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Grow Food, Grow Habitat, Grow Community
in action...
We believe in transforming spaces to support people and nature. Through our projects, we restore habitat, plant trees, and create climate-resilient landscapes that nourish both wildlife and the community. We collaborate with residents, volunteers, and local partners to bring these spaces to life—and you can be part of it!
Click below to explore our projects, and if you're interested in collaborating or starting a project in your neighborhood, reach out to us to learn more.
Highland Preserve
The Highland Preserve is a growing wildlife sanctuary in North Monrovia, spanning three adjacent properties that were once part of an old avocado orchard. What began with one resident’s effort to protect a 40-tree avocado grove from development has expanded to include a second and now a third property, preserving a full acre of habitat for bears, deer, bobcats, hawks, and other wildlife. Using sustainable techniques like sheet mulching and repurposed tree materials, we are restoring these spaces with native plants, meadows, and pathways that support biodiversity. Now in its third phase, the project continues to evolve as a model for community-driven conservation.
Rusty's Meadow
Once surrounded by a sea of grass, Rusty the horse now has a thriving meadow to call home. This habitat garden replaces a high-maintenance lawn with a peaceful, biodiverse landscape that will attract birds, butterflies, and other wildlife—without the need for constant mowing and blowing. Designed in collaboration with the residents, the space features meandering paths, large boulders, and a bioswale that redirects rainwater from the gutters to nourish the soil and replenish underground aquifers. As the plants grow and change with the seasons, Rusty’s Meadow will continue to be a model of sustainable, wildlife-friendly landscaping.
Foothill Apartments
At Foothill Apartments we’ve transformed an underused, water-wasting lawn into a vibrant, resource-efficient landscape designed to enhance both the environment and the living experience for tenants. Featuring native trees, shrubs, and carefully designed garden beds, this project creates inviting spaces—including a BBQ area and a walking path—while also helping to buffer noise from Foothill Boulevard. With a mix of sycamores, redbuds, desert willow, and toyon, our goal is to establish a lush tree canopy that will one day shade nearly an entire block.
Beyond aesthetics, this project prioritizes sustainability. A newly installed bioswale and dry riverbed redirect rainwater from the building’s gutters, helping recharge underground aquifers instead of sending runoff to storm drains. As the landscape matures, it will serve as a living example of how native plantings can conserve water, provide habitat, and create a more beautiful, livable space. Stay tuned for updates as this habitat garden grows!
Beyond aesthetics, this project prioritizes sustainability. A newly installed bioswale and dry riverbed redirect rainwater from the building’s gutters, helping recharge underground aquifers instead of sending runoff to storm drains. As the landscape matures, it will serve as a living example of how native plantings can conserve water, provide habitat, and create a more beautiful, livable space. Stay tuned for updates as this habitat garden grows!
Woodlawn Project
One Earth Community Garden
The One Earth Community Garden is a collaborative effort between Grow Monrovia and the Maryknoll Sisters, designed as a space where people and nature can thrive together. Built with sustainability in mind, the garden features habitat-friendly garden beds, water-saving techniques like ollas and rain barrels, and regenerative practices such as mulch layering instead of plastic weed barriers. It serves as both a thriving ecosystem and a resource center, offering free mulch for community projects and hosting hands-on workshops to promote sustainable gardening. The garden fosters learning, connection, and a shared commitment to environmental stewardship.
South Myrtle Tree Planting
Completed in partnership with LA County, this project brought 42 new trees to unincorporated Monrovia, transforming South Myrtle into a greener, more walkable corridor. By planting a mix of Live Oaks, native Sycamores, and Western Redbuds, we’ve enhanced shade coverage, improved air quality, and created a more inviting gateway into the Foothill community. These trees will help reduce traffic speeds, mitigate noise pollution, and increase walkability to public transportation—all while beautifying the neighborhood and supporting local wildlife. This project is a step toward a healthier, more connected community.
City of Hope Native Tree Planting
In partnership with City of Hope, we planted 23 native trees on their beautiful campus, which borders the San Gabriel River and Santa Fe Dam. This project brings vital habitat and shade to the area while supporting local biodiversity. The trees—6 Live Oaks (Quercus agrifolia), 5 Engelmann Oaks (Quercus engelmannii), 10 Valley Oaks (Quercus lobata), and 2 Toyons—will provide food and shelter for wildlife while enhancing the natural landscape.
By incorporating native trees into their campus, City of Hope is leading by example in our Foothill community, demonstrating the role native plants play in creating healthier ecosystems. We’re proud to support this initiative and look forward to seeing these trees thrive for generations to come! https://www.instagram.com/p/DAl6yRKxZ8j/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
By incorporating native trees into their campus, City of Hope is leading by example in our Foothill community, demonstrating the role native plants play in creating healthier ecosystems. We’re proud to support this initiative and look forward to seeing these trees thrive for generations to come! https://www.instagram.com/p/DAl6yRKxZ8j/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Foothill Unity Center – Unity Garden
In partnership with Foothill Unity Center, we helped design and build the Unity Garden, a teaching garden dedicated to serving the underserved. This space not only provides fresh, homegrown food but also fosters a deeper connection to nature.
Our contributions included planting 12 fruit trees along the perimeter, creating dedicated planting areas for food production, and incorporating native plants throughout the garden to enhance biodiversity and provide essential habitat for pollinators and wildlife. This project reflects our commitment to growing food, habitat, and community—one garden at a time!
Our contributions included planting 12 fruit trees along the perimeter, creating dedicated planting areas for food production, and incorporating native plants throughout the garden to enhance biodiversity and provide essential habitat for pollinators and wildlife. This project reflects our commitment to growing food, habitat, and community—one garden at a time!
Walkable Monrovia
As part of our ongoing efforts to make Monrovia more walkable and sustainable, we launched a tree planting program offering free trees to residents along our main streets and reduced-price trees for residents on other streets. This initiative has allowed us to contribute to the planting of over 600 trees throughout our community.
Trees offer a multitude of benefits, including providing shade, improving air quality, reducing urban heat island effects, and increasing property values. They also enhance walkability by making our streets more inviting and comfortable, encourage biodiversity, and create natural beauty in our neighborhoods. Through this program, we’re not only improving the landscape but also fostering a stronger, more connected community.
Trees offer a multitude of benefits, including providing shade, improving air quality, reducing urban heat island effects, and increasing property values. They also enhance walkability by making our streets more inviting and comfortable, encourage biodiversity, and create natural beauty in our neighborhoods. Through this program, we’re not only improving the landscape but also fostering a stronger, more connected community.
Bradbury Oak Woodland Preservation
With the support of our community, we successfully safeguarded a vital oak woodland, an important wildlife corridor, and one of Monrovia’s most scenic, shaded streets from the Bradbury Road Widening Project. After months of advocacy and legal action, we reached a settlement agreement with the City of Bradbury, ensuring the preservation of these irreplaceable native oaks while addressing key concerns for the well-being of our community.
This victory is a testament to the power of collective action in protecting our natural spaces. Thank you to everyone who stood with us in this fight—we couldn’t have done it without you!
This victory is a testament to the power of collective action in protecting our natural spaces. Thank you to everyone who stood with us in this fight—we couldn’t have done it without you!
Maryknoll Meadow Landscape Project
The Maryknoll Meadow is a thriving native habitat created through a collaboration between Grow Monrovia, Leigh Adams (LA Arboretum/Poly Ana), the Maryknoll Sisters, and the community. What was once 20,000 square feet of lawn has been transformed into a flourishing meadow, providing food and shelter for pollinators and wildlife.
This project incorporated sustainable landscaping techniques, including sheet mulching, hugelkultur, and bioswale construction to maximize water retention and soil health. Over 600 volunteers participated in hands-on workshops, contributing to the planting of nearly 700 trees and plants, as well as the spreading of wildflower seeds. In addition to creating a beautiful and functional ecosystem, this project also diverted significant waste—repurposing three whole trees for paths and hugel mounds, using 1,600 pounds of cardboard for weed suppression, and redirecting 370 cubic yards of mulch from the landfill.
With each season, the meadow continues to grow and change, demonstrating the power of community-driven restoration. More planting is planned for the future to further enrich this evolving habitat.
This project incorporated sustainable landscaping techniques, including sheet mulching, hugelkultur, and bioswale construction to maximize water retention and soil health. Over 600 volunteers participated in hands-on workshops, contributing to the planting of nearly 700 trees and plants, as well as the spreading of wildflower seeds. In addition to creating a beautiful and functional ecosystem, this project also diverted significant waste—repurposing three whole trees for paths and hugel mounds, using 1,600 pounds of cardboard for weed suppression, and redirecting 370 cubic yards of mulch from the landfill.
With each season, the meadow continues to grow and change, demonstrating the power of community-driven restoration. More planting is planned for the future to further enrich this evolving habitat.
Camp Trask Restoration
With the help of local Boy and Girl Scout troops and Kizh Tribe biologist Matt T., we organized a restoration effort around Camp Trask in Monrovia’s Canyon Park. Our team planted a variety of tree saplings to restore native vegetation and increase biodiversity in the area.
As part of this effort, we reintroduced the endangered Engelmann oak, an essential species for our local ecosystem, and cleared invasive brush to reduce fire risk. This project was made possible through generous donations from The Huntington Library, LA Arboretum, and local residents who contributed acorns and saplings. Together, we’re working to restore and protect Monrovia’s wild spaces for future generations!
As part of this effort, we reintroduced the endangered Engelmann oak, an essential species for our local ecosystem, and cleared invasive brush to reduce fire risk. This project was made possible through generous donations from The Huntington Library, LA Arboretum, and local residents who contributed acorns and saplings. Together, we’re working to restore and protect Monrovia’s wild spaces for future generations!
Myrtle Industrial Park Water Conservation Project
At Myrtle Industrial Park, we successfully built a bioswale and hugel to showcase water-retaining features that help conserve our most precious resource—water. This project prevents runoff from pooling in the parking lot or being lost to storm drains, instead allowing rainwater to soak into the ground and replenish local aquifers.
By implementing sustainable landscaping practices, Mrytle Industrial Park has set an example for commercial properties looking to make environmentally responsible changes. This project was made possible with the support of Cal Blends, who generously donated mulch, soil amendments, and river rock. Together, we’ve created a functional, sustainable, and community-driven landscape that will serve as a model for water conservation efforts in our region.
By implementing sustainable landscaping practices, Mrytle Industrial Park has set an example for commercial properties looking to make environmentally responsible changes. This project was made possible with the support of Cal Blends, who generously donated mulch, soil amendments, and river rock. Together, we’ve created a functional, sustainable, and community-driven landscape that will serve as a model for water conservation efforts in our region.
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