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Get Involved

If you are passionate about plants, the environment and the great outdoors, join the hundreds of people working to restore Bay Area native plant habitats. You can volunteer with one of many local organizations to help plant natives or build your own native plant garden! Become an active native plant enthusiast, while serving your community and protecting the environment! 












 

Volunteer to Help Restore Native Plant Communities

There are hundreds of volunteer organizations that work to restore native plant habitats around the Bay Area. Get involved with one of these local organizations and start helping rebuilding native habitat. 

California Invasive Plant Counsel 
 

CA-IPC has organized an interactive digital map of invasive plant management projects around the Bay Area. The Wildland Volunteer Network allows you to see where and when different environmental organizations are hosting volunteer events, so that you can volunteer. 

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California Native Plant Society
 

Volunteer with a local CNPS chapter or volunteer with one of their associated programs, which include the Rare Plant Program, the Horticulture Program, and the Vegetation Program. 

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Sutro Stewards
 

Help conserve native plant habitat at Sutro Mountain, a local park at the heart of San Francisco, by volunteering to weed and plant. 

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Save the Bay
 

This volunteer organization works to restore the Bay's damaged shoreline by removing trash and planting natives. You can volunteer on your own, or schedule larger service outings for your school or business. 

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SERCAL
 

The California Society for Ecological Restoration (SERCAL) has curated a list of native plant related volunteer opportunities around the Bay Area. Check it out to find service opportunities every week! 

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California State Parks
 

Most California State Parks offer a wide range of volunteer opportunities from operating native plant nurseries to monitoring wildlife. You can volunteer in one of these many capacities at parks statewide, or at one of the 16 parks in the Bay Area. School groups can also schedule organized volunteer outings, which provide great opportunities for kids to connect with nature while helping it. 

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The Friends of Edgewood
 

The Friends of Edgewood organize volunteer outings at Edgewood Preserve on the southern peninsula. This is just one example of park specific volunteer work, but many other local cites offer similar organized volunteer opportunities. 

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Bay Area Native Plant Nurseries

Want to promote biodiversity, protect pollinators, and gain a beautiful, sustainable garden in the mix? Create a native plant garden at your local park, school or backyard.  Check out these Bay Area native plant nurseries and get your garden started! 

Yerba Buena Nursery
 

  • exclusively sells native Californian plants, with a wide selection of herbs, grasses, and shrubs, and a small selection of saplings

  • available for professional landscaping contracts and personal gardening

  • located in Half Moon Bay, only open to the public twice a week

  • visit the website here

Mission Blue Nursery
 

  • only has native plants, grown from seeds and cuttings collected on San Bruno Mountain

  • primarily uses their plants for restoration projects on the mountain, but does have plant sales and contracts

  • supplies plants for larger-scale landscaping projects in local cities, including school gardens, backyards, and streetscapes

  • located near San Bruno Mountain

  • visit the website here

Bay Natives
 

  • sells native plants, primarily for urban landscapes, as well as some non-natives, such as fruit trees, veggie starters, herbs and berries

  • specializes in SF Bay Area natives, though they also sell plants from other parts of the state

  • the store also has cool attractions including chickens, decor, and and handmade xylophones that make for a fun visit

  • located at the end of Cesar Chavez, a few short minutes from the Mission District

  • visit the website here

East Bay Wilds
 

  • design and build sustainable, native landscapes for homes within two hours of the East Bay

    • create decks, patios, fences, arbors, trellises for homes, as well as outdoor furniture with driftwood salvaged from bay area beaches

  • specialize in East Bay natives, though they also grow rare and unusual native plants from all over the state of California

  • open to the public on Fridays, from 9:30 am to 4 pm

  • located in the East Bay

  • visit the website here​

Oaktown Native Plant Nursery
 

  • grows native plants for home gardeners, landscapers, and habitat restoration

  • located in the Oakland

  • visit the website here

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