Jesse Grimes

March 7, 1985 - Feb. 4, 2025

Jesse Dale Grimes was a vital member of the community. His multifaceted interests and projects focused on improving the quality of life for people and the planet. He worked as a permaculturalist and general contractor in his business Earth Care Design and Construction. He volunteered to restore bike trails, bike parks, river beds and taught workshops on various subjects related to permaculture, natural building, food forests, fire mitigation and ecological landscaping. He was the embodiment of Christ's directives to "love one another as I have loved you." And love your neighbor as yourself." As a child in Arizona he grew up climbing rocks, gardening and camping at local lakes with his Dad. He loved BMX and all things bicycle at a young age. In preschool, he was one of the children that helped develop the computer tots program as a tester. He tested as a genius as early as first grade. His family thought he'd grow up to be a rocket scientist, and originally he wanted to be an aeronautical engineer, to help people explore other planets, but he later decided to focus on this planet. Jesse was an avid surfer, and got to surf legendary surfing spots on the US West Coast and also in Australia on a trip with his mom Darlene. He climbed Machu Picchu. Jesse made lifelong friends building and restoring BMX trails while living in southern California, always traveling with a shovel to fix jumps. Also a member of the OC Burn Club, he taught and practiced flow arts, and spun fire at Burning Man and other arts festivals. He belonged to the Saddleback College Poetry Club for years and they published an anthology with one of his poems in it. Jesse's photographs of action sports were published in various magazines such as Ride BMX magazine. At 20, he purchased a mobile home in Dana point California and with his father Randy remodeled it. This experience and working at the water department made him curious about a kinder to the planet lifestyle. So, he escaped the 40 hour workweek and took a few years to travel the western states and study sustainable building practices and permaculture. He lived with Mike Oehler, a pioneer in Earth houses, studied Earthships with Michael Reynolds and lived in Paul Wheaton's permaculture community in Montana where he built an earth berm cabin from scratch and documented this on his YouTube channel. (Jesse Grimes, One Heart Fire) In his 30s, he settled in the Grass Valley, California area. He was a deeply connected spiritual seeker, a curious philosopher, and poet, always teaching love for people and the planet. Jesse was raised Christian, was a believer in Christ's teachings and was baptized at age 12. And since childhood, he was an active environmentalist. He stood at the Standing Rock protests (among others) where he built a sustainable rocket mass heater for the tribes' school. At Standing Rock, Jesse was chosen by an elder to lead One Earth Family, an organization dedicated to the preservation and practice of Native American traditions and spirituality. He performed original songs and covers at local open mics and campfires. The two albums he recorded in his early twenties can be heard on Bandcamp as: Jesse Grimes One Heart Fire. As an active member of BONC (Bicyclists of Nevada County) he volunteered countless hours to his community, using his trail-building expertise to design and build the Permaculture pump track for local kids at the 7 Hills Middle School, as well as collaborating with BONC to help create the Parliament Trail System and various trails throughout the Sierras - spaces enjoyed by so many across Northern California. He was also actively involved in the local disc golf community and found a local course to play wherever he traveled. He loved bike packing, and hiking. The cathedrals of trees and mountaintops were his church. He recently took a trip with his sister Chelsea to hike the Grouse Ridge lakes, sleeping under the stars. Jesse was always a risk taker and lived his life full on, stretching his limits and perfecting the flow, art, and skill level of every sport or project he participated in. His love for being outdoors recently brought him back to snowboarding to stay active in winter. Late January on the slopes he had a hard fall requiring back and arm surgery. After recovering from surgery he worked at getting his strength and mobility back in PT and was set to be released exactly 2 weeks after the accident. He was ready to go home to Nevada City. Jesse passed away suddenly and inexplicably that morning February 4th 2025 at age 39. He did go home that day, just not to his earthly home. His family and friends are shocked and devastated that Jesse was taken so soon from not only them, but also the community at large. He lived his short life with passion, kindness and gusto, in service, compassion and love for others. Jesse loved the Sierras and was actively looking for land to build a home near Nevada City, where he intended to stay for the rest of his life. His final donation to the watersheds of the Sierras he so loved will be his own body transformed into compost and used for restoration by the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust. “And the dust returns to the ground it came from and the Spirit returns to God who gave it.” Ecclesiastes 12:7 He is survived by his father Randy Grimes, mother Darlene Grimeswhite, sister Chelsea Wesley, brother-in-law Jason Wesley, stepparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and hundreds of friends. CELEBRATION OF LIFE EVENTS FOR JESSE DALE GRIMES On February 22nd 2025 the mountain bike community and BONC held a memorial bike ride in honor of Jesse followed by delicious barbecue and sharing of stories and tributes to him. Since Jesse already planned his 40th birthday, the permaculture community and his close friends held that birthday party for him posthumously. Delicious food was served and YouTube videos played all night of Jesse's teachings music and adventures. The Community Parked disc golf club placed a plaque and created a memorial with one of Jesse's poems entitled "Who am I" at the sight of his first Ace. (Hole in one) At hole 5 of Lost Lake Disc Golf Club in Grass Valley, CA On April 26, at the Red Spring outside of Las Vegas, there was a celebration of life event with the backdrop of the red rocks where Jesse camped and rode bikes on the trails. The family asks that you support local ecological restoration projects and bicycle organizations in his honor. __________________________________