land, we have the honor of hearing from Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer. Her talk, “The Honorable Harvest: Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainability,” underscores our commitment to integrating traditional ecological knowledge into our practices. We recognize the vital role of Indigenous wisdom in fostering a sustainable and harmonious relationship with the natural world.
Extending the connection:
We want the entire Hidden Villa community to feel part of this momentous occasion, even if you can’t be with us in person. Here’s how you can participate:
- Watch Dr. Kimmerer’s Speech: We’re excited to share a recording of Dr. Kimmerer’s inspiring talk with our wider community. To receive the video link, please fill out the interest form by clicking the button below.
- Submit Your Questions: Have a question for Dr. Kimmerer? We’d love to hear it! Click the button at the bottom right to submit your questions. Please know we may not be able to address all questions received during the event.
As Hidden Villa begins its next century, we remain committed to fostering connections—between people, with the land, and with the wisdom that will guide us towards a sustainable future. Whether you’re joining us on September 28 or participating from afar, you’re an integral part of this journey. Together, let’s celebrate our past and cultivate a flourishing future for generations to come.
CENTENNIAL STORIES:
Centennial Story: A Lesson from Delano, California
Story recounted by Tom Lederer
Earlier this summer we sat down with a former camper, camp counselor, and longtime friend of Hidden Villa, Tom Lederer. Tom knew Josephine, Frank, and Cesar Chavez. The following is a retelling of one of the many vibrant stories he shared with us.
Dan Dana, married to Liz, one of the Duvenneck’s daughters, did a lot of work in Delano, California. Delano is in the heart of California’s Central Valley and became known for being home to the ‘Delano Grape Strike and Boycott’. Dan built housing for the farmworker families and helped with organizing the community. And typical of Josephine, that meant that she had some of the farm workers’ kids come to Hidden Villa Camp.
One year, when I was a camp counselor, Caesar Chavez came to drop off his son Paul, and several other kids from Delano to attend Camp. I remember this vividly…
Paul and the other kids from Delano were utterly amazing! First of all, they got along with absolutely everybody in the camp. They were real leaders. They were active. They participated. They were nice. They were just great kids.
I remember Josephine told me to take that group of kids into town to the shoe store and get shoes for them. This was a very typical request of Josephine. If they needed shoes, she was going to make sure they received them. So, I drove Paul and the other kids down to the shoe store. When we got there, we saw a strike was going on. They were picketing right in front of the shoe store.
I thought, well, Josephine told me to go to the store, so I started in that direction. Paul looked at me and said, “Tom, I’m sorry, we can’t go into that store.” A 12 year old kid taught me to stick by my principles and never cross a picket line. It was a pretty powerful lesson. I’ve never crossed a picket line since. It’s that sort of stuff, those lessons, that happen at Hidden Villa.
Ever wonder what Hidden Villa looked like in 1927? Now you can get a sneak preview courtesy of a home movie. A digital copy was made of the original 16mm film and donated to the Hidden Villa archives. These 3 minutes of clips are from a longer series of 16mm home movies recorded by Anna Cutler Woodman Webster circa 1927. Mrs. Webster helped found the Peninsula School in 1925 (along with Josephine) and taught art there for 10 years. Anna was married to David Webster, the head of the Stanford Physics Department which likely explains their comfort with some pretty state-of-the-art home movie equipment for the 1920’s.
Anna’s daughter. Helen Wheelwright (nee Webster), was best friends with Elizabeth (Liz) Dana (nee Duveneck) at Peninsula School. They often spent summers together and subsequently went to Bennington College together. Helen recorded the explanatory voice-over when the film was converted to VCR/digital format in 1984.
While searching her family history files, she also discovered that she had some videos from her great-grandmother that featured Hidden Villa! Click the button below to watch clips from her great-grandmother.
Rooted in Time: A Journey Through Hidden Villa
The Hidden Villa History Archive team benefits from the expertise of Leilani Marshall, Margie Alving, and Eric Flint. Leilani, an experienced archivist, joined after proposing an archival program for Hidden Villa’s 100th anniversary. Margie’s involvement grew from her work at the Los Altos History Museum, indexing Hidden Villa and Duveneck family materials and archiving there. Eric was inspired by Hidden Villa’s record of building community and social justice via archeology classes at Foothill College. All three joined through Hidden Villa Board Member Diane Duerr-Levine, combining their skills to organize and preserve Hidden Villa’s historical documents for future research. Their dedication has unearthed fascinating historical treasures, shedding new light on Hidden Villa’s rich legacy and they are sure there are many more inspiring stories yet to uncover.
One of the most beloved of the team’s archival findings is a collection of Christmas letters by co-founder Josephine Duveneck, spanning from 1927 to 1977. These letters, along with Josephine’s memoir “Life on Two Levels,” offer invaluable insights into Hidden Villa’s early decades, documenting the family’s commitment to social justice and community engagement.
