Making a Difference: Spotlight on Volunteer Antonio Sanchez

Antonio has generously dedicated his time, expertise, and resources to support Heart of El Rio (HERO) in building the capacity to provide native and drought-tolerant plants to our community. Recently, we had the privilege of interviewing Antonio about his passion for native plants and his vision for his work with HERO. Read on to learn more.

When did your interest in native plants begin?

Antonio Sanchez, Rancho Sierra Vista Native Plant Nursery

Antonio’s passion for native plants began over 20 years ago while studying sustainable agriculture practices. During his studies, Antonio struggled to understand how a truly sustainable system could rely on vast amounts of water and imported fertilizers. This led him to explore the ways in which some Indigenous populations in California thrived without the use of agriculture, "it just kind of blew my mind that you could have such a large population with no agriculture," he recalls. Another defining moment came when he experienced the sacred use of white sage in a spiritual setting. These inquiries and experiences ultimately sparked his deep love for California’s native plants—a passion that has only grown stronger over the years.

How did you learn about native plants and how do you share your knowledge with others?

What started as curiosity has evolved into both a profession and a personal journey. Through years of observing native plants and their life cycles, Antonio has gained insights into their resilience and ability to thrive with only what nature provides. His enthusiasm for these plants is contagious, and he loves using his wit and humor to share his knowledge with others. Antonio has subsequently spent over two decades working in various capacities at California’s largest native plant nurseries, as well as owning his own nursery in Ventura where he helped to make native plants accessible to the public when there were very few options. Antonio currently runs the Santa Monica Mountains Fund Native Plant Nursery in Newbury Park. He also continues to educate and inspire through his public classes, which blend humor, amusing analogies, and knowledge — making them a must for anyone who likes to have fun and is eager to learn about native plants.

Sage Against the Machine performing at The Broad in Los Angeles on March 22, 2025

As if that weren’t impressive enough, Antonio is also the lead singer of Sage Against the Machine—a band as passionate about native plant advocacy as it is entertaining. With hits like Kill Your Lawn and California Poppy Chulo, they bring an unforgettable mix of humor, music, and environmental activism. And we can’t get enough of it!

How did you get involved with HERO?

Antonio met Sylvia Ontiveros, founder of HERO, during one of his classes at Community Roots in Oxnard. As they talked, they discovered a shared vision for enhancing El Rio, particularly by promoting native and drought-tolerant plants. Their conversation also revealed an unexpected personal connection—Sylvia had grown up in El Rio just across the street from the home where Antonio’s paternal grandparents raised their family. Although his grandparents and father have passed, the family’s roots in the neighborhood remain strong. His uncle still lives in the original family home, while his aunt resides nearby in a house on Corsicana that once belonged to his grandparents. This connection created an instant bond between Antonio and Sylvia.

What do you hope the organization will achieve in the near future? In the long term?

Through his volunteer work with HERO, Antonio hopes to help make native and drought-tolerant plants accessible to everyone in the community. “Right now, these plants are really expensive, and I’d love to see them available for free or at a low cost. When you give someone a native plant you’re giving them the past and the key to the future and that’s huge,” he says.

Looking ahead, in addition to seeing less graffiti, more murals, and dedicated native plant strips, his ultimate long-term vision would be to establish a community nursery where school-aged children can learn about native plants firsthand and grow them for their families so that they too can learn about them. He believes that El Rio was once rich with these plants, and by restoring them, the community can reconnect with its natural environment while educating future generations about the importance of native ecosystems. “And then, our community starts to look like it did almost 150 years ago,” says Antonio.