Simi Valley Invites the Community to Discover the Power of California Native Plants
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — A new community restoration project at Chumash Park is giving residents a chance to see what California looked like before invasive species moved in.
Test Plot – Simi Valley opened this month as a living classroom where visitors can walk through native grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs that once covered the area. The project is the work of Isaac Trejo, a local resident who partnered with Test Plot, a nonprofit that builds experimental native plant gardens in degraded urban parks across California.
The demonstration plot sits just north of the parking lot at 3200 Flanagan Drive. It features species chosen for their role in the local grassland ecosystem. Native plants are adapted to Southern California's climate and need far less water than traditional landscaping. They also provide food and habitat for birds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators that evolved alongside them.
Trejo said the idea came from years of walking past the site and wondering what it looked like before non-native species took over. Remnant patches of wildflowers and shrubs gave him clues.
"This project stemmed from my love of our local environment," Trejo said. "I live nearby the site and for years asked myself what would this place look like as it did before the invasives took over? Through collaboration with Test Plot, our community is on track to realizing this ecological past."
Schools Invited to Visit
Test Plot – Simi Valley is now inviting local schools and educators to bring their classes to the site for field trips. The garden offers a hands-on way for students to learn about native ecosystems and the role plants play in supporting local wildlife.
Teachers interested in scheduling a visit can contact Trejo directly at isaacmtre@gmail.com or visit the project's page at testplot.info/plots/simivalley.
Brian Dennert, chair of the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District and a social science teacher at Royal High School, said the project gives students a new way to connect with their environment.
"Thanks to Isaac there is a fun way to learn about native plants at a beautiful park," Dennert said. "The California Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights shows that kids who learn about their local environment become physically and mentally stronger adults."
Built Through Community Stewardship
Test Plot was started by landscape designers, artists, and scholars who wanted to create experimental native plant gardens in degraded urban parks. The nonprofit partners with communities and land managers to build climate resilience and lasting connections to place through stewardship, according to its website.
Since 2019, Test Plot has initiated projects across California and inspired affiliate plots nationwide. The organization's mission is to cultivate a land ethic rooted in community care and ecological stewardship.
The Simi Valley plot follows the nonprofit's guiding principles, which include hyperlocal planting, design through maintenance, and restoration as repair. Monthly workdays bring together volunteers and paid fellows to implement and maintain projects over the course of several years.
Trejo said success for the Simi Valley plot means creating opportunities for the community to engage and steward the land. That can take many forms, from volunteering at planting events to tracking observations in the project's online journal entries.
Residents interested in volunteering can sign up for the mailing list at testplot.info/plots/simivalley or follow along on Instagram at @testplot_simi. Visitors are also welcome to stop by the plot at Chumash Park to see the project's progress.
"A successful Simi Valley Test Plot is one that provides opportunities for the community to engage and steward," Trejo said.
The project offers a visible reminder that small changes in landscaping can make a real difference for the environment. As native plants take root and grow, the plot will show what the area looked like before development and what it could become again with community care.
