Join us for the unforgettable experience of making natural dye from purple sea urchins (strongylocentrotus purpuratus). Margaret, from Seelie Studio, will share how to combine ancient Polynesian dye practices and chemistry to create a salmon pink dye. You’ll dye a silk scarf and use water marbling techniques to add swirls of monochromatic color. $150 per person

Your attendance is helping to thin the overpopulation of purple urchins and restore California kelp forests, so thank you.

About Seelie Studio: Seelie Studio is a natural dye company specializing in purple sea urchin dye. We love teaching workshops that deepen our connection to nature. We create custom apparel, home goods, and artwork for you. We advocate for nature and honor ancient knowledge in all we do. Stop and smell the flowers with Seelie Studio, where environmental responsibility meets artistic expression.

@seelie.studio 

seeliestudio.com

About the artist: Margaret Seelie is an artist and writer based in San Francisco who has been creating colors with nature for over a decade. She founded the natural dye company Seelie Studio and the zine Seawitches. Her work has been displayed in solo and group shows around the Bay Area since 2022. She has taught natural dye workshops since 2012 for clients like San Francisco Public Libraries, OpenAI, The Sea Ranch, and more. She loves making natural dye from purple sea urchins and hiking with her rescue doggie. 

@margaretseelie

Wednesday, 12.4 at 6pm
The Sea Ranch Lodge

The Lodge team is excited to celebrate our North Coast community with these convivial Locals Night Dinners. Join in on a special Holiday Locals night, combining November & December! $55/person and $20/child 12 and under, plus tax and 20% gratuity. Price does not include alcoholic beverages.

Saturday, 12.7 at 2pm
The Farm

Join us on 12.7 for our Garden Planning workshop, where we'll guide you through selecting the right plants for your garden. Discover strategies for companion planting in both time and space, and learn when to start your favorite vegetables to thrive in our local climate.

$40 per adult and $20 per child 13+.

Please view cancellation policy on registration page.

Saturday, 12.7 from 12:30pm - 2:30pm

Join the Kids Club at the Lodge throughout the year for a series of kid-friendly seasonal events! Get crafty with your little ones as we make a Kwanza heart tree, Christmas bracelets, and gingerbread man. All ages are welcome.

Saturday, 12.14 from 12:30pm - 2:30pm

Join the Kids Club at the Lodge throughout the year for a series of kid-friendly seasonal events! Come meet Santa and join us for a variety of holiday crafts!  Free to the public; all supplies are provided. All ages are welcome.

Saturday 11.9, from 2pm-4pm
The Farm

Join us for a guided hike at The Sea Ranch Lodge Farm, which lies on a sunny western slope just 2 minutes south of the Lodge. On the hike we will walk through the pasture, pointing out the different pasture plants and exploring the changes as we dip in and out of valleys. As we ascend the steepest part of the hike we will discuss the ecosystem and how quickly certain plants give way to others. The last leg of the hike is downhill through the forest along the road, where we get to talk about forest ecosystems and enjoy the songs of trees and birds. Please note there are steep parts along the hike and are not suited for those with mobility issues. 

To register, email [email protected].  $20 per adult and $10 per child. 

*Max 25 guests, ages 7+

Saturday, 12.21 from 12pm - 4pm

Join us this holiday season for a festive shopping experience filled with local charm. Sip on warm drinks, indulge in seasonal bites, and enjoy the sounds of live music as you browse through a selection of unique gifts from the North Coast’s most talented artisans. Whether you’re searching for aromatic candles, lush botanicals, stunning jewelry, or artisanal ceramics, you’ll find the perfect presents that celebrate the spirit of local craftsmanship. Don’t miss out on this special opportunity to find one-of-a-kind treasures and make your holiday shopping a truly joyful experience!

Saturday, 12.14 from 12:30pm - 2:30pm

Join the Kids Club at the Lodge throughout the year for a series of kid-friendly seasonal events! Join us for cookie decorating and crafting luminaries for las posadas!  Free to the public; all supplies are provided. All ages are welcome.

Tuesday 12.31 from 8:30pm - 12:30am

Say farewell to 2024 at our fourth annual New Year’s Eve party! Sip champagne & dance the night away. Enjoy special New Year’s Eve souvenirs and live entertainment.

