“Some people build fences to keep people out, and other people build fences to keep people in.”  -August Wilson, Fences

At Earle Baum, the fence has undoubtedly brought the community in and kept it together. For some time now, something special has been taking shape in Santa Rosa, not just in the buildings, but on the land. How, you ask? Because of a common mission and a commitment to collaboration.

LightHouse, the Redwood Lions Memorial Foundation, and the Laguna Foundation came together with a shared goal: to care for and steward this 17-acre landscape. Like any meaningful partnership, each group brought its own ideas, priorities, and perspectives. What followed was not always simple, but it became an opportunity to listen, adapt, and build something better together.

In the first year, a temporary fence allowed cows to graze the land safely, naturally mowing and fertilizing the property. At the same time, careful attention was given to protecting the vernal pools, home to endangered Sonoma Meadowfoam and a wide variety of wildlife.

Nestled within this environment is the Labyrinth, an accessible and intentional space for reflection. Once an open meadow, it now serves as a place of quiet purpose, thoughtfully preserved within the larger ecosystem.

As the year came to a close and the cows moved on, partners gathered again, LightHouse, Laguna Foundation, and Labyrinth representative Patricia Jefferson, to revisit the land and its future.

Through open conversation and a shared commitment to both accessibility and environmental protection, a solution emerged. The fence would be placed as far from the Labyrinth as possible, while still maintaining a safe and respectful distance from the vernal pools.

From there, the project became something more than functional. It became creative.

The EHC fence builders, along with Oscar Cano, from the EBC facilities team, approached the design with both practicality and artistry. Listening carefully to concerns and ideas, they shaped a fence that reflects the natural flow of the land itself. Built with round, pressure-treated poles, the structure echoes the rope trail and the Labyrinth, which flows in gentle curves rather than rigid lines and sharp corners.

Today, the fence mirrors the landscape around it, the winding paths of the Labyrinth on one side and the natural contours of the vernal pools on the other. A subtle spiral connection ties it all together, creating a sense that the fence does not just sit on the land, but belongs to it.

This project is a reminder that when people come together with intention, even a fence can unite forces and become something meaningful.

A heartfelt thank you to the dedicated team who brought this vision to life.