Take your first steps towards a vibrant, thriving native habitat.
Small Steps Native Landscaping
About Me
Hi! My name is Jordan (they/them). I’m a recent graduate of UC Davis with a degree in plant science and ecology. I offer small-scale, ecologically sound garden work in the East Bay. I have experience with restoration and landscaping work, and I love what I do.
I have a specific interest in fire science, and can help you with designing a fire-safe and legally compliant yard.
Collecting samples of benthic macroinvertebrates in Putah creek as part of a lab.
Anthers and pistils of a grass flower. Look for the little white dangly things hanging off of grasses in spring.
At a work site in Newark, CA.
What My Clients Say
“Jordan is experienced enough to not need supervision, receptive to being taught if there are particular ways I want things done, and thoughtful and considerate enough to make sure that the work they do is consistent with my overall vision for the garden.”
-- Jeremy, Newark
Unique aloe varieties provide spiky cover for lizards and insects, while sages, poppies, and buckeyes feed pollinators and mammals.
“Jordan didn't just help me redo my yard, they changed the way I look at environmentalism and ecology, from something abstract to something I can practice with actions as simple as pulling a weed or planting a shrub.”
-- Sage, East Oakland
A neglected front bed turned into habitat for snakes and lizards: Large rocks offer spots for both basking and hiding, a native Buckwheat (Eriogonum sp.) grows to cover the ground and shade the soil, and poppies and monkeyflowers attract pollinators and other insect prey.
A beautiful young criminal makes eye contact with me as it tries to pretend that I didn’t just catch it nibbling on every fruit tree in the orchard!!!
“I highly recommend Jordan for all your garden maintenance needs. I had a blighted plant and they were willing to spend extra time on diagnosis and treatment. They also cleaned out a pokeweed mess and made my garden more fire resistant”.
--D., Berkeley
260 lbs of invasive pokeweed. Some of it was twice as tall as I am!
An American Marmot regards the survey team suspiciously as we return to basecamp.
Book an appointment!
Free first time site visit and walkthrough! You’ll get next steps and estimates from me afterwards.
45-min Initial Site Visit
Monthly Package: 2 visits/Month
Scheduled, recurrent visits to maintain your garden or new installs.
$130/visit/$260/month.
Covers most materials (soil, insecticide, fertilizer, irrigation supplies) and requested odd jobs.
Booking permitted up to 90 days in advance.
Price is for a crew of 1. Larger properties may necessitate a different rate.
For gardens and gardeners that have racked up questions, concerns, and years.
$250 covers a 90-minute, detailed walkthrough, a custom report addressing your questions, concerns, goals, and next steps, and one round of questions by email after the report is delivered.
Garden Consult and Report
One-off, 3 hour visits to properties that need us less often.
$150/visit.
Covers most materials (soil, insecticide, fertilizer, irrigation supplies) and requested odd jobs.
Additional time may be required for infrequently-visited properties, and will be billed at $45/hr.
Price is for a crew of 1. Larger properties may necessitate a different rate.
A-La-Carte Maintenance
This time is flexible and billed hourly to accommodate initial bulk cleanups, installs, and project workdays. Please schedule this with me directly!
Project Workday
Need something else, or want to discuss a pricing and scheduling scheme that makes sense for you? Please reach out and we’ll figure it out!
Other
My Services
Projects
Designs
Consultations and Reports
Green Cleanups
Planting and Repotting
Maintenance
My Process
01
A free, first-time site visit where we do a walkthrough together. We’ll discuss pain points, aesthetic preferences, and long-term goals. We will establish how I can help you.
Free 45-min Walkthrough
02
After the site visit, I will write up proposals based on our discussions and your desires. You’ll get an estimate to revise and approve, after which I will get to work!
Custom Proposals
03
You will receive an agreed-upon deliverable, such as a report, plant list, or project installation.
Deliverables
04
I am involved in the installation and maintenance of native plants and garden designs on your property. I offer recurrent maintenance as well as one-off visits.
I have one crew member who may assist me with the work to be done.
Installation and maintenance
I do not offer the following:
Tree work beyond non-climbing pruning
Extensive hardscaping, or concrete pours
Manicured lawn maintenance
Removal of bulk non-green waste (trash/junk hauling)
Thank you for your understanding.
Where Else to find me
Right now, I have pages on Nextdoor and Instagram, where I post useful and interesting information about plants, from a plant scientists perspective.
You can text me at (510) 228-1949 or email me at Jordan@smallstepsnatives.com.
You can also find me on LinkedIn, if you’re so inclined.
