The Year of the Superbloom
On the second day of the new year, I met a new friend for coffee, and recent international political events came up. I expressed my feeling of being overwhelmed by the bad in the world, and that my response is usually to dig deeper into doing what I can to make my home life and community a better place, as a starting place for peace in the world. I’m a grass roots kind of girl, after all. We agreed that the devastation of Altadena in 2025, and other hard challenges we faced as mothers made 2025 the Year of Scorched Earth! She suggested that 2026 could be the year of the Phoenix. But that image doesn’t resonate with me, and so she suggested the superbloom that follows a fire.
Some seeds don’t seem to come up—maybe there is something wrong with them, OR maybe they need different conditions! In their presentation at From Burn to Bloom: Reimagining a Resilient Landscape, Leigh Adams of Poly/Ana and Studio Petrichor talked about the fire followers—seeds that thrive after a fire. These are seeds that sprout after wildfires, often vibrant wildflowers, and they thrive in the devastation of the cleared landscape, either because the conditions then are optimal for them to germinate, or because they need the open space to grow. They transform the landscape and prepare for new life in the ecosystem. Now this is an image that works for me!
Although 2025 was emotional and presented so many difficult challenges, I see the resilience of so many people in my community, taking in the new reality and creating something new, beautiful, and hopeful. I had hoped to open a microschool in Altadena in the spring of 2025, but the fire created many obstacles. I had to pivot so I could still reach the needs of many families who want an affirming and nature-based learning environment for their children.
I still dream about doing something bigger and better, like opening a microschool, but for now I can grow where I am, taking support from the people who have found me, and hopefully, giving them the care, love and beauty we all need. Today, January 7, is the one-year anniversary of the fire started by Edison that destroyed the city of Altadena. But there are still so many children in the community who need a place to be seen, nurtured, and given space. They are the seeds that were lurking in the soil, waiting for the right conditions to grow and bloom, and do good for the other plants and animals that will return. This is the year that I can grow as an educator with a mission to grow the whole child. And it’s my hope that with me, children can feel loved, accepted and truly blossom.
An open letter to my child
Dear Son,
When you were tiny, we thought you were special, like all parents do about their baby. As you grew you impressed us with your eagerness to learn and bright mind, and when you got to school-age we looked for the best.
But we discovered there was no best. Over the years we tried it all. Public school? The system was too rigid. Prep school was toxic for you. Montessori? It gave you social connections, finally, but proved academically empty for you. Maybe you needed to specialize? High quality music instruction for high school at a charter? No.
All through this time you tried to tell us in so many ways that you were uncomfortable. The tantrums at night. The hatred your showed yourself. The depression and anxiety. We saw it and tried over and over. And failed. The problem was you are an individual.
Which really isn’t the problem. The problem is that schools are not designed for individuals. They are designed for groups that let them happily continue as planned, as organized. And they didn’t plan for you.
Thankfully we found a way out together, so you could be done with school, officially. You graduated early, then you stayed home. You detoxed, pursued your interests unrestrained… architecture and urban planning, world geography, Brazilian Portuguese, games, cats! You healed.
It’s not a coincidence that I resigned from years of teaching when I saw you on your feet, finally happier. You are proof that we can leave conventional school behind, that a happy, engaged learner of life can exist outside of the old game. You give me hope.
And because I am starting this new venture, as you start yours, I can give other families who need a different path the courage to try. There are so many pathways to success. You will spend your life making discoveries if you dare to find your own path. I believe in you.
On the cusp of 18, you are the definition of success to me. You are curious, articulate, creative and original. You have travelled abroad, met people different than you and found similarities. You have empathy and a strong moral compass. You may flail but continue to reflect and learn.
Your gift to the world will be to prevail, to keep making a path towards fulfillment and the magic that is you. And my gift will be to cheer other families on as they find their own pathways to a life of learning and success. Thank you for being. I love you! Mom
Is it safe to visit Rising Hill Learning in Altadena?
The fire has raised concerns for everyone about health and safety, particularly in regard to air quality. Currently, Rising Hill Learning is located in the isolated neighborhood of the Meadows, in the foothills of northwest Altadena. To get here you have to drive through a safe and well-maintained canyon. No houses in this neighborhood were burned, nor was the Angeles National Forest in the mountains above it. In this neighborhood the prevailing wind, when it blows, comes from the mountains, from the north. Being downwind from unburned forest and among unburned structures means better air. Heavy particulates are especially unlikely to travel up to this neighborhood.
