Planting for the Future

Taking the Land Back in Time

Rebuilding What Once Was

Once, the land thrived with biodiversity, balancing the ecological systems of air, water, and soil with human and wildlife needs. ReWOW aims to restore this balance, taking us back about 600 years to ecological health and abundance.

Today, invasive grasses dominate the landscape, threatening native species like Monarch butterflies, native bees, and wildlife. California’s oak savannas are among the most heavily invaded habitats in the nation, particularly as climate change intensifies.

In 2025 we are launching a one-acre pilot project to steadily expand and completely cover the forty acres. This project will utilize cultural fire for soil preparation, implement rainwater catchment systems and guzzlers, and install wild pig exclusion fencing. Students will monitor the growth of plants and wildlife through real-time cameras and apps such as iNaturalist and Seek. 

Our Native Plant Propagation Workshop will change to engage youth from the Central Coast YWCA while planting 700 indigenous plants—donated by the Xerces Society for Invertebrates—on the initial acre. These plants are vital for pollinator habitats and provide food for both wildlife and humans. Indigenous plants are resilient, evolving to withstand drought and other climate challenges, requiring little to no water. Through hands-on experience cultivating indigenous food, students will become stewards of the future, actively participating in planting, project evaluation, and annual BioBlitz counts of flora and fauna. They will also engage in harvesting, food preparation, and community feasting. Ultimately, this initiative aims to develop a community co-op to market the products generated from this restoration effort.