Organic Plant Nursery and Educational Center in Novato
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 open to the public on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 1-4PM or by appointment.
Spring 2025 Plant Sale: April 12th, 2025
Creating Habitat
Why Habitat Matters
Plant Sourcing
Growing Plants from Seed
Blue Elderberry (Sambucus nigra var. caerulea): Growth, Benefits, and Culinary Delights
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,...
Home Ground Habitats donates plants for Pleasant Valley Elementary School
Novato school recognized for environmental efforts Pleasant Valley Elementary School in Novato has earned its second certification from the National Wildlife Federation for its work to create educational wildlife habitats. Read the full article in the MARIN...
Fall 2023 WAL Class Schedule
This year the first day of Fall is on Saturday, September 23, 2023. For some of us, Fall means the shortening of daylight hours, the changing colors in our gardens, and Back-to-School. The Fall 2023 Watershed Approach to Landscaping Series schedule has been announced...
Cultivating Milkweeds: Vital Habitat Plants for Monarch Butterflies
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,...
PLANT PROPAGATION CLASSES Summer 2023
“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” Hands-on classes are back this summer at Home Ground Habitats! Join Instructor Charlotte Torgovitsky, in the garden and under the work canopy, for the hands-on Plant Propagation Class series. We...
Heuchra Alum Root: Native Varieties, Garden Cultivation, and Stunning Blooms
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...
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.
