With butterfly season starting at Ellwood Mesa, the city of Goleta, Ellwood Friends, and the Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade are inviting area residents of all ages to help restore and protect the Monarchs’ winter habitat.

Volunteers will plant food sources, habitat plants, and trees that support monarchs and other local wildlife, while learning about the unique ecology of this open space.

Upcoming volunteer times are 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, Nov. 15 and Dec. 6. To volunteer, sign up at https://tinyurl.com/fp4cn8xb.

“Ellwood Mesa is one of California’s last great monarch winter homes,” the city said. “Monarch populations can fluctuate from year to year, and it’s too early to know how many will return this season. By caring for their habitat now, we can give them the best chance to thrive.”

During the hands-on restoration project, participants will be part of a larger effort to:
• Help save monarch butterflies by restoring critical winter habitat.
• Reduce wildfire risk in the Ellwood community through careful landscaping and vegetation management.
• Strengthen community connections by working side by side in a shared local treasure.
• Provide family-friendly ecological education and restoration training in a positive, outdoor learning environment.

Project goals are:
• Help save the Monarch butterflies by restoring their winter nesting habitat.
• Reduce fire risk in the Ellwood community.
• Increase community connection and engagement at this treasured local nature preserve. 
• Provide family-friendly ecology education and restoration training in a positive, outdoor learning environment.

Activities include:
• Tree planting
• Native seedling planting
• Drip irrigation system education, installation and repair.
• Invasive plant removal
• Soil regeneration