Volunteer at Our Plots

We welcome volunteers at all our plots. Check out our calendar of upcoming events to get involved. To be prepared for our workdays please consider the following recommendations: 

  • Wear closed-toe shoes, layers, and clothes you don't mind getting dirty 

  • Hats and sun protection are highly recommended

  • Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gardening gloves

  • Please bring a reusable water bottle and snacks to keep yourself fueled

Bonus: download the iNaturalist app on your phone and help us make observations. All our plots are iNat projects which you can view under Test Plot Umbrella. Please join our projects and add to the observations so that we can continue document the diversity of flora and fauna.

Upcoming Events

Drop-in Gardening at Puente Hills Test Plot
Oct
17

Drop-in Gardening at Puente Hills Test Plot

  • 3301 Workman Mill Road South El Monte, CA 91733 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Drop-in Gardening at Puente Hills Test Plot. Help us weed, water, and maintain our native plant plots.

RSVP HERE

Address: 3301 Workman Mill Rd, South El Monte, CA 91733

Project website: https://www.puentehillstestplot.info/

Partners: The event is made possible by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation in collaboration with Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis (First District), the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity, Southern California Edison, Puente Hills Youth@Work Cohort, Studio-MLA, and Test Plot.

View Event →
Community Workday at Jefferson Test Plot
Oct
18

Community Workday at Jefferson Test Plot

Community workday! RSVP HERE

Come help us water, weed, layout paths and structures, clean up former mulch drop off, making use of extra logs.

Address: 1371 W. Jefferson Boulevard

Partners: Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, Redeemer Community Partnership, Test Plot Youth Fellows from Greenhouse South LA. Special thanks to Theodore Payne Foundation!

View Event →
Community Landcare Day at Puente Hills Test Plot
Oct
24

Community Landcare Day at Puente Hills Test Plot

  • 3301 Workman Mill Road South El Monte, CA 91733 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

RSVP HERE

Address: 3301 Workman Mill Rd, South El Monte, CA 91733

Community Workday! Help us weed, water, and maintain our native plant plots.

Partners: The event is made possible by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation in collaboration with Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis (First District), the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity, Southern California Edison, Puente Hills Youth@Work Cohort, Studio-MLA, and Test Plot.

View Event →
Drop-in Gardening at Puente Hills Test Plot
Oct
31

Drop-in Gardening at Puente Hills Test Plot

  • 3301 Workman Mill Road South El Monte, CA 91733 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Drop-in Gardening at Puente Hills Test Plot. Help us weed, water, and maintain our native plant plots.

RSVP HERE

Address: 3301 Workman Mill Rd, South El Monte, CA 91733

Project website: https://www.puentehillstestplot.info/

Partners: The event is made possible by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation in collaboration with Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis (First District), the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity, Southern California Edison, Puente Hills Youth@Work Cohort, Studio-MLA, and Test Plot.

View Event →
Planting Day at Ohlone Hillside Test Plot (Lawrence Hall of Science)
Oct
31

Planting Day at Ohlone Hillside Test Plot (Lawrence Hall of Science)

RSVP and SIGN VOLUNTEER WAIVER

Help us plant pollinator friendly plants from the Xerces Society!

Closest address: The Lawrence Hall of Science, 1 Centennial Dr, Berkeley, CA 94720. 

Enter the main entrance to Lawrence Hall of Science and tell them you are volunteering at the hillside. You don’t need to pay admission. Walk past the planetarium and back outside to the “Dinosaur lookout.” The plot is located near the picnic tables and open during main visiting hours. 

Partners: Test Plot, Lawrence Hall of Science, Terremoto, mak-’amham, 'ottoy initiative, The Green Initiative.

View Event →
1st Fridays at Debs Test Plot
Nov
6

1st Fridays at Debs Test Plot

RSVP HERE with AUDUBON CENTER

Address: Audubon Center at Debs Park, 4700 Griffin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90031

From the Audubon Center walk to the parking lot entrance and up to the right along a dirt trail (look to the right of the wider Walnut Forest Trail). The plot is 200’ up the path.

Please join us for native habitat gardening with Test Plot, Terremoto and the Audubon Center at Debs. We meet the first Friday of the month 8:30-11:30am.

