March 8-9, 2025

Palms (Los Angeles)

In an unprecedented time for our country and as we fight for progress against climate change on multiple fronts, it is refreshing and rewarding to take on a project that has tangible results in a couple of days.

LA Climate Reality partnered with the Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Sustainability Alliance, Surfrider, Tree People and other partners to organize a two-day “Lawn-to-Habitat” volunteer and learning opportunity that transformed a water-hungry, monoculture grass lawn on a multifamily property into a biodiverse habitat zone that will capture rainwater and support pollinators and the web of life in our local ecosystem.

This annual event gives volunteers an opportunity to learn about reconditioning compacted soil, creating eco-friendly weed barriers, determining soil type, mulching, planting techniques and establishment care for California native plants, water capture design options, and much more.

Charles Miller, LA Climate Reality’s Chapter Chair, gave a brief recap of the event on our March chapter call.

We want to thank all the volunteers who participated. Hundreds of people donated well over 1000 volunteer hours for the project this year.

Residents of the building were pleased with the result. “My heart is overwhelmed with gratitude for each and every one of you,” one resident wrote to organizers. “You have given my family, my building, and my whole neighborhood an amazing gift. People walk by with a smile on their faces as they look at the new landscape! Neighbors keep coming up to me and telling me how excited they are to watch the new plants grow.”

If you want to be involved in future volunteer opportunities, connect with your local Neighborhood Council or join our Climate Reality chapter.