Reserve Installations
Join guerrilla gardening days that turn neglected urban spaces into thriving native habitat corridors.
Program Overview
MiniNature Reserve installations transform sidewalks, vacant lots, and barren medians into vibrant public space. Community leads every step—from plant propagation and site selection to installation, maintenance, and utilization of every plant.
More than decoration, these reserves sustain communities with nutritious food, natural materials for household items, and medicine. Under Indigenous leadership, installations become living classrooms where cultural knowledge flows freely between neighbors.
The goal is to reignite human interdependency with nature through communal stewardship of our local ecosystems under Indigenous leadership.
MiniNature Reserves provide equitable access to nature and help conserve plant and animal species threatened by urbanization, including endangered species.
MiniNature Reserve Installation Day Photos
A photo gallery will highlight before-and-after transformations, volunteer energy, and Indigenous-led teaching moments from recent installation days.
MNR Updates
Look for a slider here that journeys from barren concrete to flourishing gardens, featuring stories from neighbors stewarding each reserve.
Our Approach
Our work follows a seed-to-community model:
• Grow native plants in our community nurseries.
• Create hand-rolled seedballs to make planting accessible.
• Identify sites ready for transformation.
• Recruit volunteers for joyful installation days.
• Provide ongoing maintenance support so each reserve thrives.
Built from the Ground Up
MiniNature Reserves emerge through grassroots collaboration. What begins as concrete quickly becomes a flourishing, intergenerational gathering place filled with medicine, food, and habitat for pollinators.
Each installation uplifts environmental justice by returning care and resources to communities long denied access to healthy green space.
Impact & Outcomes
MiniNature Reserves address environmental injustice directly. Under-resourced communities have been systematically denied critical environmental protections—from contamination cleanup to climate resilience infrastructure. We bring ecological restoration to the neighborhoods that need it most.
Over 21 MiniNature Reserves now thrive across Oxnard, Ventura County, and Los Angeles. Explore our map to see the native species and local impact of each garden.
Ways to Get Involved
Ready to start a MiniNature Reserve?
• Build one in your neighborhood.
• Start a chapter with local partners.
• Nominate the perfect site for our next guerrilla gardening event.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a MiniNature Reserve?
A MiniNature Reserve is a community-created green space that transforms neglected urban areas into thriving ecosystems rooted in native and Indigenous plants.
How much space do I need?
MiniNature Reserves can flourish in sidewalk strips, parking lot islands, schoolyards, or any underutilized patch of land ready to welcome native species.
Do I need gardening experience?
No prior gardening experience is required. Our team provides step-by-step guidance—from plant selection and soil preparation to installation and ongoing maintenance.
Who maintains the reserve after installation?
Neighborhood residents, schools, or partner organizations care for each reserve with our ongoing support, ensuring that every site thrives for years to come.
What plants do you use?
We prioritize regionally appropriate native and Indigenous species selected for their ecological benefits, cultural significance, and ability to support pollinators and wildlife.
Questions?
Reach out to collaborate on an installation or learn about upcoming volunteer days.
Our mission grows with your support
MiniNature Reserve thrives thanks to the generosity of local businesses, donors, and partners who believe in reconnecting people and the land.