View Event →
Drop-in Gardening at Puente Hills Test Plot
Nov
7

Drop-in Gardening at Puente Hills Test Plot

  • 3301 Workman Mill Road South El Monte, CA 91733 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Drop-in Gardening at Puente Hills Test Plot. Help us weed, water, and maintain our native plant plots.

RSVP HERE

Address: 3301 Workman Mill Rd, South El Monte, CA 91733

Project website: https://www.puentehillstestplot.info/

Partners: The event is made possible by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation in collaboration with Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis (First District), the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity, Southern California Edison, Puente Hills Youth@Work Cohort, Studio-MLA, and Test Plot.

View Event →
Rainbow Canyon 2nd Saturdays
Nov
14

Rainbow Canyon 2nd Saturdays

RSVP and SIGN VOLUNTEER WAIVER HERE

Join us for community workdays the second Saturday of each month.

Address: Closest address is 310 W Ave 45, Los Angeles, CA 90065

The pedestrian entrance to Rainbow Canyon is off Ave 45. It is easily accessible from the "Southwest Museum" Metro A Line Stop. The plots are distributed along different areas of the lower canyon. 

Partners: Test Plot, MRCA, Community Nature Connection, the Mt. Washington Alliance, CD1.

View Event →
Drop-in Gardening at Puente Hills Test Plot
Nov
14

Drop-in Gardening at Puente Hills Test Plot

  • 3301 Workman Mill Road South El Monte, CA 91733 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Drop-in Gardening at Puente Hills Test Plot. Help us weed, water, and maintain our native plant plots.

RSVP HERE

Address: 3301 Workman Mill Rd, South El Monte, CA 91733

Project website: https://www.puentehillstestplot.info/

Partners: The event is made possible by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation in collaboration with Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis (First District), the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity, Southern California Edison, Puente Hills Youth@Work Cohort, Studio-MLA, and Test Plot.

View Event →
Community Workday at Jefferson Test Plot
Nov
15

Community Workday at Jefferson Test Plot

Community workday! RSVP HERE

Come help us water, weed, layout paths and structures, clean up former mulch drop off, making use of extra logs.

Address: 1371 W. Jefferson Boulevard

Partners: Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, Redeemer Community Partnership, Test Plot Youth Fellows from Greenhouse South LA. Special thanks to Theodore Payne Foundation!

View Event →
3rd Saturdays at Ohlone Hillside Test Plot (Lawrence Hall of Science)
Nov
21

3rd Saturdays at Ohlone Hillside Test Plot (Lawrence Hall of Science)

RSVP and SIGN VOLUNTEER WAIVER

Community Workday led by our four huyyatka UC Berkeley student fellows: Saksham, Anna, Zia and Catalina.

Come prepared: Please wear closed toe shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. The hillside can be steep and uneven in places! We will have gloves and tools available to borrow but please free to bring your own. Wear a sunhat and bring layers as it can get chilly as the fog rolls in.

Closest address: The Lawrence Hall of Science, 1 Centennial Dr, Berkeley, CA 94720. 

Enter the main entrance to Lawrence Hall of Science and tell them you are here to volunteer at the hillside. You don’t need to pay admission. Walk past the planetarium and back outside to the “Dinosaur lookout.” The plot is located near the picnic tables and open during main visiting hours. 

Partners: Test Plot, Lawrence Hall of Science, Terremoto, mak-’amham, 'ottoy initiative, The Green Initiative Fund.

View Event →
1st Fridays at Debs Test Plot
Dec
4

1st Fridays at Debs Test Plot

RSVP HERE with AUDUBON CENTER

Address: Audubon Center at Debs Park, 4700 Griffin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90031

From the Audubon Center walk to the parking lot entrance and up to the right along a dirt trail (look to the right of the wider Walnut Forest Trail). The plot is 200’ up the path.

Please join us for native habitat gardening with Test Plot, Terremoto and the Audubon Center at Debs. We meet the first Friday of the month 8:30-11:30am.

View Event →
Rainbow Canyon 2nd Saturdays
Dec
12

Rainbow Canyon 2nd Saturdays

RSVP and SIGN VOLUNTEER WAIVER HERE

Join us for community workdays the second Saturday of each month.

Address: Closest address is 310 W Ave 45, Los Angeles, CA 90065

The pedestrian entrance to Rainbow Canyon is off Ave 45. It is easily accessible from the "Southwest Museum" Metro A Line Stop. The plots are distributed along different areas of the lower canyon. 

