Share Seeds of Hope for the Earth
A wise friend once said, “Earthroots bring me hope.”
After 20 years as the founder and executive director of Earthroots, I know exactly what Gretchen, one of our longtime supporters, means. Every day I witness children and families learning to grow food, care for the soil, harvest and reuse water, cook nutritious meals, and restore native habitats. Seeing young people discover their connection to the earth, seeing them want to live in a more caring and sustainable way is what gives me, Gretchen, and all of us hope for the future.
“Earthroots is a touchstone for our week, giving us valuable time to be grounded in a busy world.”
— Christine, parent and grandparent of Earthroots participants
This year, hope came full circle for another Earthroots supporter. Back in 2011, Christine brought her daughter Chloe to Earthroots for the first time. Today, she brings her two grandchildren to Forest Kindergarten each week.
That kind of generational impact is what Earthroots is all about.
LEFT: Chloe in 2011 (on the left in the white shirt).
RIGHT: Chloe in 2025 at Forest Kindergarten with her mom, niece and nephew.
Looking back on 2025, two projects in particular have filled me with hope. We’ve expanded our Ecoliteracy in Schools program to nine new schools in the Santa Ana Unified School District. They have created a critical bridge between the garden and the classroom. Teachers have been looking for ways to tie academic lessons to nature, and we’re grateful to be able to give them the tools to do just that.
At Big Oak Canyon, our habitat restoration work has also grown, teaching people how to care for the land, for one another, and for themselves. Both of these projects are powerful reminders that habitat restoration and connecting with the natural world doesn’t just happen out there, it starts right where we are. Through Earthroots efforts, people of all ages are given the opportunity to “be the change” we all want to see in the world, whether it’s on a public-school campus or at Big Oak Canyon.
In my own backyard, my children and I have been tending a patch of California poppies. Last spring, it burst into a brilliant backyard super bloom bringing us joy and feeding local pollinators. When the blooms faded, we collected the seeds for next year, expanding our flower patch little by little.
That’s how hope works, one seed, one action, one person at a time.
So, I ask you: what brings you hope?
If your vision of a hopeful future includes living in connection with the natural world, raising a generation that cares for the earth, and building community around sustainability, I invite you to continue walking this path with us.
Our goal this season is to raise $52,000 to:
- Bring Ecoliteracy education to more students at Title 1 schools across Orange County
- Make field programs more accessible through BIPOC and need-based scholarships
- Continue restoring native habitat and nurturing the oak trees at Big Oak Canyon
Your donation—of any size—helps our work grow.
And as a small token of gratitude, everyone who donates $25 or more before December 31 will receive a packet of California poppy seeds, gathered by my children and me from our own backyard. We hope you’ll plant them near your home, and in doing so, share in these seeds of hope for the earth we all love and the future we all want.
Thank you for believing in this vision and being part of our growing community. Together, we are the change. Together, we are the hope.
With gratitude,
Jodi Levine
Founder/Executive Director
Earthroots Field School