Restoring our biodiversity for Earth Day

Is there a better way to honor Earth Day than to clean up the landscape and help restore the land and biodiversity to the natural habitat?  

On April 16, 2025, residents of Central California Women’s (CCWF) Facility answered in the affirmative. Thirty residents from the Insight Garden program helped clear last winter’s weeds from the flower beds. With the help of Land Together, the residents also collected seeds, planted new native species, and laid down new mulch.

“April 16th was an absolutely perfect day to be outside caring for the garden,” said Land Together Executive Director Andrew Winn. “I always look forward to these moments of transformation, learning alongside participants as we dig in together.” 

After the beds were cleared of weeds, participants eagerly planted several new flower species that were donated by Land Together. The new plants were planted in the native drought-tolerant biodiverse garden area and included Kangaroo paws, Jerusalem sage, Santa Barbara daisies, and Gaura. These plants help sustain and restore the flora and fauna of the region’s natural habitat, according to Calliope Correia, Land Together’s regional lead for Southern California and Central Valley.

Since starting the native habitat garden, Land Together’s CCWF Program Manager Lauren Beatty said, “I’ve observed an increase in the biodiversity and a return of many of the naturally occurring species in the habitat garden, including humming birds, dragon flies, lady bugs, lizards, mice and more.”

Beatty, who sponsored the event, taught residents how to harvest the flower seed pods from the Lupine and California poppy plants so they can be dried, collected, and added to the seed bank. The seeds will either be planted next season or shared with partners at the Golden Gate National Park Conservancy and the park service at Alcatraz Island. 

By noon, a mountain of organic material had been cleared and piled. The new native plants were happily transplanted into their new homes, each given healthy amounts of compost and water to ease their transition from pot to earth. 

“Seeing so many people come together to care for the garden, even for just one day, was powerful,” Beatty said. “It reminded me how much beauty and change can begin with simple acts of care.”