The team’s research reveals a consistent thread of environmental care throughout Hidden Villa’s history. Photographs, newsletter articles, and even Frank Duveneck’s rainfall logs chronicle the evolution from a working ranch to an educational farm, highlighting Hidden Villa’s ongoing commitment to land restoration and cultivation from the beginning.
A recent discovery of architectural drawings for the Duveneck house, designed by Charles Sumner, confirms its intended purpose as a gathering place – a role it continues to fulfill today through summer camps, celebrations, and community events.
The impact of the team’s archival work extends beyond Hidden Villa. In collaboration with the Los Altos History Museum, they’ve contributed to the development of “Rooted in Time: Journey through Hidden Villa,” an exhibit opening on October 3 that showcases our 100-year history. This partnership will continue as we assist in cataloging and improving accessibility to both collections.
Leilani, Margie, Eric, and the history archive volunteer team are dedicated to preserving and making accessible over 100 years of records in various forms, from photographs to oral histories. Their goal is to ensure these resources remain vibrant and interactive for future generations.
As we approach our centennial, our archivists invite the community to engage with Hidden Villa’s rich history through the “Rooted in Time” exhibit and future initiatives. If you have materials, stories, or volunteer time, we’d love to hear from you (email [email protected]) By preserving our past, we create a foundation for our future, ensuring that Hidden Villa’s legacy of environmental stewardship, social justice, and community engagement continues to inspire for the next 100 years and beyond.
PROJECT BLOOM ~ Extended Application Deadline! A Community Service Competition Are you seeding positive change in your community? Have you completed a notable community service project? You could win cash for your service by entering Project Bloom, a community service competition. Submissions Due Nov 1, 2024.
Winners will be selected by Rotary Club judges Dick Hennind, Sandy Minga, and Kathy Barry. Follow the button below to tell us how you are helping the future of your community bloom.
WEEKEND PROGRAMS:
Natural Science Saturday’s
Step into Hidden Villa’s lush landscapes, where every leaf, track, and birdsong tells a story. Join Hidden Villa’s award-winning Senior Naturalist, Garth Harwood, in our Natural Science Saturday classes! Held at the Wolken Education Center from 10 am to 12 pm, these unique sessions blend academic knowledge with Garth’s extensive field experience, offering an unforgettable program. Garth’s playful spirit and expertise in experiential education make complex topics accessible and engaging.
Explore subjects like wildlife tracking and outdoor safety in the Santa Cruz Mountains through a combination of presentations and field experiences. Each class is designed to deepen your understanding of nature’s intricate patterns, transforming discrete facts into a rich tapestry of ecological awareness. Whether you’re a seasoned naturalist or a curious beginner, join us to see the world through new eyes. Sign up for individual classes or multiple sessions to watch the seasons unfold at Hidden Villa. Discounts are available when you bundle classes!
Earth Club for Kids
Join teacher naturalist extraordinaire, Garth Harwood, for an in-depth science, adventure, and play program. Participants will build skills needed to connect with nature on a deep and meaningful level. Their 4-week adventure can be used consecutively or however suits their schedule.
Plein-Air Class
Sunday, October 6, from 9 am to 5 pm marks the first of what we hope will be a long-running series of Hidden Villa/Foothill Community Education Art workshops to be held here at Hidden Villa. This inaugural workshop will focus on outdoor plein air painting in the Education Garden. You will learn how to plan and paint natural garden subject matter in the open air.
Future workshops will focus on what is in season, plus the beautiful ever-changing landscapes and vistas of Hidden Villa. The fee is $100/person.
Sign Up Online: If interested make sure to sign up soon as the workshop is capped at 15 participants so everyone can receive individualized feedback. Follow the button below for registration details.
About the Instructor:
You can learn more about the Instructor Hilary Gomes – About the Artist on her website. She has been a tenured Faculty at Foothill since 2001, is Head of the Art Department, and offers a full range of for-credit (i.e. graded) drawing, watercolor, and painting classes at Foothill College.
Family Yoga:
Bring your family out for a lovely, rejuvenating yoga session on the beautiful farm! Move your body, engage your senses, and connect with the community and environment around you! All family types are welcome! Yoga is best suited for ages 7 and up.
Archery:
Join us this fall for an upcoming archery class at Hidden Villa. Sign up your family and friends for a fun-filled day on the archery range with instructor Hameed. All skill levels are welcome and the class can include children ages 8 and up!
Interested in booking a private experience for your group? Reach out to [email protected] to learn more and schedule your experience.
Field Trips:
The cooler evenings this time of year mark a big transition time for Hidden Villa. We’ve packed up all of our summer camp gear and are in full swing of training our new cohort of outdoor educators in preparation to launch another meaningful year in building connections to nature through our environmental education program. Our program schedule is filling quickly. If you haven’t already scheduled your field trip, we encourage you to do so today!
JOB OPPORTUNITIES:
