Come learn, work and play with Borderlands Restoration Network this summer in the Madrean Sky Islands!  

The BRN Field School is an immersive, practical training course designed to inspire the next generation of environmental leaders in the Sky Islands.  This three week course, running July 15 - August 8, 2019, focuses on the social and ecological issues of the southern Arizona and northern Mexico borderlands region. The curriculum includes a series of integrated lectures, workshops, field trips, and hands-on learning opportunities in active projects that cover a wide breadth of topics fro technical skills in plant propagation to the foundational principles of a restoration economy.  The Field School is guided by a diverse set of leading experts from across the spectrum of agencies, non-profits, and partner organizations.

Field School participants will discuss the current challenges and opportunities of working in the US/Mexico borderlands, all while gaining a sense of place around the unique Madrean Archipelago ecoregion. The varied itinerary will include hands-on projects, lectures, workshops, field experiences, and more.

The BRN Field School topics include topics ranging from the Regional History of the Madrean Archipelago, Cultural/Ecological Perspectives of the US/Mexico Border, Seed Collection and Native Plant Propagation, Watershed Restoration and Impacts of the Border on Flows, Wild Edibles and Harvesting in the Sonoran Desert, Indigenous Food Production and Sovereignty, Sustainable Livelihoods and Ecological Restoration in the Borderlands,  Permaculture Design in Arid Regions, Economics of Restoration and Ecosystem Services, and The Intersection of Art and Ecology in the Borderlands.

For more information or to register contact our Education Coordinator, Juliet Jivanti.  Email:  EducationalServices@BorderlandsRestoration.org
​Phone Number: (520) 216-4148

​Every Monday morning a group of plant and seed lovers gathers at the Borderlands Restoration Seed Lab in Patagonia, AZ to clean native seeds that are critical for supporting habitat restoration on public and private lands across the region. You can support this great work by volunteering your time with opportunities each week!

It all starts with a seed, and when that seed is collected, usually a lot of other plant material comes with it. We use both seed cleaning machines and low-tech methods such as sieves and fans to clean the seeds of excess debris, so they can be used in restoration projects or grown out at our nursery. 

In 2019, we collected over 150 lbs of native seed, which means we need a lot of help this winter! If you'd like to find out more, please email acmount@borderlandsrestoration.org.

We are located on the Old Main campus in Patagonia at address 1 School Street, see above for more instructions.

Here is what a few of our regular volunteers have to say about our seed cleaning workdays:

"Volunteering with Borderlands is a great way to learn all about native plants. The Borderlands staff is friendly, knowledgeable and always willing to answer questions along with providing a laid back and fun environment to work in! My favorite experience while volunteering was being in beautiful landscapes collecting seeds and then having the opportunity to learn how to clean and store the seeds for future use in rehabilitating native landscapes."

"The best part about volunteering on Monday morning in the seed lab is the people.”

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We hope to see you at the seed lab soon!

Please help us extend a warm welcome to our newest staff member, Grace Fullmer.  Grace joined the Borderlands Restoration Network community as an intern this past fall, and we are thrilled that she has now joined us our first Community Restoration Program Manager.  

Grace is an Arizona native from Prescott.  Upon her return, she moved to the Arizona-Sonora borderlands to use the skills she developed while earning her BS in Environmental Biology and an MS in Conservation Leadership at Colorado State University.

Grace is working with BRN and our partner organizations to develop opportunities for border communities to connect and restore their surrounding natural environments. When she's not busy engaging with communities, you can find her our exploring the natural environments with her friends and her dog, Coya.

To learn more about our Community Restoration Program or to get involved, contact Grace at gfullmer@borderlandsrestoration.org or sign-up to volunteer on our website.

Interested in joining the BRN team?  Read through our current Job Opportunities.  Currently we are hiring a Watershed Restoration Project Manager and a Development and Administrative Assistant.