The Meadows has better air quality than the rest of Altadena and Pasadena not only now, but always, being away from heavily trafficked streets and freeways. To further allay concerns about air quality, we have installed an air quality meter. On the rare days when the wind comes from the south and the more populated (and burned) areas, we will be able to assess whether it is healthy for our own family to go outside and for guests to visit. We will inform you as appropriate during those rare times. In addition to air quality, we have had the interior of our home professionally cleaned since the fire and have moved in.
In addition to following my local officials, I found this presentation by local scientists who are living the same health concerns. I found it extremely helpful! (Thank you Caltech!)
We feel lucky to be intact and safe being here. You are welcome to come learn at Rising Hill!
Rising Together in Altadena
On January 7th, with hurricane level winds screaming down the mountains into Altadena, many foothill residents started packing. Folks with dependent animals, like Mia and Joey from @ExperienceFable spent tense hours loading their menagerie, including goats, sheep, ducks, chickens, rabbits and Guinea pigs, then shuttling them to angels around Los Angeles County who agreed to take evacuating animals. Amazingly, Mia and Joey escaped with every single furry and feathered family member, plus their three human children. But like thousands of other Altadenans, they lost everything on their property, their family home, as well as all their animal housing which included a spacious new corral hand-built by Joey.
As long-time friends, Jon and I have arranged with @ExperienceFable to be their animals’ interim home. We have repaired our aged animal runs and will build a few more structures so each animal has a safe, solid and appropriate home until Mia and Joey can rebuild. And after the business hiatus forced by fire, @ExperienceFable is again booking beautiful animal encounters for children and adults alike.
If you’re interested in meeting Fable’s animals and to book an event, please check out @ExperienceFable. You can also join Rising Hill’s Junior Farmers classes here.
For Altadena children, there is hope up the hill
Routine, Regulation, Rebuilding at Rising Hill Learning
As we move forward from the tragedy of the Eaton Fire, the scope of its effect is enormous. Whether our homes have been touched by fire or not, all children in our community have been affected. The routines that school provides have disappeared. Confusion and big feelings—whether grief, anger, frustration, or exhaustion—fill homes as parents and children alike struggle with the situation. It sometimes feels like there are both no options and yet too many choices; no-one is certain what rebuilding will look like, for individual families or for our communities.
In the next few weeks Rising Hill Learning will provide a resource within the scrambled school situation. With a focus on routine and regulation, programming will provide gardening, animal encounters, art, crafts, baking, and story-time, as well as other activities that create a sense of calm, control and community in the storm.
Beginning February 24th
Open weekdays in February and March, 9:00a-2:00p
Open to children aged 5-9 years
Suggested daily donation of $75
Space is limited. Enroll here
Dear Beloved Altadena,
Our physical community is destroyed, and neighbors are dispersed like the leaves winds blew the night the fire began. In between the disbelief and tears, I have felt deep gratitude that my house is still standing, and my immediate neighborhood remains. I know that the majority of Altadena is not so lucky, and I feel grief and guilt about that. I am in awe of the army of first responders and officials who are doing their best to protect us and am thankful to be blessed with kind and generous friends who took in our pets and family.
In the days before the fire started, I was close to opening my microschool. Mircroschools are an emerging model of education that combines the feel of a modern-day one room schoolhouse with the a la carte structure of college. Although I was still in negotiation for the location, things were shaping up. My dream is to offer customized learning for individual students in a warm and affirming environment.
Now, with so many families scrambling to find a safe school environment for their children I feel the urgency to open, ready or not. Part of healing in our community will be to support each other, and I want the children of Altadena to know that they will be ok, that they will be cared for, and that life and joy will come back to their hometown. In the context of loss and trauma, I want to provide a local, homey, and loving place for young children to feel seen, be embraced and emotionally supported.
I have spent my life in education, most recently as a kindergarten teacher for 11 years at a local school. There is more about me and my vision on the Staff tab.
Reach out to me if you are interested in enrolling your child/ren. I would like to prioritize children who were enrolled in Altadena schools that were destroyed and hope to take up to ten students between the ages of 5 and 9, depending on their needs and my space. As soon as I have access to my home, I will have an open house for you to see the schoolhouse, meet me and have some coffee with neighbors. On the “What we do” tab you will see a tab for class schedule and fees, but in the immediate I will be providing childcare, including reading, arts and crafts, play time and other social-emotional and academic support (as appropriate per individual family’s wishes).
Sincerely,
Lynette Wiebe, Rising Hill Learning