Grassroots Ecology

06/05/2026

Biodiversity in Urban Gardens: California Statewide Project Kickoff Webinar! 🌿🌸🐝🐦‍⬛

Learn about urban biodiversity, discover the power of community science, and find out how you can get involved.

Join us Wednesday, June 10 at 6 PM for an introduction to the Biodiversity in Urban Gardens (BUG): California Community Science Project—a statewide effort to document biodiversity in public, home, and neighborhood gardens across California using iNaturalist.

📋 Register at https://bit.ly/439yJ4c

The BUG project is made possible with generous project support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Special thanks also to the Mary A. Crocker Trust and the CNPS Santa Clara Valley Chapter for their generous support of BUG in Santa Clara and southern San Mateo counties.

05/28/2026

You're invited!
Located at the southern edge of San Jose, Coyote Valley is remarkable for its scenic beauty, wildlife biodiversity, prime farmland, and natural floodplains. It is also situated at the narrowest point between the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west and the Diablo Range to the east, making it a critical “landscape linkage” that allows wildlife to move between over one million acres of core habitat in the surrounding mountain ranges.

Join the Peninsula-South Bay Watershed Forum to learn from experts at Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority and Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) about plans to restore and steward this important landscape.

Monday, June 1, 2026
12:00 PM 1:30 PM on Zoom

Learn about land protection and stewardship in Coyote Valley as part of an on-going series of events organized by the Peninsula-South Bay Watershed Forum via Zoom.

05/13/2026

We are hiring! Apply to join Grassroots Ecology’s 10-month paid internship, designed to guide emerging professionals in exploring the environmental conservation career path through hands-on fieldwork, community engagement, and in-depth training.

The program is designed to support personal and professional growth for those underrepresented in the environmental field, such as those identifying as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, low-income, and/or first-generation college students.

Responsibilities include invasive plant management, native plant revegetation, site maintenance (e.g. watering, mulching), volunteer workday and events facilitation, and monitoring. Interns work 10-15 hours per week at $25/hour. Up to 10 interns will be hired. Interns will work alongside Grassroots Ecology staff in one of the following focus areas: East Palo Alto, Redwood City, Los Altos, Palo Alto foothills, or Cupertino/Sunnyvale.

Attending an informational session for more information on the program and advice on applying is highly recommended.

Applications are due Sunday, June 14 at 11:59pm. Learn more at grassrootsecology.org/internships We look forward to meeting you!

05/07/2026

mulch + cardboard + community = garden… soon!

We completed our first 1,000 square feet of sheet mulching to expand pollinator habitat at McClellan Ranch Preserve with Cupertino Rotary, and it was just as fun and satisfying as it looks! We'll let these biodegradable layers smother weeds + decompose in place over the next few months, before planting locally-specific native plants here next winter. Yay!

05/06/2026

We love working with Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to manage invasive plants, restore native biodiversity, and host vibrant community programs! Before he became our new Co-Executive Director, Tyler managed our community restoration projects with Midpen, including Bear Creek Redwoods, Russian Ridge, Skyline Ridge, Cherry Springs, and the Hawthorns area of Windy Hill. Last month, Tyler was invited to present at Midpen’s all-staff summit, where he spoke about Grassroots Ecology’s work with the district and approach to welcoming communities to care for these beloved preserves.

05/05/2026

We are hiring two Watershed Stewards Program (WSP) Corpsmembers and eight California Climate Action Corps (CCAC) Fellows. That's 10 new team members who will serve with Grassroots Ecology for 10 to 11 months, full-time (40 hours per week), starting this September or October 2026!

Each new hire is assigned to a field team, stewarding 2-4 restoration sites and receiving close mentorship from our expert staff. Corpsmembers also lead community events, participate in all-staff training, and assist at Grassroots Ecology’s Native Plant Nursery.

If you are ready to start a career in environmental conservation, these paid employment programs are a great opportunity to gain hands-on stewardship + environmental education experience while building your professional network.

WSP apps are due June 23, and CCAC apps are reviewed on a rolling basis through July 31. Spots are filled quickly, so apply now at grassrootsecology.org/americorps, and start your career in climate action with Grassroots Ecology!

05/01/2026

Our site at the Alviso Bufferlands is home to a sensitive population of burrowing owls, motivating conservationists and Bay Area locals to help prevent their extinction from our region.

With help from the communities of Alviso and San Jose, we are providing habitat for the burrowing owl’s prey base AND creating opportunities for the public to learn about these special birds.

This winter, we planted 400 native habitat plants with the help of San Jose Conservation Corps + Charter School and volunteers from our community. We also had a chance to work with Alviso In Action , a local non-profit that is protecting and connecting the Alviso community and environment!
The Alviso Bufferlands site is not open to the public, but you can visit—and get a chance to see (and help!) the burrowing owls—as a volunteer (grassrootsecology.org/calendar)!

This work is made possible by Measure AA funding through SF Bay Restoration Authority

04/29/2026

This nesting season is brought to you by native plants 🐛🪺🌳

04/27/2026

04/27/2026