February News from the Wildland Volunteer Network

February 2019

Volunteers pulling bouquets of yellow starthistle at Foothills Park. Photo: Grassroots Ecology

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: Grassroots Ecology

Grassroots Ecology has been leading innovative habitat restoration and environmental education programs for several decades and became its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2018 after many years as the Land Stewardship Program of Acterra.

Every year Grassroots Ecology engages 12,000 people in environmental restoration, community science and educational programs. Based in Palo Alto, their programs serve the lands and waters of Silicon Valley, from the foothills to the Bay. Through thousands of volunteer hours annually, Grassroots Ecology is successfully reducing populations of invasive weeds across more than 20 habitat restoration sites. Some weeds they target at their restoration sites include yellow starthistle, stinkwort, Algerian ivy, and French broom. Weekday and weekend volunteer programs are available to the general public in addition to 10 – 12 week high school stewards programs that build the next generation of environmental caretakers.

Grassroots Ecology provides many opportunities year-round to get people of all ages involved in managing invasive plants, planting locally native plants (sourced from their native plant nursery at Foothills Park), performing creek water quality monitoring, exploring local open spaces, and becoming a certified California Naturalist.

Learn more about all of the ways you can get involved with Grassroots Ecology and get out into nature!