Photo by Saxon Holt. Design by April Owens.
Climate Resilient Neighborhoods
Sonoma Ecology Center’s Climate Resilient Neighborhoods program provides free landscaping services to households in The Springs, with a focus on defensible space and climate resiliency. For more information, please fill out the interest form and a member of our staff will reach out to you. You can also contact [email protected] with any questions.
Photo by Saxon Holt. Design by April Owens.
What’s included:
- Site visit to make landscaping recommendations for defensible space and climate resilience.
- Examples: conserving water, improving fire safety, increasing shade, and creating habitat for pollinators and wildlife.
- Most recommendations will be easy and inexpensive, like pruning or planting native plants.
- $1,500 of recommended landscaping work per household, at no cost to the landowner. Projects will be executed by skilled, licensed contractors who have graduated from the Fire-Wise Landscaping course at Santa Rosa Junior College (facilitated in part by Sonoma Ecology Center staff members).
- Established connection to these skilled contractors to implement any recommendations or other work you choose to pay for beyond the covered amount.
Site Visits
Site visits are expected to take one to two hours with the landowner or their designee (such as a property manager). After the visit, we will share a finalized list of recommendations and connect you with the licensed contractors who have graduated from our training program.
Program Background
The Climate Resilient Neighborhoods program aims to increase the climate resiliency of 40 households in the Sonoma Valley Springs. Target communities include Agua Caliente, Boyes Hot Springs, Fetters Hot Springs, and El Verano. To check if you qualify, take a look at our target area map.
Photo by Austin Noble
Contractors for the program have been trained through the Santa Rosa Junior College’s Fire-Wise Landscaping course, with several course modules being taught by skilled Restoration and Environmental Stewardship professionals from Sonoma Ecology Center’s staff. The Climate Resilient Neighborhoods program is funded by a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency awarded to La Luz Center. La Luz is a nonprofit serving the Latino community of Sonoma Valley through direct services and community engagement.
Learn more about Sonoma Ecology Center’s contribution to local workforce development on The Ecology Blog.
Or reach out to [email protected]
