Our Story: Friends of Home Ground

A great deal of the work accomplished at Home Ground comes from our wonderful volunteers—our unofficial Friends of Home Ground group. Today, about a dozen dedicated volunteers meet twice a month to propagate plants. Most of our members are experienced California gardeners who are retired, passionate about the environment, and committed to “doing good by growing.” This group has been meeting for nearly ten years, and as our new growing grounds become fully operational, we look forward to welcoming more people eager to learn, grow, and promote California-friendly gardening practices.

Many of us first met years ago at the Marin Art and Garden Center (MAGC), where I served as Garden Education Manager and Volunteer Coordinator. Together, we maintained the gardens and operated a small nursery—often working alongside high school students completing community service hours and college interns helping with plant propagation, composting, and seed harvesting.

In the summer of 2009, after the 2008 financial crisis, MAGC’s Board of Directors ended the garden education programs. Though my position ended too, our volunteer group continued our efforts independently. We wanted to keep the spirit alive, re-create programs, and expand our nursery of native and habitat plants—and I’ve cherished working with this group ever since.

Environmentally sensitive gardening has long been my passion. My dream has been to create a green center where Bay Area gardeners can see firsthand how to cultivate with a gentle, loving touch on the earth. In 2011, that dream took root when I partnered with a family-owned nursery in Novato. There, new volunteers joined in, and we grew thousands of plants each year.

We held twice-yearly plant sales benefiting the Marin chapter of CNPS, drawing hundreds of visitors. With the help of local agencies and partners, we built demonstration gardens, installed water-wise irrigation systems, and created hands-on workshops. The Urban Farmer Store and North Marin Water District generously provided materials and expertise. A small vegetable garden run with the Novato Live Well Network thrived as well, showing how community collaboration can blossom into something beautiful.

At those sales, we also hosted workshops on pruning, seed collecting, and edible native plants. Our home-composting demonstration site offered frequent classes through ZeroWaste Marin. After three years, we had to leave the Novato site—but undaunted, we continued from my home nursery while I searched for a new space to fulfill our vision.

During this busy, hopeful time, our volunteers realized we needed a name that truly captured our mission. Alice B. suggested Home Ground Habitats—Home for where our hearts are, Ground for our love of the earth, and Habitats for our shared goal: creating life-nourishing spaces for people and wildlife alike.

Over the years, I’ve come to know each of our Friends of Home Ground personally. All are uncommonly generous people who give back to the community and maintain inspiring home gardens. About half are CNPS members, and several—Cindy, Genevieve, Jean, and Sara—are Marin Master Gardeners who volunteer widely throughout the county. Their talents are as varied as their gardens: from Cindy’s artful pressed flowers to Jean’s remarkable squashes and begonias, from Genevieve’s Asian-inspired native garden to Sara’s tropical haven reminiscent of her years in Hawaii.

Ann and Frances, both longtime nonprofit professionals, now devote their energy to creating thriving backyard habitats. Nancy B. and Georgia share their creative gifts as quilters and gardeners alike, while Colleen, a wildlife biologist, brings us fresh field updates on local eagles and endangered harvest mice. Nancy H., steward of the “Zen Weeding” project at Samuel P. Taylor State Park, has spent a decade restoring native plant communities there with partners like Marin CNPS, One Tam, and SPAWN.

Some of our volunteers connected through my classes. Suzi—who built our first website—grows a stunning collection of manzanitas and designs native gardens for others. Treva, a master of seedling care and Southern treats, and Gulten, our “Turkish Delight” and homesteader from Sonoma, bring warmth, energy, and delicious contributions to every session.

We’re an amazingly productive group who find as much joy in each other’s company as in our shared work. Our tradition of tea and potluck treats after each propagation session keeps us connected and inspired.

As Home Ground expands, we plan to invite more volunteers to join our growing community. With new propagation areas, gardens to tend, and training opportunities on the horizon, we look forward to welcoming new Friends who share our love of nurturing plants, people, and the planet.