Stewards of the Earth
November 15 & 16, 2025 | 9 AM – 3 PM
Cactus Joe’s Blue Diamond Nursery
A gathering to remember our belonging to the land, and to imagine a way of living where all flourishing is mutual.
What does it mean to be a steward of the Earth?
Stewards of the Earth is a free two-day community gathering dedicated to exploring reciprocity, connection, and mutual flourishing.
Together, we’ll learn, listen, and celebrate what it means to care for the desert — and for each other — through practices rooted in Indigenous wisdom, ecological awareness, and creative expression.
Featured Panel
“All Flourishing is Mutual”
Saturday · 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM · Outdoor Classroom
A conversation on how Indigenous wisdom, ecological stewardship, and community collaboration can guide us toward a way of living where all flourishing is mutual.
Ron Escobar & Dan Leiva
Chemehuevi Tribe
Ron, Director of the Chemehuevi Tribal Historic Preservation Office, and cultural leader Dan are working together to restore the ancestral lands of the Chemehuevi Tribe and bring back the waters of their homeland near Lake Havasu. Through their leadership and land-based practices, they embody a sacred relationship with the living world and offer a grounded vision for ecological and cultural renewal.
Alan O’Neill
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Alan, retired Superintendent of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, played a pivotal role in collaborating with tribal nations and the Searchlight community to secure permanent protection for Avi Kwa Ame, culminating in its designation as a National Monument. He is also the founder of Get Outdoors Nevada and remains a respected voice in conservation, advocacy, and land stewardship.
Carmen Gonzalez
Indigenous Water Wisdom
Carmen is a Navajo environmental specialist and permaculture designer with Indigenous Water Wisdom. Her work focuses on restoring ecological balance and uplifting the “Way of Peace,” informed by the teachings of the Five Tribes. She studies and teaches social technologies rooted in Indigenous knowledge that empower communities in navigating conflict and cultivating collective flourishing.
Moderated by
Ian Ford-Terry — Springs Preserve
This panel will be moderated by Ian Ford-Terry, a horticulturist, permaculture designer, and archaeologist with a specialization in paleoethnobotany. Ian works closely with Southern Paiute communities and currently leads ethnobotanical restoration efforts at the Springs Preserve.
Guiding Questions
What kinds of relationships bring about mutual flourishing—between people and the living world?
How can Indigenous practices help us remember pathways of reciprocity?
What does mutual flourishing look like in practice, even amid conflict or competing needs?
SCHEDULE
Saturday, Nov 15 & Sunday Nov, 16
9 AM – 3 PM
SATURDAY, NOV 15
8:00 – 8:45 AM
Yoga (The Lawn) — with Astrid Rudin
9:00 – 10:30 AM — Concurrent Sessions
• Nature Journaling (Labyrinth) — with Melissa Gonzalez
• Demo Garden Tour (Native Plant Garden) — with Michele Chambliss
• Circle Talk: The Teachings of the Great Peacemaker (Outdoor Classroom) — with Carmen Gonzalez & Ceci Ortiz.
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM — Opening Ceremony & Featured Panel
See panel details above
1:30 – 3:00 PM
Worm Composting Demonstration (Rabbit Pen) — with Dennis Wichter
Ongoing (All Day)
• Spinning & Weaving Demonstrations (The Orchard) — with Las Vegas Fiber Arts Guild
• Ugly Pot Container Gardening (The Orchard) — with Downtown Cactus Club
• Found-Object Art (The Patio) — with Jeffrey Axelrod
SUNDAY, NOV 16
7:30 – 9:00 AM
Heart-Opening Breathwork & Soundbath (Greenhouse) — with Mary Haines and Wendy Surber
9:30 – 10:30 AM
Eco-Fashion (Outdoor Classroom) — with Cesi Ortiz
9:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:00 PM
Nature Journaling (Orchard) — with Las Vegas-Clark County Library District
12:30 – 2:00 PM
Demystifying Compost (Labyrinth) — with C.J. Kelly
2:00 – 3:00 PM
Closing Ceremony (Outdoor Classroom) — Cacao Ceremony (led by Justin Gomez) & Gratitude Offering
Ongoing (All Day)
• Free Boutique (Desert Love House) — with Andrea Cheaney
• Spinning & Weaving Demonstrations (The Patio) — with Annie Bartley
• Found-Object Art (The Patio) — with Jeffrey Axelrod
Event Descriptions
Yoga with Astrid Rudin
Begin the day with gentle movement and breath to connect body, spirit, and place.
Nature Journaling — with Melissa Gonzalez (Earth Green Landscapes)
Connect with the desert landscape through reflective observation, sketching, and guided journaling. An invitation to slow down, notice patterns, and awaken curiosity.