Partners: Test Plot, MRCA, Community Nature Connection, the Mt. Washington Alliance, CD1.

View Event →
Planting Day at Jefferson Test Plot
Dec
12

Planting Day at Jefferson Test Plot

Planting day! RSVP HERE

Come help us grow our garden and plant pollinator friendly plants donated from the Xerces Society for invertebrate conservation.

Address: 1371 W. Jefferson Boulevard

Partners: Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, Redeemer Community Partnership, Test Plot Youth Fellows from Greenhouse South LA. Special thanks to Theodore Payne Foundation!

View Event →
Planting Day at Puente Hills Test Plot
Dec
13

Planting Day at Puente Hills Test Plot

  • 3301 Workman Mill Road South El Monte, CA 91733 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Planting Day!! Help us add more California Native Plants to our test plots donated from the Xerces Society!

RSVP HERE

Address: 3301 Workman Mill Rd, South El Monte, CA 91733

Project website: https://www.puentehillstestplot.info/

Partners: The event is made possible by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation in collaboration with Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis (First District), the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity, Southern California Edison, Puente Hills Youth@Work Cohort, Studio-MLA, and Test Plot.

View Event →
3rd Saturdays at Ohlone Hillside Test Plot (Lawrence Hall of Science)
Dec
19

3rd Saturdays at Ohlone Hillside Test Plot (Lawrence Hall of Science)

RSVP and SIGN VOLUNTEER WAIVER

Community Workday led by our four huyyatka UC Berkeley student fellows: Saksham, Anna, Zia and Catalina.

Come prepared: Please wear closed toe shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. The hillside can be steep and uneven in places! We will have gloves and tools available to borrow but please free to bring your own. Wear a sunhat and bring layers as it can get chilly as the fog rolls in.

Closest address: The Lawrence Hall of Science, 1 Centennial Dr, Berkeley, CA 94720. 

Enter the main entrance to Lawrence Hall of Science and tell them you are here to volunteer at the hillside. You don’t need to pay admission. Walk past the planetarium and back outside to the “Dinosaur lookout.” The plot is located near the picnic tables and open during main visiting hours. 

Partners: Test Plot, Lawrence Hall of Science, Terremoto, mak-’amham, 'ottoy initiative, The Green Initiative Fund.

View Event →

Community Workday at Starr King
Oct
10

Community Workday at Starr King

RSVP and SIGN VOLUNTEER WAIVER

Address: Starr King Open Space. Closest address to the plot is 1261 Carolina St, San Francisco, CA 94107

The Starr King plots are located in the “annex” space. Look for the green painted sign that says “This is a land care project.”

Please join us for our upcoming community workday.

The Starr King Test Plot sits on a serpentinite hilltop in the Potrero Hill neighborhood of San Francisco.  This site is part of an intermittent strip of serpentinite bedrock that stretches across the city to the northwest and ends in the Presidio. Starr King, a little patch of neighborhood open space, and meadows in the Presidio, are the only extant serpentine grasslands in the city.

No bathrooms on site!

View Event →
Planting Day at Puente Hills Test Plot
Oct
10

Planting Day at Puente Hills Test Plot

  • 3301 Workman Mill Road South El Monte, CA 91733 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Planting Day!! Help us add more California Native Plants to our test plots.

RSVP HERE

Address: 3301 Workman Mill Rd, South El Monte, CA 91733

Project website: https://www.puentehillstestplot.info/

Partners: The event is made possible by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation in collaboration with Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis (First District), the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity, Southern California Edison, Puente Hills Youth@Work Cohort, Studio-MLA, and Test Plot.

View Event →
Rainbow Canyon 2nd Saturdays
Oct
10

Rainbow Canyon 2nd Saturdays

RSVP and SIGN VOLUNTEER WAIVER HERE

Join us for community workdays the second Saturday of each month.

Address: Closest address is 310 W Ave 45, Los Angeles, CA 90065

The pedestrian entrance to Rainbow Canyon is off Ave 45. It is easily accessible from the "Southwest Museum" Metro A Line Stop. The plots are distributed along different areas of the lower canyon. 

Partners: Test Plot, MRCA, Community Nature Connection, the Mt. Washington Alliance, CD1.

