History of Taft Gardens
The Conservation Endowment Fund 501c3 non profit (CEF) was founded by John Taft in 1981 out of his love and dedication to nature and its preservation. Taft donated 264 acres of Santa Ana Canyon in the foothills above Lake Casitas to CEF which now operates as the Taft Gardens & Nature Preserve.
John Taft Biography Video
Taft Gardens Beginnings
Inspired by his travels, in the late 1980’s John sought experts to help design a garden of exotic plants that thrive in a Mediterranean climate similar to Ojai, CA. While in Cape Town, he met Laurence Nicklin, a Horticulturist at Kirstenbosch Gardens who specialized in South African flora. John also connected with Jo O'Connell, a horticulture student at the University of Western Sydney studying Australian natives. He brought them both to Ojai and, with their expertise, developed and built what is known today as Taft Gardens & Nature Preserve.
A History of Education
From 1994 - 2001, CEF was in partnership with International Center for Earth Concerns and hosted dozens of events every year. The ICEC brought in groups of school children of all ages from West Los Angeles to Santa Barbara to participate in guided nature tours on the property. At the Taft Gardens & Nature Preserve, ICEC cared for up to 100 parrots with their Humane Society of the United States supported Bird Rescue Program.
The Taft-Nicholson Center
In 2001, CEF turned its efforts towards Lakeview, Montana to build an Environmental Education Center in the Centennial Valley. After purchasing and renovating Lakeview, Montana in the heart of the Centennial Valley, the CEF donated the property as a gift to the University of Utah and established the Taft-Nicholson Center for Environmental Humanities Education. This Center is fully operating today with courses such as “Writing the Landscape”, “Ecology of Residency” and “Environmental Sustainability Studies Capstone” where students from the University of Utah use the Taft Nicholson Center as a field study location to enhance their Environmental Humanities Masters education.
Taft Gardens Today
John Taft's legacy lives on through his daughters and grandchildren, who share in his values and mission of education, preservation, and exploration. They have carried on the work of the Conservation Endowment Fund, continuing the stewardship of Taft Gardens and Nature Preserve into the next generation.
When you visit Taft, you can still find John in the garden, eager to give tours to anyone with an adventurous spirit.
John's legacy demonstrates that passion, dedication, and the pursuit of harmony with our planet can play an essential role in the well-being of anyone who is curious and embraces it.