About the Organization
Sacred Earth Foundation
why we exist
More commonly known by the place-name Ekone Ranch, Sacred Earth Foundation (SEF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to actively love the upper Rock Creek watershed and share in transformative learning, stewardship, and growth with people at every stage of life.
About Sacred Earth Foundation
Sacred Earth Foundation is an old organization with a young structure, having grown into a model of shared leadership since the sudden death of founder Ray Mitchell in 2007. A leadership circle of co-directors shares responsibility for the bottom line; an awesome year-round and seasonal staff git ‘er done; and our dedicated board of directors provides visionary direction and guard rails.
Here’s our 2024 Strategic Plan - we’ve been told it’s a good read!
And here’s more of the history of Sacred Earth Foundation & Ekone Ranch.
We value transparency - here are Financial Records.
People make an organization. Read on for more about Sacred Earth Foundation’s people.
Sacred Earth Foundation
Year Round Staff
Shawn Bergman +
Facilities Manager
Jodie Buller +
Leadership Circle | Cemetery Director
Liz Coppola +
Leadership Circle | Operations Director
Susan Holmes+
Development Manager
Jenna Milton +
Horse & Finance Manager
Michelle Sager +
Leadership Circle | Program Director
Shonie Schlotzhauer +
Leadership Circle | Executive Director
Chris Woodcock +
Lead Cook
Sacred Earth Foundation
Board of Directors
Chrystal Bell +
Portland
Victoria DeCillo +
Treasurer | Olympia
Merriah Fairchild +
Secretary | Portland
Usha Noble +
Portland
David Osborn +
Corbett
Zaakera Stratman +
Vice President | Bainbridge Island
Morgaine Trine +
President | The Dalles
Suzanne Wright Baumhackl +
Hood River
sacred earth foundation Mission
To actively love the upper Rock Creek watershed and share in transformative learning, stewardship, and growth with people at every stage of life.
sacred earth foundation Vision
A world in which the best of our human nature is activated to take radical care of this planet we share, each other, and ourselves.
Throughlines
Together, this is our north star; the direction that we orient towards, knowing that we never fully reach it, but we keep walking together.
Belonging
In all we do, at every age and stage, we foster a participatory sense of belonging – belonging to self, to community, to place, to this world.
Multigenerational & Multidimensional
We engage deeply throughout the lifespan and beyond, in physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual ways, to witness and nourish the best of our humanity.
Emergence
We watch and listen for changing needs and opportunities, and use proactive situational awareness to allow the work to evolve and respond.
Hope
We believe hope is an action and a radical stance in this time on earth, and we choose to keep working to build the world we want to live in.
Reciprocal Generosity
As the land does for us, we practice generous care for land, animals, and people, and invite non-transactional reciprocity to foster a flow of abundance.
Intimate Stewardship
We care for this land and the work, play, and learning that take place on it with close attention, deep listening, reverence for the sacred, and a hearty, humble, joyful work ethic.
Ripple
We seek to make an impact in the world beyond the borders of Ekone Ranch, activating and nurturing a desire and ability to build a world that centers belonging and stewardship.
Finding Us
Ekone is located east of Goldendale, in south-central Washington State just north of the Columbia River Gorge, in the homelands of the Kah-Milt-Pah, now one of the confederated bands and tribes of the Yakima Nation.
Google maps sometimes bring you down a goat trail - so please see step by step directions here.