Wednesday 1.1 at 12pm

Kick off 2025 with oysters and a little “hair of the dog” at The Sea Ranch Lodge! Bar opens at 12pm.

Tuesday, 12.3, at 6:30pm
The Bar + Lounge

Join us at the Lodge for Trivia Night. Bring your team, grab bites and drinks at The Bar, and compete for prizes! 

Tuesday, 12.17, at 6:30pm
The Bar + Lounge

Join us at the Lodge for Trivia Night. Bring your team, grab bites and drinks at The Bar, and compete for prizes! 

Wednesday, 12.18 at 5pm

We’re hosting a laid-back and fun wine tasting and family-style dinner with vinyl spun by Sea Rancher Richard Harris.

We’re joined by Wild Hog Vineyard, Wild Hog Vineyard is a small family winery and vineyard in the Fort Ross Seaview AVA area, about 5 miles from Fort Ross. They started planting grapes in 1981 and became a bonded winery in 1990. Their certified organic vineyard produces about 800 cases of wine a year including Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Syrah.

$85 per person plus tax and 20% gratuity. Ages 21 and up only.

Saturday, 12.24 from 4pm - 9pm
The Dining Room

Come enjoy a festive Christmas Eve meal at The Sea Ranch Lodge! Featuring a celebratory prix-fixe menu for the whole family.

Reservations required. $125 per person and $45 per child ages 12 and under, plus tax and gratuity. Children’s menu includes one entree and dessert.

Tuesday 12.31 from 5pm - 9:45pm
The Dining Room

Ring in 2024 at The Lodge! Join us in The Dining Room for a prix-fixe dinner menu.

Reservations required. $145 per person and $45 per child ages 12 and under, plus tax and gratuity. Children’s menu includes one entree and dessert.

Sunday 12.15, from 5pm-6:30pm
The Fireside Lounge

Join us for dinner or drinks at 5pm when CoastSing will entertain with a short set of songs which will repeat at 6pm.  On the program will be California Dreamin’, Oceans, Breath of Heaven, In Dulci Jubilo & more. 

CoastSing is led by Sue Bohlin who is a California-born composer, pianist, & music director. She has been leading the community’s choir for 8 years.  She has performed in many countries around the world and is grateful that the pandemic shutdown led her to finding music work with the coast’s community.

Exhibition: 11.7 through 1.6.25
Reception on 11.30 4pm-6pm
The Sea Ranch Lodge

When Arun encounters one of the 3 trillion trees on our planet (about 400 trees per person), he usually starts by seeing them; their form, beauty, and uniqueness capture his attention. His other senses may enhance this experience. He might smell the tree’s flowers, hear the rustle of its leaves in the wind, feel the texture of its bark, or the strength of the trunk as he rests against it. As a photographer intending to showcase a few of these trees bathed in special light, Arun has come to understand that he must first get to know the tree with all his senses. Only after he has experienced it in its entirety can he truly “see” it.

Once his senses have been satisfied, his intellect recalls the vital role trees play in making our planet habitable—cleaning the air and water, cooling the environment, and supporting ecosystems and biodiversity. Trees produce oxygen, provide food and shelter, and are the source of fossil fuels and medicines. Their contributions to our well-being are too vast to fully enumerate. If an alien species were to choose between humans and trees for making the planet hospitable, Arun believes trees’ importance in sustaining life on Earth would be undeniable.

After sensing these things and thinking these thoughts, Arun reflects on what he feels about trees. They give all they have and ask for nothing in return. He understands that repaying their kindness is impossible, except through wise stewardship. This fills him with a deep sense of gratitude. He appreciates and cherishes them, recognizing the divinity that permeates each one. This awareness of belonging to something larger than himself instills in him a sense of oneness with the trees. Each of his photographs is influenced by and infused with this sense of wonder and gratitude.

In response, Arun bows his head and, with folded hands, says, "Namaste."

Arun is interested in making minimalist quiet compositions influenced by the principles of Asian landscape painting, and in making unique and expressive prints, especially on Japanese handmade washi.

ArunPatelStudio.com

Friday, 12.13 from 5pm-6:30pm
Lodge Fireside Lounge

Join us for an evening with Anne Matlack Evans, who will read from her debut novel, The Light Through the Branches, followed by a conversation with local writer, Maureen Simons. The novel explores family, memory, and forgiveness through a daughter’s journey to uncover the past and reconcile with her mother. Enjoy wine, small bites, and the chance to purchase a signed copy.

