Mike Benziger honored for work with Jack London State Historic Park

Trailblazing biodynamic winemaker and farmer Mike Benziger and his family were honored for their contributions to Jack London State Historic Park on Sept. 24, 2022, as part of the park’s fundraising gala, “Once Upon A Time In A Not So Distant Forest.”

“Mike has been very generous with his time, leadership, and resources. He is especially committed to our environmental education programs,” said Executive Director Matt Leffert.

“The reason Jack London Park is so critical to me and my family is not only its dramatic beauty and illustrious history, but because it's a place to reach and educate the next generation of young people,” Benziger said.

“Kids spend too much time in front of screens and too little time outdoors in nature. Jack London State Historic Park is counteracting this by bringing students to the park for fun, hands-on environmental education programs. We are capturing students' imaginations and creating opportunities for them to follow their curiosity and reconnect with nature and themselves. We are offering pathways to nature to develop the environmental stewards of tomorrow,” he added.

A fan of London’s writing since boyhood, Benziger and Mary first became acquainted with the park when they moved from White Plains, New York, to Northern California in 1973. In 1980, they became the park’s neighbors when they purchased the historic Wegener Ranch in Glen Ellen.

“We knew the minute we saw Glen Ellen that this was the place we had to be,” Benziger said.

He was deeply inspired by Jack London’s mission to “leave the land better for my having been” and to introduce sustainable farming techniques that he and his wife Charmian had witnessed in their world travels.

“This really convinced me to convert to organic and then biodynamic farming and winemaking,” Benziger said. “It turned out to be a good business decision and the dam right thing for the land for sure."

In 1995, Benziger Sonoma Mountain Estate transitioned from conventional to Biodynamic farming. Five years later, in 2000, the estate was officially certified as a Biodynamic Farm by the Demeter Association.

Benziger knew that he wanted to get more involved with the park when California State Parks announced that Jack London State Historic Park was slated to be closed due to lack of funds in 2012.

This led to the formation of Jack London Park Partners, one of the first non-profit organizations to be entrusted with management of a state park on behalf of the people of California.

Benziger joined the board of directors in 2015 and served as president in 2016-17. He continues to serve on the executive committee as Chairman.

“Jack London Park Partners is dedicated to preserving the park for the future,” he said, adding, “My family and I are supporting this park for the long haul.”

The event brought hundreds of people to the park to dance with fairies an sprites while raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for the park operations.