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.

A person standing in a shallow creek, pouring water from a large plastic container into the stream, surrounded by trees and natural landscape.

Me collecting samples of benthic macroinvertebrates in Putah creek as part of a lab.

Close-up of a green plant with brown and white small flowers or seed pods, some with delicate white filaments.

Anthers and pistils of a grass flower. Look for the little white dangly things hanging off of grasses in spring.

A person dressed in work attire standing on a sidewalk next to a landscaped area with shrubs and small plants, holding their hand in their pocket, and smiling at the camera.

Me at a work site in Newark, CA.

What My Clients Say

A garden with various green plants and flowers, including orange and purple blooms, surrounded by a fence and trees in the background.

“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

A garden of desert plants including cacti and succulents with off-white and green foliage, and orange flowers, in front of a residential neighborhood with multiple light-colored houses under a cloudy sky.

Unique aloe varieties provide spiky cover for lizards and insects, while sages, poppies, and buckeyes feed pollinators and mammals.

A garden area with a rock border, plants, a bird bath, and gardening tools, against the background of a teal-colored house wall with a utility box and a hose.

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.

“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

My Process

01

Free 45-min consult

A free, first-time site visit where we do a walkthrough together. We’ll discuss pain points, aesthetic preferences, and long-term goals, and you’ll get an email summary afterwards.

02

Custom Proposals

After the site visit, I will write up proposals based on our discussions and your desires. We’ll work together until the plan is to your liking, and then I’ll get to work!

03

Continued or Seasonal Maintenance

Whether it’s a large-scale project, monthly rounds of violence against Oxalis, or just a seasonal touch up, I will help you out over the long term. You will receive a custom care guide after new plantings.

I am currently unable to offer the following:

Tree work beyond simple 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.

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.

Promotional flyer for Small Steps Native Landscaping based in Oakland, CA. Features a scenic background of rolling hills and a river. Text highlights services such as native garden upgrades, designs, consultations, maintenance, and follow-ups, with a QR code and contact information including phone number, email, and LinkedIn profile.