View Event →
CANCELLED DUE TO HEAT-Drop-in Gardening at Puente Hills Test Plot
Oct
3

CANCELLED DUE TO HEAT-Drop-in Gardening at Puente Hills Test Plot

  • 3301 Workman Mill Road South El Monte, CA 91733 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

CANCELLED DUE TO HEAT
Drop-in Gardening at Puente Hills Test Plot. Help us weed, water, and maintain our native plant plots.

RSVP HERE

Address: 3301 Workman Mill Rd, South El Monte, CA 91733

Project website: https://www.puentehillstestplot.info/

Partners: The event is made possible by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation in collaboration with Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis (First District), the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity, Southern California Edison, Puente Hills Youth@Work Cohort, Studio-MLA, and Test Plot.

View Event →
1st Fridays at Debs Test Plot
Oct
2

1st Fridays at Debs Test Plot

RSVP HERE with AUDUBON CENTER

Address: Audubon Center at Debs Park, 4700 Griffin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90031

From the Audubon Center walk to the parking lot entrance and up to the right along a dirt trail (look to the right of the wider Walnut Forest Trail). The plot is 200’ up the path.

Please join us for native habitat gardening with Test Plot, Terremoto and the Audubon Center at Debs. We meet the first Friday of the month 8:30-11:30am.

View Event →
4th Saturday at Ohlone Hillside Test Plot (Lawrence Hall of Science)
Sep
26

4th Saturday at Ohlone Hillside Test Plot (Lawrence Hall of Science)

Usually on 3rd Saturdays but this time on the 4th Saturday.

RSVP and SIGN VOLUNTEER WAIVER

Community Workday led by our four huyyatka UC Berkeley student fellows: Saksham, Anna, Zia and Catalina.

Come prepared: Please wear closed toe shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. The hillside can be steep and uneven in places! We will have gloves and tools available to borrow but please free to bring your own. Wear a sunhat and bring layers as it can get chilly as the fog rolls in.

Closest address: The Lawrence Hall of Science, 1 Centennial Dr, Berkeley, CA 94720. 

Enter the main entrance to Lawrence Hall of Science. You don’t need to pay. Tell the front desk you are volunteering at the hillside. Walk past the planetarium and back outside to the “Dinosaur lookout.” The plot is located near the picnic tables and open during main visiting hours. 

Parking info: Parking can be found in the two surface lots. There’s a ticket machine across the street so leave time to put the ticket in your car.

Partners: Test Plot, Lawrence Hall of Science, Terremoto, mak-’amham, 'ottoy initiative, The Green Initiative Fund.

View Event →
Runyon Canyon Climate Action Day!
Sep
26

Runyon Canyon Climate Action Day!

Climate Action Day! There will be many activities to participate in, including prepping a new Test Plot area for planting. Please join us. RSVP.

Address: 2000 N Fuller Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046, near Hollywood Boulevard. The plot is up the trail on the left near the ruins.

PARTNERS: Friends of Runyon Canyon, Test Plot, LA Recreation and Parks

View Event →
Drop-in Gardening at Puente Hills Test Plot
Sep
26

Drop-in Gardening at Puente Hills Test Plot

  • 3301 Workman Mill Road South El Monte, CA 91733 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Drop-in Gardening at Puente Hills Test Plot. Help us weed, water, and maintain our native plant plots.

RSVP HERE

Address: 3301 Workman Mill Rd, South El Monte, CA 91733

Project website: https://www.puentehillstestplot.info/

Partners: The event is made possible by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation in collaboration with Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis (First District), the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity, Southern California Edison, Puente Hills Youth@Work Cohort, Studio-MLA, and Test Plot.

View Event →
Community Workday at Jefferson Test Plot
Sep
20

Community Workday at Jefferson Test Plot

Join us for a community workday on Sunday morning, September 20th, from 8-11am. Our plots are looking lovely and have made it through their first summer. Help us continue to water, weed and get ready for more planting.

RSVP HERE

Address: 1371 W. Jefferson Boulevard

Partners: Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, Redeemer Community Partnership, Test Plot Youth Fellows from Greenhouse South LA. Special thanks to Theodore Payne Foundation!

View Event →
ASLA Tour!
Sep
18

ASLA Tour!

