Current Events

Switch to Calendar View

• CNGA Field Trip: Heritage Growers Native Seed Amplification Facility

  • When
    Wednesday, February 05, 2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Colusa, CA
  • Spaces left
    6

  Register

  The tour will cover all aspects of the numerous steps involved in the production of source identified native seed. The tour will include a visit to Heritage Growers’ demonstration garden where new ecotypes and new species are trialed, seed is produced for the nursery operation and small plot amplifications are implemented. We will also visit Heritage Growers’ production fields where more than 100 distinct species and ecotypes are produced over approximately 208 acres. Discussions will include methods for field establishment including direct seeding and plug installation, how fields are maintained including irrigation and weed control, how seeds are harvested including how large farm equipment such as swathers and combines are utilized to efficiently harvest seed at scale. The field trip will cover the seed conditioning (cleaning) process including how seeds are dried, the various methods used to clean seed and how the seeds are stored, tested, and retested. Woven throughout the fieldtrip will be examples of various Best Management Practices Heritage Growers use to maintain genetic integrity of different ecotypes.

  • Timing: 9 AM to 1 PM
  • Hiking Level: Easy  and uneven slopes
  • Ages 18 and up welcome
  • Rain or shine! 

  Registration is limited to 35 people, so register today! 

  If you plan to attend, please read these before registering: 

  What to bring: Hat, sunscreen, water, warm clothes and comfortable walking shoes or boots. Bring a sack lunch to enjoy on-site. Please leave pets at home.                                          

  Show details
• CNGA Field Trip: Grace Hudson Museum Wild Gardens

  • When
    Wednesday, February 05, 2025
  •  
    12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    431 S Main St, Ukiah, CA
  • Spaces left
    0

  Join waitlist

  The Grace Hudson Museum Wild Gardens provides an educational and cultural resource in the city of Ukiah, teaching people of all ages about native plants and their cultural importance and providing a place to harvest plants for traditional uses. Sherrie Smith-Ferrie, the former executive director and curator of Ukiah’s Grace Hudson Museum and a member of Sonoma County's Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, along with Andrea Davis, a local landscape designer, will introduce participants to the history, inspiration, and planning behind the creation of the Wild Gardens at Grace Hudson Museum and speak about the interwoven evolution of native people with native plants. Sherrie and Andrea will also discuss some of the successes and failures they have experienced in trying to realize the gardens’ original vision, particularly vis-à-vis others' reactions to the native grasses in the gardens. A tour of the Wild Gardens will round out the afternoon. The gardens contain at least 20 species of grasses, sedges, and rushes. 

  

  • 
    
  • Timing: 12 PM to 4 PM
  • Hiking Level: Easy, limited
  • Ages 18 and up welcome
  • Please leave pets at home
  • Rain or shine! 

  Registration is limited to 18 people, so register today! 

           

                                   
  

  Show details
• CNGA Symposium Field Trip: Pepperwood Preserve

  • When
    Wednesday, February 05, 2025
  •  
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    2130 Pepperwood Preserve Road, Santa Rosa
  • Spaces left
    0

  Join waitlist

  We invite you to join us in exploring the diverse and scenic grasslands at Pepperwood, located in the heart of the Mayacamas Mountain range in eastern Sonoma County. We will be learning about Pepperwood’s extensive grassland stewardship and research programs while observing how the landscape has recovered from two wildfires in 2017 and 2019. Staff will be highlighting their conservation grazing program; prescribed burning, restoration and invasive species management activities; and discussing how their annual grassland monitoring program has helped them adapt to changing climate and drought conditions. This event will include carpooling and hiking short to moderate distances off trail on uneven and hilly terrain to reach demonstration sites.

  • Timing: 1pm to 4pm
  • Hiking Level: Easy to moderate, mostly flat with some off-trail and uneven slopes
  • Ages 18 and up welcome
  • Waivers required
  • Please leave pets at home
  • Rain Cancels

  Registration is limited to 24 people, so register today! 

  If you plan to attend, please read these before registering: 

  What to bring: Please wear appropriate shoes for walking and be prepared for wet conditions, rain shoes/rubber boots/jacket might be needed. Also bring a hat, sunscreen, water, and snacks. Binoculars are recommended. Please leave pets at home.                                               

  Show details
• Better Grasslands Through Knowledge: A CNGA Science-Based Symposium

  • Start
    Thursday, February 06, 2025
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • End
    Friday, February 07, 2025
  •  
    4:00 PM
  • Location
    Hopland Research and Extension Center, 4070 University Rd, Hopland, CA 95449
  • Spaces left
    12

  Register

  Better Grasslands Through Knowledge: A CNGA Science-Based Symposium

  

  Date: Thursday & Friday, February 6 & 7, 2025

  Location: Hopland Research and Extension Center, 4070 University Rd, Hopland, CA 95449

  Join us in celebration of the latest science on grassland ecosystems in California, with opportunities for dialog and collaboration among symposium participants. 
  

