IRVINE, Calif. - Jennamarie Genovese-Mikula came to the Native Seed Farm in Irvine to help the beautiful flowers she loves, but also knowing they’d help her, too. 

“Its nice to be able to put the phone down and breathe in the fresh air and appreciate something that’s in the real world,” she said. 

She’s had a connection to nature for as long as she can remember. 

“Both my grandfathers had gardens when I was growing up so that got me started and interested in working with plants,” she said. 

So she decided to volunteer her time for one of the Irvine Ranch Conservancy's "It’s Harvest Time" programs. Every Wednesday and Saturday year-round, people come and donate their time to help the conservancy, and in turn, Orange County as a whole. 

“We breed them in captivity like tigers in the zoo, then we take their babies, their seeds, back out to the wildland to restore areas eaten to death,” Rachel Lambert with the Irvine Ranch Conservancy said. 

Before that can happen, though, they need to clean up the 50 different kinds of grasses, bushes and flowers on this 12-acre farm. 

Jennamarie’s not alone in wanting to help do that. Wildflowers seem to be the talk of any Southern California town nowadays. 

“More people have it on their radar now. We have seen an uptick in registration more people wanting to come out and not just see the flowers, but help them do something that benefits them,” she said.

Amidst all the bodyguarding for the plants, and unplugging for Genovese-Mikula – she paused for a moment, looking around and taking it all in. 

“I hope people can feel a connection to the land,” she said. 

A connection, and appreciation, for just as we can help the land, it can help us, too.