Taft Gardens & Nature Preserve

Taft Gardens & Nature Preserve

Based in Ojai, California, the Conservation Endowment Fund (CEF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to sustaining Taft Gardens & Nature Preserve. This 264-acre property, nestled in the Ojai foothills near Lake Casitas, stewards cultivated gardens featuring a variety of plants that thrive in California’s Mediterranean climate and over 200 acres of Nature Preserve and vital open space.

History


Founded in 1981

OUR MISSION

EDUCATE the public about its environmental heritage.

PRESERVE endangered resources.

EXPLORE the relationship between humans and their environment.

View AllUpcoming Events


Stargazing with Russell Crotty and Laura Gruenther at Taft Gardens
Jun 12, 2026, 8:00 PM PDT
Perched above the Gardens, our Vista Point is the perfect locale for nighttime sky observation. As dusk falls, guests will be invited to...
Read More
Nature Immersion with Elena Rios at Taft Gardens
Jun 13, 2026, 5:30 PM PDT
The importance of our relationship to land, plants, and place is rooted in ancestral Indigenous Knowledge all over the world. Experience...
Read More
Nature Preserve Walk with Lanny Kaufer
Jun 13, 2026, 9:00 AM PDT
Join us for a unique nature education experience as we explore the trails of the Nature Preserve, only accessible through guided tours! ...
Read More
Art in Nature Walk with Cassandra
Jun 19, 2026, 9:30 AM PDT
Join Cassandra C. Jones, Artist and Arts Chair of our Residency Program at Taft, for a unique look at the property from a creative persp...
Read More
Cultivating Stillness with Color at Taft Gardens
Jun 20, 2026, 10:00 AM PDT
Spend time in a grounding, meditative watercolor experience guided by Katrina Espiritu, inviting presence and reconnection through the p...
Read More