  On the Agenda: 

  • Keynote Speakers
  • Technical Talks
  • Lightning Talks
  • Poster Session/Social Hour

  Find the Preliminary Schedule Here

  Download a Flyer Here

  Field Trips on Wednesday and Saturday

  Each morning of this two-day conference will begin with keynote addresses from experts in the field and continue with themed sessions.
  

  Thursday's activities include technical talks, lightning talks, and concludes with a poster session and social hour. 

  Friday will continue with technical  talks and an opportunity to tour the Hopland Research and Extension Center.  

  

  
  

  Society for Ecological Restoration  Continuing Education Credits

  The symposium is pre-approved for 8 continuing education credits under SER's Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) program. 

  
  

  California Society for Ecological Restoration is offering CNGA symposium attendees a discount on registration for their SERCAL 2025 conference in April 21-23 in Sacramento. Receive the code upon registering for the CNGA Symposium. 
  

  Symposium Food and Lodging

  • Continental breakfast and lunch buffet provided on Thursday and Friday
  • Thursday evening social hour includes hors d'oeuvres and a complimentary drink with your registration fee
  • Lodging information on our website

  
  

  Don't Miss Out on These Great Field Trips   More details on Field Trips here

  Follow the links to register separately: 

  • Pepperwood Preserve, Santa Rosa, Wednesday, February 5, 2025, 1 PM to 4 PM
  • Heritage Growers Native Seed Amplification Facility, Colusa, Wednesday, February 5, 2025, 9 AM to 1 PM
  • Grace Hudson Museum Wild Gardens, Ukiah,  Wednesday, February 5, 2025, 12 PM - 4 PM
  • Willits Bypass Mitigation Project, Willits, Saturday, February 8, 2025, 9 AM -12 PM

  
  

  
  

  We Are Grateful for Our Sponsors Who Make Our Events Possible.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  In Kind Sponsors--Thank You! 

  

  
  

  

  
  

  Show details
• CNGA Field Trip: Willits Bypass Mitigation Project

  • When
    Saturday, February 08, 2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Willits, CA
  • Spaces left
    12

  Register

  Tour leaders include Marisela De Santa Anna, the Project Interpreter and biologist with the Mendocino RCD; Maureen Doyle, Willits Mitigation Specialist/Botanist with Caltrans; and Emily Allen, a consulting botanist. 
  

  

  The Willits Bypass Mitigation project is 2,000+ acres of wet meadows, streams, and oak woodlands in Mendocino County. It is owned by Caltrans and managed in part by the Mendocino Resource Conservation District. The project includes management of two 1B.1 rare plants: Pleuropogon hooverianus, North coast semaphore grass, and Limnanthes bakeri, Baker's meadowfoam. This tour will include an overview of the project, ecology and management of these rare plants, as well as a walk to observe some of the project. We may observe resident Tule Elk, birds, as well as winter vegetation. This is a rare chance to view this project which has limited public tours.    The Willits Bypass Offsite Mitigation Project is the largest public wetlands mitigation project in the State of California.

  • Hiking level: Easy, mostly flat with some mud
  • Waivers required
  • Age 18 and up welcome
  • No dogs, please
  • Rain or shine              

  
  

  
  

  Show details
• CNGA's 17th Annual Field Day at Hedgerow Farms

  • When
    Friday, April 04, 2025
  •  
    8:30 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Location
    Hedgerow Farms, 21905 Co Rd 88, Winters, CA 95694
  • Spaces left
    95

  Register

  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  CNGA's 17^th Annual Field Day at Hedgerow Farms
  

  Back To Basics: Applied Grassland Management

  Friday, April 4, 2025

  8:30 AM to 2 PM

  21905 County Road 88, Winters, CA 95694

  
  

  Discover the remarkable grasslands of California through guided hayride and walking tours of Hedgerow Farms’ stunning landscapes and native plant cultivation areas. Learn from expert speakers from CNGA and Hedgerow Farms, and connect with fellow attendees while exploring exhibitor tables hosted by local nonprofits and Field Day Sponsors. This is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in California's grassland beauty and gain valuable insights—don't miss it!

  

  • CNGA Members: $120
  • Non-Members: $160
  • Students (with ID): $50

  Morning refreshments and lunch provided

  Bring a water bottle and comfortable clothing for outdoor activities

  8:00 - 8:30 AM Check in and refreshments

  Program 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM 

  Agenda to Come

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  We extend our sincere appreciation to the Harnly/Roeper Fund at the East Bay Community Foundation for their generous grant of $1,000 in support of scholarships for the CNGA annual field day event. This contribution will enable us to extend our efforts in promoting the understanding of the value of California's native grasslands. We are deeply grateful for their commitment to our cause and their dedication to environmental conservation.

  -Contact us at admin@cnga.org if you have questions about this event.

  Cancellation Policy

  Show details