Native Plant Demonstration Garden Tour — with Michele Chambliss (Perennial Garden Consultants)
Explore the native plant demonstration garden and learn how desert species can support biodiversity, resilience, and regenerative home landscapes.
Circle Talk: The Teachings of the Great Peacemaker — with Carmen Gonzalez (Indigenous Water Wisdom) & Ceci Ortiz (Cosmic Maya).
A communal conversation inspired by Robin Wall Kimmerer’s reflections on reciprocity, kinship, and the gift economies of the more-than-human world.
Worm Composting in Your Backyard — with Dennis Wichter (Las Vegas Worm Farm)
Discover how to transform everyday kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich soil using home-scale worm composting techniques.
Ugly Pot Container Gardening with Downtown Cactus Club
Bring your ugly container or choose from donated ones: Downtown Cactus Club will help you turn “trash” into a vibrant container garden.
Spinning & Weaving Demonstrations — with the Las Vegas Fiber Arts Guild (Saturday & Sunday) and Annie Bartley (Saturday & Sunday)
Experience the art of weaving as skilled artisans demonstrate traditional and contemporary techniques, transforming natural fibers into beautiful, purposeful creations.
Found Object Art — with Jeffrey Axelrod (Local Artist)
Create art from found materials in this hands-on activity that transforms what might have gone to the landfill into expressions of beauty and renewal.
Heart-Opening Breathwork and Sound Bath with Mary Haines (Boosted Breath) and Wendy Surber (Harmonizing Energy)
Let vibration, breath, and gentle movement awaken the rhythm of your heart.
Nature Journaling — with Las Vegas–Clark County Library District
Return to the practice of close observation and creativity with guided journaling offered throughout the day.
Eco-Fashion — with Cesi Ortiz (Cosmic Maya)
Join a round-table discussion on eco-fashion, highlighting its critical role in reducing one of the world’s largest sources of pollution and exploring how sustainable clothing choices can protect the planet and its resources.
Free Boutique — with Andrea Cheaney (Fusion Community)
Donate gently used clothing and/or “shop” the clothing boutique for free.
Demystifying Compost — with C.J. Kelley (UNR Cooperative Extension)
Learn how to create simple at-home compost bins and turn the weekend’s food scraps into future soil.
Closing Ceremony
A heartfelt closing ceremony featuring a cacao ritual (led by Justin Gomez of Soy Curandero) and a collective offering of gratitude to honor the Earth and one another.
Gifts of Reciprocity: A Practice of Mutual Exchange
Inspired by the teachings of The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer, this event is rooted in the spirit of mutual exchange.
We invite our community to practice reciprocity — to give and receive in ways that support shared flourishing.
Though the dominant mindset operates in scarcity, we choose to practice a mindset of abundance. Together, we have more than enough to meet each other’s needs.
As an act of abundance and care, participants are encouraged to explore their closets, garages, and creative corners for items that may be gathering dust but could serve the needs of others on our Gifts of Reciprocity list (below).
In celebration of America Recycles Day and as a living practice of mutual support, visitors are invited to bring gently used or unneeded items that could help sustain the work of participating vendors, artists, and organizations.
Gifts of Reciprocity: Participating Organizations
Las Vegas-Clark County Library District
advocates for literacy and free access to information.
Gifts That Help Us Grow
Small items from the natural world that can contribute to our little collection of things people can touch and look at and wonder about
Get Outdoors Nevada
connects people to the state's outdoor places through education, volunteerism, and outreach programs, while also preserving public lands, urban trails, and community parks.
Gifts That Help Us Grow
Bottled water, large trash bags, gloves (rubber & gardening), hand weeders, large coolers
702 Gardens, LLC
empowers communities to grow their own food in backyards and shared spaces, fosters food sovereignty, combats food insecurity, and cultivates a deeper connection to the land.
Gifts That Help Us Grow
Seeds, outdoor plants, trees, cuttings
Solidarity Fridge
makes healthy food more accessible to underserved communities through local projects, education, and a community pantry & garden.
Gifts That Help Us Grow
Water, fresh fruits and veggies, canned food and pantry staples
Clark County Desert Conservation
maintains the diversity of native habitats and species while promoting economic and social well-being.
Gifts That Help Us Grow
Volunteers
Farmer Jen Organics
shares simple ways to support optimal health with fresh foods and toxin free living in Food, Body, Beauty & Living Spaces.
Gifts That Help Us Grow
Gardening tools (gloves, spades, etc)
Las Vegas Worm Farm
creates healthy, living soil from organic waste through vermicomposting.
Gifts That Help Us Grow
Soil samples from your home garden or backyard
Clark County Department of Environment & Sustainability
creates a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Southern Nevada.
