Personal destacado: Wald Zimmerman (ellos/ella), Técnico de administración

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octubre 22, 2024

Posted in: Personas y lugares

Born y criada en Sonoma County Wald es licenciada por la Universidad Estatal de San Francisco en Geografía con especialización en Natural Resources Management y con especialización en Biología.  Desde su graduación, Wald ha explorado sus múltiples intereses profesional y personalmente, habiendo trabajado como biólogo de campo, profesor Waldorf, paisajista, agricultor, quesero y cabrero. En su tiempo libre, a Wald le encanta hacer surf, lanzar cerámicas, ir de mochilero, jugar al Wingspan y hacer senderismo con sus dos perros, Acorn y Newt. Habiendo vivido en el Noroeste durante muchos años, Wald se describe a sí mismo como una "planta amante de la sombra" y agradece profundamente el tiempo más fresco que llega con el otoño.

What’s your favorite Sonoma County place to get outside and why?
Gosh, what a question! There are so many places I love in Sonoma County, but one of my all-time faves has to be the Creekside Connector Trail off of Coleman Valley Road. There are two trails you can take–one is very short and leads to an amazing vista of Willow Creek all the way to the ocean, and the second leads all the way down to Pomo Canyon, with an offshoot to a secret waterfall along the way. It’s shady, lush, and very sparsely used. Check it out, it’s gorgeous!

What’s one fact, statistic, or interesting tidbit about land conservation that you enjoy sharing with others?
Something I think about a lot is the relationship between green space and mental health. There is a wealth of evidence, where research has found that spending time in environments with forest, farmland, and parks has a substantial positive effect on one’s mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. I have certainly found this to be true in my own life. The more we can do to preserve our natural landscapes and facilitate access to those spaces, the better off we are as individuals and as a community.

What’s your proudest moment working in land conservation and why?
Related to that last question, something that gives me so much pride and enjoyment is spending time out on properties where Ag + Open Space has in some way made land accessible to the public and seeing people enjoy these spaces. I feel this deep sense of joy and purpose when I see places like Taylor Mountain filled with people enjoying being outside, whether they are spending time with their families, walking their dogs, or just vibing on nature and getting some quality alone time.

What compelled you to pick a career in land conservation?
I don’t feel like I really had a choice. Spending time outdoors was such a crucial part of my upbringing, and I always knew I wanted to do something having to do with the natural world. I have always tried to find ways to be outside as much as possible and to keep my work life aligned with my values and interests, so conservation work seemed like a great option!

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor and why?
Nimble and Finn’s has the best ice cream in Sonoma County and any of their flavors are amazing! If we’re going to pick favorites, though, I’d have to say green tea is my favorite flavor. I love it because it’s kind of savory, it’s a weird pea soup green color, and it gives you a little energy boost.