Mark and Robin lived in a tiny community at the end a small, winding mountain road on the west slope of Big Basin State Park – one of the most intensely affected areas in the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex fires.

Their community was among the first affected by these fires, and as such, their community didn't even get an evacuation notice. They managed to escape at the last minute with little more than their vehicle and a few musical instruments. They are now sheltering in a tent in a friend's yard.

One of their neighbors has been back up into the canyon and has confirmed that their little cabin is gone.

But in talking to Mark the past few days, he has not been focused on his material loss – instead celebrating that a few of his pears and apple trees survived, and sharing his concern for his roses. He is as connected to soil and leaf, as attuned to birds and mushrooms, as anyone I've met. 

Mark has led me deep into the wildness of the flanks of Chalk Mountain to search for rare and special creatures, scrambled like a little boy under boughs of manzanita and pine with me searching for matsutake. Although they didn't have much material wealth, Mark always generously volunteered his time and knowledge of the land to the natural history community in Santa Cruz – people like Mark make the Fungus Fair the special event it is every year. 

Some of you may know Mark and Robin through music – they were regulars with their mandolins and guitars at folk nights at the Poet and Patriot and elsewhere. People like Mark and Robin make our communities richer, more vibrant, more human, more in touch with what really makes life worth living. 

His and Robin's humility and grace is something I have always deeply admired – it breaks my heart that they now have to rebuild from literal ash, simultaneously pressured by the current pandemic risk, all the while taking care of Robin's special-needs son.

This fundraiser, while nowhere near enough to get them back to normalcy, is intended to help take care of some their immediate needs – food, gas, shelter, storage, cleanup costs.

It is Mark's birthday today – he is turning 73. I would be very grateful if you'd help ease his family's transition to the next stage in their lives. Thank you.