Gifts That Help Us Grow
Small [dead] alkaline and lithium batteries only (no leaking or cracked ones, please) – to recycle
Earth Green Landscapes
creates spaces that support humans and wildlife and helps people connect in meaningful ways to nature.
Gifts That Help Us Grow
Canvas wraps for wrapping cacti in the winter and picking up trash (instead of plastic bags).
Desert Love Native Plants
makes native plants accessible for all, empowering the community to create sustainable landscapes that support the whole ecosystem.
Gifts That Help Us Grow
1 gallon nursery pots
Free Boutique
provides free clothing to the community with the broader aim of giving dignity to individuals in need.
Gifts That Help Us Grow
Washed, bagged, labeled clothing, especially men’s clothing, winter clothing, shoes, socks, and hangers (especially kids’ hangers)
Uniquely Uncorked
recycles used corks into unique items.
Gifts That Help Us Grow
Wine corks
Desert Tortoise Group
educates and advocates for the protection and well-being of the desert tortoise.
Gifts That Help Us Grow
Zoo Med Natural Grassland Tortoise Food
East Las Vegas Seed Share
provides free seeds to the community, encourages local gardening, and promotes food justice and sustainability.
Gifts That Help Us Grow
Herb, flower, and vegetable seeds
Red Rock Audubon
protects and restores habitats for birds and wildlife by promoting sustainable practices and engaging communities through education, advocacy, and outreach.
Gifts That Help Us Grow
Birding books, binoculars, unused journals, and general outdoor education supplies
Downtown Cactus Club
positively influences horticultural practices and promotes water conservation in the Las Vegas Valley through education and community engagement.
Gifts That Help Us Grow
Cactus cuttings
Community Partners & Participants
The organizations and individuals contributing their time, knowledge, and creativity.
Stewards of the Earth
SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, May 17th
🪴STEWARDS OF THE EARTH Market
Shop, Learn, and Be Inspired:
A collaborative marketplace demonstrating that sustainability starts at home.
This first-of-its-kind marketplace brings together:
* Community gardens and farms offering fresh local produce
* Environmental groups sharing their ecosystem protection work
* Eco-conscious artisans selling sustainable goods
* A speaker exploring how “all flourishing is mutual”
Interested vendors and organizations:
Email Kym at kym.m@desertlovelv.org to participate in creating a space that demonstrates true environmental stewardship.
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Cactus Joe's Las Vegas
📍 12740 Blue Diamond Rd.
Las Vegas NV, 89161
📞 702-875-1968
✉️ cactusjoeslasvegas@gmail.com
🌿 HOURS 🌿
Mon – Sat: 9 am – 5 pm
Sun: 10 am – 5 pm
🌵 For inventory availability, give us a call at 702-875-1968
🌺 For event-related questions, email us at events@cactusjoeslv.com
🪴 For Desert Love Native Plants, email us at info@desertlovelv.org
Earth Day Market
SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, April 26th
Join us for a special 🌏 Earth Day Market, including a mini-farmers market featuring local farmers, growers, and community gardeners committed to eco-friendly and organic practices.
If you specialize in sustainable practices, please email kym.m@desertlovelv.org for details on how to vend at the market.
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Cactus Joe's Las Vegas
📍 12740 Blue Diamond Rd.
Las Vegas NV, 89161
📞 702-875-1968
✉️ cactusjoeslasvegas@gmail.com
🌿 HOURS 🌿
Mon – Sat: 9 am – 5 pm
Sun: 10 am – 5 pm
🌵 For inventory availability, give us a call at 702-875-1968
🌺 For event-related questions, email us at events@cactusjoeslv.com
🪴 For Desert Love Native Plants, email us at info@desertlovelv.org
Native Plant Sale
🌿✨ Native Plant Sale & Bird Preserve Tours – April 5th! ✨🌿
We’re teaming up with Red Rock Audubon Society to bring you an exciting day of native plants, birds, and backyard habitat inspiration!
📅 Saturday, April 5th
📍 Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
🌱 Native Plant Garden Tours with Bird Experts: 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM
🛍️ Native Plant Sale by Desert Love: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM (on the patio)
Join Red Rock Audubon Society for expert-led plant tours where you'll learn how to create a bird-friendly oasis in your own backyard. See fully grown native plants in action, discover which ones attract birds, and learn why they’re essential for our desert ecosystem!
🌿 Native plants available for purchase, provided by Desert Love! Featured plants include creosote, brittlebush, globemallow, milkweed, box thorn, saltbush & more!
🦜 Make a day of it—go birding before or after the event! A perfect family-friendly outing.
🌵 In collaboration with @redrockaudubon, @desertlove_vegas & @cactusjoes, hosted by Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve.
📌 Mark your calendars and tag a friend who needs to be there!