ASLA! Join our tour with Jen Toy, Jenny Jones, and Alex Robinson

Community Landcare in Los Angeles: Lessons from Test Plot

Tour three unique Test Plot sites in Los Angeles (Elysian, Rio and Rainbow Canyon) that showcase design through maintenance as a practical and inspiring form of land work in public parks. This experience highlights the work of Test Plot, a nonprofit supporting community-led land care, by offering an up-close look at California's incredible native plants and stewardship in action.

Includes transportation. Moderate walking.

Accessibility: Some locations are within public parks and require approximately a 30-foot walk along a trail to access. Closed-toe shoes are recommended.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Learn about the philosophy of Test Plot, and how to transform design skills into an actionable land stewardship practice.

  • Understand how to approach Design through Maintenance in public landscapes, with cost and time-effective stewardship methods.

  • Learn about how unique and diverse community partnerships can lead to more robust land care outcomes.

  • Explore Southern California's unique native ecology, including the biological and cultural value of specific species.

View Event →
Soil Building Day at La Esquinita
Sep
16

Soil Building Day at La Esquinita

View Event →
Drop-in Gardening at Puente Hills Test Plot
Sep
12

Drop-in Gardening at Puente Hills Test Plot

  • 3301 Workman Mill Road South El Monte, CA 91733 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Drop-in Gardening Day! Help us weed, water, and maintain our native plant plots.

RSVP HERE

Address: 3301 Workman Mill Rd, South El Monte, CA 91733

Project website: https://www.puentehillstestplot.info/

Partners: The event is made possible by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation in collaboration with Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis (First District), the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity, Southern California Edison, Puente Hills Youth@Work Cohort, Studio-MLA, and Test Plot.

View Event →
CANCELLED - Rainbow Canyon 2nd Saturdays
Sep
12

CANCELLED - Rainbow Canyon 2nd Saturdays

RSVP and SIGN VOLUNTEER WAIVER HERE

Join us for community workdays the second Saturday of each month.

Address: Closest address is 310 W Ave 45, Los Angeles, CA 90065

The pedestrian entrance to Rainbow Canyon is off Ave 45. It is easily accessible from the "Southwest Museum" Metro A Line Stop. The plots are distributed along different areas of the lower canyon. 

Partners: Test Plot, MRCA, Community Nature Connection, the Mt. Washington Alliance, CD1.

View Event →
Drop-in Gardening at Puente Hills Test Plot
Sep
5

Drop-in Gardening at Puente Hills Test Plot

  • 3301 Workman Mill Road South El Monte, CA 91733 (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Community Gardening Day! Help us weed, water, and maintain our native plant plots.

RSVP HERE

Address: 3301 Workman Mill Rd, South El Monte, CA 91733

Project website: https://www.puentehillstestplot.info/

Partners: The event is made possible by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation in collaboration with Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis (First District), the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity, Southern California Edison, Puente Hills Youth@Work Cohort, Studio-MLA, and Test Plot.

View Event →
1st Fridays at Debs Test Plot
Sep
4

1st Fridays at Debs Test Plot

RSVP HERE with AUDUBON CENTER

Address: Audubon Center at Debs Park, 4700 Griffin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90031

From the Audubon Center walk to the parking lot entrance and up to the right along a dirt trail (look to the right of the wider Walnut Forest Trail). The plot is 200’ up the path.

Please join us for native habitat gardening with Test Plot, Terremoto and the Audubon Center at Debs. We meet the first Friday of the month 8:30-11:30am.

View Event →
Summer Watering at Jefferson Test Plot
Sep
4

Summer Watering at Jefferson Test Plot

Help us with summer watering!

RSVP please email andre@testplot.info.

Address: 1371 W. Jefferson Boulevard

Partners: Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, Redeemer Community Partnership, Test Plot Youth Fellows from Greenhouse South LA. Special thanks to Theodore Payne Foundation!

Funders: EJ Ready, Liberty Hill Foundation

View Event →
Summer Watering at Jefferson Test Plot
Aug
23

Summer Watering at Jefferson Test Plot

Help us with summer watering!

RSVP please email andre@testplot.info.

Address: 1371 W. Jefferson Boulevard

Partners: Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, Redeemer Community Partnership, Test Plot Youth Fellows from Greenhouse South LA. Special thanks to Theodore Payne Foundation!

Funders: EJ Ready, Liberty Hill Foundation

View Event →