Our EGG

Our EGG The El Dorado Economic Generator and Germination Fund is dedicated to advancing economic, environmental, and social equity in El Dorado County.

Focused on uplifting communities through innovative solutions, Our EGG leads efforts that elevate rural issues in California, enhance quality of life, environmental health, and economic resilience.

06/01/2026

The future of El Dorado County has something to say and it’s time to listen. 🗣️ 👂

We always say we care about the next generation. They’re always on our minds. But if we’re being honest... how often do we actually ask them what they want? How often do we give them a real, unvarnished platform to shape that future?

When we started building the Rooted to Rise Master Plan to create a blueprint for a thriving rural economy that keeps our land productive and our people thriving, we knew we couldn’t just plan for our future generations—we needed to plan with them.

So, we launched a youth essay contest and asked local teens to look ten years ahead and envision a thriving future for our community, our land, and the jobs and careers they can have right here at home. And the response blew us away.

This week, we are officially announcing three amazing local high school seniors as our essay winners! Together, they’re taking home $2,500 in total awards—but more importantly, their specific visions are being directly incorporated into the final Working Lands Economic Master Plan.

If we’re serious about protecting this place for the next generation, we have to give them a real seat at the table today. Keep an eye on our page all week as we introduce the winners and share the future they’re envisioning for us!

A huge congratulations to the Class of 2026! 🎓✨

Let’s keep El Dorado County rural and let’s keep us working.

Did you know? 🚩👀When looking strictly at income from wages in El Dorado County, women earn just 50% of what men earn.Why...
05/27/2026

Did you know? 🚩👀

When looking strictly at income from wages in El Dorado County, women earn just 50% of what men earn.

Why this matters is simple: A local economy is only as stable as the households supporting it. When women earn half of what men do, families are forced to live on less, and local businesses lose out on vital consumer spending. A local economy can’t truly thrive when half of its workforce is under-earning.

As a woman-founded organization, this hits close to home. This data is exactly why women need to be at the center of the conversations and decision-making for our local economy. We have a long way to go before regional prosperity is something everyone actually gets to share in.

Now you know. It’s time to put women at the table where local economic decisions are made. Join us in shaping a stronger economic future for everyone.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates.

Your Community. Your Vote. 🗳️ 🗣️ National elections make the news, but local elections make a difference right here at h...
05/26/2026

Your Community. Your Vote. 🗳️ 🗣️

National elections make the news, but local elections make a difference right here at home.

On Tuesday, June 2, El Dorado County voters will make decisions on important local roles. The choices we make next week deeply shape daily life for our families, our local economy, and the future of our land.

Three simple ways to vote by next Tuesday:
👉🏼Mail it in: Sign and drop your ballot in a local ballot return box, elections office or vote center (best to avoid the mail (with short time remaining, must arrive at the elections office by June 2).

👉🏼Use a drop box: Drop it off at any official county ballot box by 8:00 PM on Election Day.

👉🏼Vote in person: Local vote centers open this weekend for early voting and same-day registration.

Disclaimer: Our EGG is a non-profit entity. This post is for educational and civic engagement purposes only. We do not endorse any candidates or parties.

For more information about the upcoming California primary election and local voting visit the El Dorado County elections department online at 🔗
 https://www.eldoradocounty.ca.gov/County-Government/Elections

05/23/2026

Unpacking the data on our tourism economy. 🧳 🕵️

Our EGG’s latest special report reveals a critical shift: El Dorado County’s lodging revenues are down 3.4%, while our neighbors are hitting record-breaking growth.

The Takeaway: We currently have zero baseline destination marketing. Without that reach, we cannot drive visitor stewardship—leaving us unable to actively manage local impacts or capture community value.

The path forward? The County must streamline rural lodging permits to capture that value.

📑 Read the full briefing at the link
🔗 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dNheTfR7GwF3uAKkQVRU7_zqeMUcNnvV/view?usp=drivesdk

05/19/2026

👀 🚩The data is in: Default residential sprawl leaves us with a massive deficit. Intentional layered value unlocks a rural dividend.

We don’t have to choose between a time capsule and a paved-over suburb. Cost-of-service studies from the American Farmland Trust prove our rural working landscapes and historic town centers are high-yield economic engines—if we steward them as active places to support our rural way of living, rather than just a scenic + static backdrop for a lifestyle. They provide us with a time-tested model for productive resilience.

By creating the conditions for intentional, layered value, our community can generate 10x more revenue per acre than sprawl and build an economy that thrives by design.

If the rules allowed it, what would you create on your land to help keep it rural and productive? Share your thoughts below!

👇 Watch the video to see the math and lessons from our history.

This weekend, Our EGG was grateful to attend the El Dorado County Farm Bureau Annual Dinner — an evening rooted in the p...
05/19/2026

This weekend, Our EGG was grateful to attend the El Dorado County Farm Bureau Annual Dinner — an evening rooted in the people, partnerships, and working lands that help shape our county.

We deeply value our partnership with the Farm Bureau and the role they play in stewarding the conversations and advocacy that matters to the future of El Dorado County.

From watershed resilience and the evolving needs of agriculture, to conversations around the wine industry, agritourism, and the importance of lodging that supports rural + agriculture experiences — the evening highlighted something we believe deeply:

The future of our county is connected.

A special shout-out to Frog Hollow Flower Farm for the absolutely beautiful centerpieces that brought so much vibrant energy to the evening.

Thank you to the Farm Bureau for bringing people together around these important conversations.

Honoring a Local Legend Rich “Uncle Fuzzy” Mason 🕊️ Our community lost a giant this week. Whether you knew him as a wor...
05/13/2026

Honoring a Local Legend Rich “Uncle Fuzzy” Mason 🕊️

Our community lost a giant this week. Whether you knew him as a world-class gold panner, a dedicated “Chamber Champion,” or simply as “Uncle Fuzzy,” Rich Mason left an indelible mark on the heart of El Dorado County.

Fuzzy was a living bridge to our history and a fierce advocate for our future. He was a constant, vocal presence at the Sustainable Economic Development (SEED) Committee meetings, ensuring that the spirit of our rural tourism was never lost in the technicalities of policy. He didn’t just attend these meetings—he was there to challenge us, push us, and cheer on the work of building a resilient county. He always pushed us to carry our mission forward with boldness, reminding us that no one needs permission to show up and try to uplift our community. He believed that if your heart is in the right place, the only thing stopping you is the “box” you choose to stand in.

He leaves us with a philosophy that serves as a perfect North Star for our community:

“Dream like a child with all the creativity and imagination and think outside the box—but make sure you are out of the box.”

Fuzzy didn’t just talk about being “out of the box”—he lived there. He saw the potential in our land and our people with a clarity and wonder that inspired everyone around him.

Rest in peace, Fuzzy. Thank you for the grit, the gold, and the imagination. Our thoughts are with Joyce and the entire Mason family.

Sharing two photos that capture the heart of Fuzzy: one teaching the next generation about our gold panning roots at Georgetown Founders Day, and the other still talking shop “out of the box” after a lively SEED meeting. He was a champion for our heritage and our future alike.

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552 Pleasant Valley Rd
Diamond Springs, CA
95619

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