About The Author, Anne Matlack Evans: 
Anne Matlack Evans has published fiction in The Bennington Review, Eclipse and Memoir (and); and nonfiction in The Ruminator Review and the San Francisco Chronicle. She received an M.A. in Comparative Literature from U.C. Berkeley, an M.F.A. in fiction from the Bennington Writing Seminars, and a fellowship from the Vermont Studio Center. A professor of English and creative writing at Napa Valley College, she also directed the Napa Valley Writers’ Conference. She lives in Napa, California where she teaches comparative literature and writing and enjoys playing the piano and walking her unruly Portuguese Water Dog. 

About Maureen Simons:
Maureen is the author of narrative nonfiction and fiction; her short stories and essays have appeared in multiple publications and literary magazines - including the Lascaux Review, where she was the finalist for the short fiction prize. She is working on a nonfiction book about the trials and triumphs of Twofish Baking Company, and the two remarkable women who created it.

Saturday, 12.7 from 9am - 10am
The Meadow Room

Wake up with an hour of yoga led by local instructors. Free to the public. Please bring your own mat and other props.

Please plan to arrive 10 mins early. Space is limited.

Saturday, 12.14 from 9am - 10am
The Meadow Room

Wake up with an hour of yoga led by local instructors. Free to the public. Please bring your own mat and other props.

Please plan to arrive 10 mins early. Space is limited.

Saturday, 12.21 from 9am - 10am
The Meadow Room

Wake up with an hour of yoga led by local instructors. Free to the public. Please bring your own mat and other props.

Please plan to arrive 10 mins early. Space is limited.

Saturday, 12.28 from 9am - 10am
The Meadow Room

Wake up with an hour of yoga led by local instructors. Free to the public. Please bring your own mat and other props.

Please plan to arrive 10 mins early. Space is limited.

Thursday, 12.12, from 6pm-9pm

Sit back and relax with some light jazz and entertainment.. The Bar will be open for wine, beer, cocktails and light bites. Dinner reservations required for The Dining Room. 

Thursday, 12.26, from 6pm-9pm

Sit back and relax with some light jazz and entertainment.. The Bar will be open for wine, beer, cocktails and light bites. Dinner reservations required for The Dining Room. 

Sunday 12.22, from 4pm-5:30pm
The Fireside Lounge

This holiday season, let the joyous sounds of carolers fill the air as they stroll around The Lodge, bringing festive cheer to every corner. Gather with loved ones and follow the carolers on their merry journey, or simply enjoy the melodies as they pass by. Whether you’re sipping hot cocoa or taking in the festive decorations, this event is sure to warm your heart and create lasting memories.

Saturday, 12.28 from 3pm-5pm

For over a year now, Write Now!, an exclusive writing initiative for The Sea Ranch Lodge from Write Up the Coast, has been bringing people together for monthly prompt-based writing sessions. Open to all ages and experience levels, these gatherings offer a unique opportunity to write in a supportive, trusting environment—without any preparation or expectations.

Some participants have attended just one session, while others have returned month after month. Each session brings together a new mix of writers, and through these group dynamics, something truly magical happens: stories emerge spontaneously, crafted in the moment by the participants themselves. There is no set curriculum, just a shared commitment to explore the creativity that resides in us all.

And here's the best part: every single one of these stories was written right here at our very own Sea Ranch Lodge.

On 12.28, we’re thrilled to invite you to the First Public Reading by our Write Now! Sea Ranch Lodge Writers. Volunteers from the Write Now! community will read their original works to a public audience for the first time. These stories, all created right here at the Lodge, will take center stage in a celebration of creativity and community.

Over the past year, more than 100 people have participated in one or more Write Now! sessions, and we are excited to share their diverse voices with the public. Led by our local coastal writing enthusiast, Mark Sanford Gross, Write Now! has blossomed beyond The Sea Ranch Lodge to become part of the broader Write Up the Coast writing project.

A special toast to the writers will kick off the event, honoring the creativity and collaboration that has made this program so special.

We invite you to join us and support your community. Hear their stories. Whether you know the writers or not, this is your chance to celebrate the power of creativity and the stories that have emerged right here at the Lodge. This is a free event, and everyone is welcome to attend.

