FREE SEED FRIDAYS! - California Native Seed Cleaning Volunteering

Join us for a minimum of 2 hours, helping us process, clean, sort and count some of our native seed collections from our local Santa Monica Mountains! From cleaning pulpy fruits like Currants (Ribes) and Coffeeberry (Frangula) to helping us thrash Sage (Salvia) and Penstemon (Penstemon) collections, to de-awning some of our local grasses, we have a lot of seed to clean! All of our seed will eventually be stored in freezers for long-term conservation, and/ or used here in the park to help with restoration projects over the next few decades. For your minimum 2 hour commitment, you'll get a big thank you from us and you'll get to take home some local seed of your own, plus take home 3 of our live nursery plants to grow on your own. Get a few family or friends to register and join you, and each person staying for a minimum of 2 hours gets to to take their own plants and seed! Free plant varieties and seed will vary by season. All participants must register thru Eventbrite for free plant and seed tracking purposes.

DETAILS:

Volunteer hours begin at 9am, and go thru 2pm. Arrive anytime between 9am and Noon and stay for a minimum of 2 hours to receive 3 free plants and seed. Volunteers can stay for longer than 2 hours, but can only take home a maximum of 3 plants and limited seed each. Each day, a minimum 2 hour commitment will be rewarded with 3 free plants and seed. Plants and seed can only be used for personal, non-profit purposes (not to be sold).

This volunteer work will take place outdoors at the Rancho Sierra Vista nursery. Much of the work can take place under shade, but volunteers should be prepared to stand for at least 2 hours and be exposed to the cold and sun for various lengths of time. Please wear hiking or outdoor working attire, bring water/reusable water bottle, sunscreen, and a sun hat.

Directions:

1. Park in the main, lower, final visitor parking lot: Search Google Maps for - Car Park for Sycamore Canyon

2. Walk past the left side of the bathrooms, past the Eucalyptus grove.

3. Walk into and past the horse stable area, and into Rancho Sierra Vista Nursery.

Total walking time averages less than 3 minutes. If you are walking for longer you may be walking the wrong way! Call or text 805-844-7449 if you are lost.

The main entrance is at Via Goleta and Lynn Road, Newbury Park, CA, 91320

From the Ventura Fwy (101) to Lynn Rd exit. South on Lynn Rd 5.25 miles to Via Goleta. Park entrance is on the left.

(*NOTE: If you are unable to attend this event but would like to learn about native plant propagation and/ or volunteer at the Rancho Sierra Vista native plant nursery, please contact Antonio Sanchez at [email protected])

Host or Publisher Santa Monica Mountains Fund