Jesse Grimes

March 7, 1985 - Feb. 4, 2025

Jesse Dale Grimes was a vital member of the community. His multifaceted interests focused on improving the quality of life for people and the planet. He worked as a permaculturalist and general contractor in his business EarthCare Design and Construction. His mission was to build better habitats and save the planet from non-sustainable and predatory practices. He volunteered to restore bike trails, bike parks, river beds and taught workshops on various subjects related to permaculture, natural building, food forests, and ecological landscaping. His work can be experienced all over the area. As a child in Arizona he grew up climbing rocks, gardening with Dad and camping at local lakes. He developed an interest in BMX and all things bicycle at a young age. At 4-5 years old, he was one of the children that helped develop the computer tots program, as he was used as a tester. He tested in the top 0.01 percentile in intelligence as early as first grade. His family thought he'd grow up to be a rocket scientist, but he wanted to do good on this planet. In high school he took up surfing and was an avid surfer up and down the coast. He even got to go on vacation with his mother Darlene to Australia and was able to surf his favorite legendary surfing spots. He made lifelong friends building and restoring BMX trails while living in San Clemente, always traveling with a shovel to fix jumps. Also a member of the OC Burn Club, he taught and practiced flow arts in the local community, spinning fire at Burning Man and other arts festivals. In his 20s he attended Orange Coast community college and studied photography. His photographs of action sports were published in various magazines such as BMX magazine. He purchased a mobile home in Dana point California and with his father Randy remodeled it. Through this process, and working at the water department, he became interested in building sustainably and saving water. After escaping the 40hr work week in Orange County he took time to travel the western states and get educated in alternatives. He lived with Mike Oehler, a pioneer in Earth houses, and in Paul Wheaton's permaculture community where he built an earth berm cabin from scratch in Montana which he documented on his YouTube channel so others could learn how to build sustainably. In his 30s, he settled in the Grass Valley area and focused on spiritual growth. He was a deeply connected spiritual seeker, a curious philosopher, and poet, always teaching love for people and planet. Jesse was raised Christian, and was a believer in Christ's teachings. He was baptized at age 12 in Ahwatukee Arizona. He was an active environmentalist since childhood, and stood at the Standing Rock protests (among others) where he built a sustainable rocket mass heater for the tribes' school. Jesse was chosen by an elder, who made his transition to Spirit at Standing Rock, to lead One Earth Family, an organization dedicated to the preservation and practice of Native American traditions and spirituality. Jesse was also fearless on the stage. As a singer songwriter, he performed at local open mics and campfires. His music can be heard on Bandcamp as 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—a space enjoyed by so many across Northern California. He was also actively involved in the local disc golf community and found a local course 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. His heart was full of gratitude and love for all the support he was receiving from friends and family, he was ready to go home. Jesse passed away suddenly and inexplicably that morning in the physical rehabilitation hospital February 4th 2025 at age 39. 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 this area, especially 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. "Our days are written, but our purpose lives on." The family asks that you support local ecological restoration projects and bicycle organizations in his honor. There will be a memorial bike ride in honor of Jesse Grimes on Saturday February 22nd 11am-12pm followed by a celebration of life event at 1pm on the deck at: Harmony Ridge Market, just outside of Nevada City. Address: 18848 CA-20, Nevada City, CA 95959