Help Us Save the Oak Trees
The oak trees are struggling, we need your help.
We found out at the beginning of 2024 that there was an infestation of the gold-spotted oak borer (GSOB) at Big Oak Canyon. Majestic oaks on our beloved land are literally dying from this beetle infestation and we need your help! Most of the mature oak trees at Big Oak Canyon are infected to some degree. The mortality rate of infected oak groves in our area is around 60%. That means that if not addressed swiftly, it’s possible we will lose almost all of our mature Coast Live Oak trees in our beautiful forest. We need a tremendous amount of manual labor to address the workload. If you can volunteer your time, we ask that you commit to a 3-hour session, and ideally come back multiple times to help. Shane Brown, Earthroots’ Land Restoration Manager, has been working day after day and needs our community to stand beside him. Click the button below to sign up to volunteer. Click HERE to read more about the GSOB infestation at Big Oak Canyon. We also encourage you to read Shane’s heartfelt write-up on what this experience has meant for him.
Monthly Volunteer Days
Earthroots has a 200-year plan for restoring and stewarding Big Oak Canyon, our 39-acre property in Silverado, California. Read more about Big Oak Canyon. Join us for Volunteer Day the first Saturday of each month to help us move forward with this goal. All levels of experience welcome.
Earthroots Volunteer Days are the first Saturday of each month* from 9 AM to 12:30 PM.
(*Please note, we do not hold Volunteer Days in July or August.)
2025 Dates: January 4 | February 1 | March 1 | April 5 | May 3 | June 7 | September 6 | October 4 | November 1 | December 6
Volunteer Day Tasks may include
- clearing non-native plants, trees, and grasses from our 39-acre property
- restoring a seasonal wetland habitat
- building a compost pile
- tending the orchard
- litter removal
- counting animal/plant species
- painting a shade structure and signs
- assembling nature kits
- physical outdoor labor
- meeting new friends
- enjoy spending time in nature
All ages are welcome. Ages 12 and under require adult supervision. Parents will be responsible for their children throughout the day. All minors need a parent or guardian’s signature on the release form. Tools will be provided. Click the button below to sign up.
Overview of the Day
The day will begin with a welcome, some history of the site, and an introduction to the day’s work. After that, we will break up into groups according to each worksite and get to it!
All tools are provided unless otherwise noted.
We recommend arriving a few minutes before 9am to give yourself time to familiarize yourself with the site.
No more than 20 volunteers are permitted during volunteer days.
*Big Oak Canyon experiences large temperature swings. Please wear weather-appropriate layers.
Volunteering as a Group
Groups interested in volunteering, please inquire here:
Touring Big Oak Canyon
For those who are interested in touring the property, inquire with our staff at [email protected] to arrange a tour of the property and learn about our long-term vision for Big Oak Canyon.
Things to know
– There is poison oak on-site growing in some of the areas between the plants where we may be working. You will learn to identify this plant when you arrive.
– Ticks can be found at Big Oak Canyon seasonally. The California Department of Public Health offers valuable information on all things ticks, including prevention, removal and treatment.
– Weeding grassy habitat may startle snakes and other small animals. Closed-toed shoes, gloves, and pants are required if you will be weeding.