Want to be part of the celebration?
If you haven’t yet participated in a Write Now! session, there’s still time! Mark Sanford Gross will host one final session before the event, giving you the chance to create and share your original work at the public reading. Don’t let the thought, "I’m not a writer!" hold you back—we’ve heard that before, and we promise you are a writer!

Please join and support.  Bring your friends, family, and neighbors.

If you want to participate as a reader, contact [email protected]

We can’t wait to see you on 12.29 at The Sea Ranch Lodge as we celebrate creativity, community, and the joy of writing—all inspired by the beautiful setting of the Sea Ranch Lodge!

Wednesday, 12.4 at 5:30pm
The Sea Ranch Lodge

Come kick off the holiday season at The Sea Ranch Lodge with a toast and tree lighting just before Local’s Night. We look forward to celebrating with you!

Join Britt from Love Fest Fibers and Margaret from Seelie Studio for this hands-on workshop where you’ll learn to knit a basket and then dye it with locally harvested purple urchins. We'll start with a big ball of hand-felted wool and huge needles. New to knitting? No problem, this is a perfect project that lets you jump right in. It’s also great for experienced knitters looking to explore a whole new style of yarn and enormous stitches. With our baskets complete, we'll break for lunch and then hit the dye baths! Together we’ll explore the beautiful soft peachy-pink hues that our local purple urchins create. You’ll leave our workshop with a hand-knit and naturally dyed basket that's ideal as a planter or for storing just about anything. 

Your participation supports the women artisans who hand-felt our yarn and helps to thin the overpopulation of purple urchins and restore California’s kelp forests.

$195 per person. Minimum 6 / Maximum 15.

Cancellation 7 days before the event qualifies for a refund, cancellation after 7 days is not refundable. Classes are transferable to friends/family if you’re not able to join us after the cancellation period.

Agenda:

10:30 - 1:30 - Knitting (3 hours)

1:30 - 2:15 - Break for lunch

2:15 - 4:00 - Urchin dyeing (1.75 hrs)

About Margaret Seelie and Seelie Studio

You’ll be joined by Margaret Seelie, owner and chief color creator of Seelie Studio, a natural dye company based in San Francisco. Margaret has spent much of the last two decades experimenting with natural sources of color from avocado pits to copper pipes. Through Seelie Studio, she aims to help the kelp grow back by creating natural dyes from the purple sea urchins that overpopulate California’s marine ecosystem (strongylocentrotus purpuratus). She has taught natural dye workshops since 2012 for clients like San Francisco Public Libraries, OpenAI, The Sea Ranch, and more. Her next solo show, Altars, opens on February 2, 2025, at Gospel Flat Farmstand Gallery in Bolinas, California.

@margaretseelie 
@seelie.studio 
seeliestudio.com

About Britt-Marie Alm and Love Fest Fibers

You'll be joined by Britt-Marie Alm, Owner & Chief String Slinger of Love Fest Fibers, a San Francisco-based yarn company. Britt has spent much of the past two decades living and working on the Tibetan Plateau and founded Love Fest Fibers with the aim of supporting communities with vibrant fiber traditions. Through Love Fest Fibers, Britt designs textiles through carefully nurtured partnerships with women artisans in Tibet, Nepal, India and at home in California. Britt loves teaching workshops and sharing the background stories behind the materials we'll be working with.

@brittmariedesigns
@lovefestfibers
lovefestfibers.com

Every Tuesday from 4pm-6pm

Bring your needlework and come together for a relaxing time visiting whilst knitting, crocheting, or hand-stitching by the fire. This free-form event is meant to gather our community around a shared interest in textile arts. 

Thursday, 12.12 through Monday, 12.23

The Lodge will be featuring “12 Days of Cookies” starting 12.12. Every holiday eve, our team will share their favorite holiday cookies with you from around the world. Each night will feature a different cookie from family recipes enjoyed for years during this festive time. We are looking forward to sharing our best memories of holidays past with you!

Thursday, 12.12 through Monday, 12.23

The Lodge will be featuring “12 Days of Cookies” starting 12.12. Every holiday eve, our team will share their favorite holiday cookies with you from around the world. Each night will feature a different cookie from family recipes enjoyed for years during this festive time. We are looking forward to sharing our best memories of holidays past with you!