Palos Verdes Pastoral Garden-to-Table Dining Experience was held on Sunday, October 27th under the early autumn moon at the breathtaking Terranea Resort for an evening of celebration and inspiration presented by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy. This year marked a significant milestone as the Conservancy commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Third Grade Student Naturalist Education Program, a cornerstone of the group’s commitment to environmental stewardship and education.
For decades, the Third-Grade program has nurtured young minds and fostered a strong connection to the natural world on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Education Director Holly Gray explained, “Through hands-on experiences and immersive learning, the program has helped to plant seeds of curiosity and environmental responsibility in thousands of children. ” The program reaches students from over 25 schools in Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Lomita, Carson, Wilmington, Torrance, Redondo Beach and Los Angeles.
This year’s Pastoral event also showcased the creation of a new Native Seed Farm by the Land Conservancy. The new seed farm is another example of the Conservancy’s dedication to preserving native flora and promoting biodiversity. Conservancy Seed Farm Manager Neil Uhlman was on hand to share his insights into the efforts to increase collection and propagation of local plant species, ensuring a sustainable future for the peninsula’s open spaces.
The sold-out event was attended by 240 special guests who enjoyed a memorable reception and farm-to-table dinner menu created by Terranea Resort Executive Chef Andrew Vaughn. The meal featured seafood by Santa Monica Seafood Company. Breakthr Beverages and Bristol Farms provided the reception wines and Winebow Fine Wines & Spirits and Catalina View Gardens provided the wines for the main course.
Pastoral is the most important annual gathering for the Conservancy to raise critical support for the conservation and management of the 1,700 acres of protected rare coastal habitat. Terranea Resort’s role as presenting partner enables proceeds to go directly to support conservation efforts. Other top Pastoral sponsors included: William & Paige Hadley, Bruce Biesman-Simons and Hale Field, Becky Cool and Navigoe Wealth Management among many other generous sponsors.
Joining the Conservancy, PVPUSD Superintendent Dr. Devin Serrano expressed her support and appreciation of the program’s impact and partnership. She commended the Conservancy for integrating environmental education into the curriculum, and empowering students to become stewards of natural resources.
For Event Chair Diana Heffernan-Schrader and founder of School Gardens Palos Verdes, “Gathered at Terranea Resort, surrounded by the beauty of our coastal landscape, the event inspires hope in the seeds we plant today— in our children, in our community, and in our environment. These seeds are the promise of a sustainable future for the Palos Verdes Peninsula and beyond, ensuring that our open spaces thrive for generations to come.”
According to Executive Director Adrienne Mohan, “This year’s Pastoral event celebrated the seeds of change that will bring about a more resilient Peninsula environment and education opportunities to nurture bright futures for students where appreciation for nature at early ages will flourish into commitment to caring for our planet for generations.”
Contact: Louise Olfarnes, Communications & Marketing Manager, lolfarnes@pvplc.org, Cell: (310) 626-7863
