Volunteering is Back in Season
/Since reopening our community workdays this fall, we have hosted more than a dozen volunteer events that turned out over 500 people!
Read MoreSince reopening our community workdays this fall, we have hosted more than a dozen volunteer events that turned out over 500 people!
Read MoreOne of the joys of interning at Grassroots Ecology is chasing butterflies through fields!
Read MoreDo you know where you can find over 100 native animal species in downtown Redwood City? Believe it or not, the answer is right downtown!
Read MoreDown by the creek below Westwind Barn in Los Altos Hills, habitat is flourishing again. In just three years, our staff and volunteers have transformed a creekside area below Westwind’s horse paddocks and stables into a thriving mosaic of native vegetation.
Our Youth Stewards program gives local students the opportunity to safely connect with one another, learn about nature, and make a positive impact in their community. Over the last 14 months, our Youth Stewards had the opportunity to experience and learn about nature in person at a time when most school and summer programs were online.
Read MoreMeet our three Climate Fellows making a difference this summer
Read MoreWe are excited to announce that in the past few months two new Board members have joined our team: Michael Wu and Casey Mullins.
Read MoreIt’s officially fire pre-season in California. With our minds on both fire safety and ecosystem health, our staff are working with local parks and open space departments to help them plan their mowing schedules to achieve fuel load reduction goals.
Read MoreSea levels are on the rise all over the globe, including on our local shorelines. Learn about what sea level rise looks like at Cooley Landing and what we are doing to adapt.
Read MoreHave you been to Byrne Preserve lately? If you have, you may have noticed the many butterflies at the preserve. John Metcalfe, a recent graduate of our California Naturalist program, has created a guide for identifying these important pollinators in a very localized and easy to use way.
Read MoreCheyenne is a recent Grassroots Ecology college intern who worked at our Redwood City and East Palo Alto habitat restoration sites. Read her top plants to remove from your yard, as well as her favorite California native plants to include.
Read MoreWe need marshes now more than ever as we face a changing climate. Marshes provide a buffer between open water and the shore by dissipating wave energy, thus reducing flood risk. They sequester carbon, thus doing their part to reduce the greenhouse effect. And not least of all they provide shelter, forage, and nesting and breeding grounds for birds, mammals, fish and other aquatic life, including many rare and endangered species.
Read MoreOne of the bright spots of 2020 for us was the historic opening of Foothills Nature Preserve to the public (previously called Foothills Park). Since the 1,400 acre preserve’s initial opening in 1965, access was restricted to residents of Palo Alto—until now. As of December 17, this restriction was lifted and the preserve is now open for all to enjoy.
Since Grassroots Ecology has gotten to know the preserve over the past seven years through our habitat restoration efforts, we are excited to share with you our Top 7 List of what makes Foothills Nature Preserve so special— helping you all get ready to enjoy and be stewards of this amazing community space.
Read MoreThe racial justice movement––especially its newly annexed crowd of White folks––will have a lot to navigate in the coming months and years. What does it mean to be an ally? To recognize your privilege? What does it look like to take part in building a more just society?
Read MoreBy regularly walking around our restoration sites at McClellan Ranch Preserve and San Francisquito Creek, I noticed subtle changes of plants as they responded to the dynamic environment that might otherwise go unobserved.
Read MoreBy Claire Elliott, Senior Ecologist
You may know that Grassroots Ecology’s team has worked for many years to restore habitat in our local parks and preserves. But, did you know we also have projects designed to support nature in our cities? Invasive ornamentals and edibles are a big problem. Three that I am on constant vigil for are Mexican feather grass, Algerian ivy and glossy privet.
Read MoreBy Nikki Hanson, Nursery Manager
Rattlesnakes are very mild-mannered snakes, who go out of their way not to waste a bite on protecting themselves. As long as you give them space and don’t bother them, they will not bother you. As you hike, follow these safety tips to prevent accidentally scaring a rattlesnake.
Read MoreDriving around the Santa Cruz Mountains lately, I have noticed a trend towards denuding the understory, thinning trees, limbing up remaining trees, and chipping everything that can fit through an industrial sized chipper. As a native plant and wildlife lover, it is hard to see such a change in the landscape. But, with a little information, there are some ways to create fire-smart landscapes that retain some of the natural understory, protect property from fire and invasive weeds, and provide for wildlife.
Read MoreFor many thousands of years before the familiar honeybee arrived, a different and varied set of bees has been hard at work in our local ecosystems. Now more than ever, our native pollinators need our help.
Read MorePaul Heiple is a champion of restoring local ecosystems. For over 20 years, he’s been building a legacy of stewardship by educating others about the natural world. This month, we are celebrating his retirement from Grassroots Ecology.
Read More3921 East Bayshore Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
info@grassrootsecology.org
650.419.9880
Our mission is to engage and educate the public to restore local ecosystems. Grassroots Ecology is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Gifts are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Our tax identification number is 81-3707643.
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