Habitat recovery in 2025 with community foundation support
In 2025, with the support of the Community Foundation of Monterey County and the Community Foundation of San Benito County, we at Wildfarmers transformed 3 acres of our 40-acre property from a landscape of dry, invasive grasses into a thriving ecosystem.
We implemented comprehensive restoration, hiring a land manager to remove invasive plants while preserving native plants and young oak saplings. We also installed sophisticated irrigation infrastructure, including ditches, above-ground irrigation lines, and drip systems. After digging small holes and adding compost to support plant growth, four Fresno State students volunteered to plant over 1,400 plants donated by the Xerces Society.
We also restored three small ponds to replenish the aquifer beneath our property and provide a year-round water source for wildlife in 2026. Three wildlife hydration stations were constructed to support a diverse range of species, including mountain lions, bobcats, lynx, tule elk, raccoons, salamanders, frogs, butterflies, and bees.
This transformative work is the culmination of twenty years of research and careful land management. Throughout two decades, we've developed a deep understanding of how to restore landscapes with minimal disruption to existing wildlife and native plant species. Our 40-acre living laboratory has been a testament to our commitment to ecological restoration.
Before this intensive work, the area was an exposed, vulnerable landscape where wildlife struggled to find cover. Now, it has become a complex, layered habitat that provides critical shelter and sustenance. Rabbits and ground squirrels now flourish, creating a robust food web that supports larger predators.
Our work is more than a local success story. We are developing a model of ecosystem restoration that could be replicated across California's 3.3 million acres of blue oak woodlands. Each native plant we introduce and each water source we establish is a step towards healing critical habitats.
To the Community Foundation of Monterey County and the Community Foundation of San Benito County, we extend our deepest gratitude. Your belief in our ability to restore and regenerate has created a sanctuary where native ecosystems can rebuild themselves.