Home Ground Habitats is located in Indian Valley, the ‘horse country’ area of Marin; large old ranchettes, open spaces, and networks of horseback and hiking trails all close by. On our nearly one acre we have gardens that are vibrantly alive and beautiful. Butterflies, bees, and birds abound, bringing the natural world to a landscape that also provides sustenance for humans. Our Education Center offers Plant Propagation Classes.
The demonstration gardens at Home Ground showcase a sustainable, organic approach to creating a truly California-friendly landscape using native plants and drought-tolerant Mediterranean species to increase the bio-diversity. Winding gravel pathways lead to hedgerows, wildflower meadows, a small fruit orchard, a vegetable garden, edible and medicinal California natives, pollinator plants, a ‘Monarch Way Station, and numerous larval host plants for other common garden butterflies. The whole property is a ‘pesticide free zone’. Our garden and nursery sells seeds and seedlings and is Wednesdays 1-4PM or by appointment.
This season, consider skipping mowing and blowing leaves. Why? Fallen leaves are more than just yard waste, they are a vital habitat for invertebrates and help protect and enrich the soil. Leaf blowers, in particular, have been linked to a dramatic 75% decline in the...
Save the date: Saturday, Oct 26th, 2024 10 am - 3 pm Join us in the garden to celebrate the harvest of the Fall Season. Sample treats made from fresh garden produce, take a garden tour, visit guests from Our Water Our World, Marin Monarch, and more on our redwood...
POSTPONED UNTIL 2025! *To get the most from this workshop it is recommended that the student take the individual plant propagation classes first. Join us for a day of fulfilling and productive plant propagation! We will utilize all the possibilities of gardens full of...
Elderberries are fast-growing when planted in mostly full sun exposure and watered regularly; a one-gallon-sized plant can become a six to ten-foot, multi-trunked shrub within a year! They are a great choice for closely planted hedgerows combining small trees, shrubs,...
Just about everyone loves the Monarch Butterfly – and by association with this iconic insect, knows about Milkweeds (Asclepias species). Milkweeds are the only host plant for the larvae (caterpillars) of the Monarch Butterfly, and therefore essential to the species,...
Saxifrage Family – Alum Root or ‘Coral Bells’ Heuchra maxima, Island Alum Root, is native to some of the Channel Islands, where it grows on rocky outcrops and in shady woodlands. It is a tough and beautiful plant and easy in garden culture. In the lowland forests of...
A habitat-focused landscaping resource for the North Bay
photo: NPS
Our Mission
Our mission is to be the North Bay Area’s leading habitat-focused landscaping resource. We are a nonprofit, volunteer run growing grounds and educational center, committed to engaging, promoting, and supporting sustainable, California-appropriate landscaping.