Attendees explored how to transform a weedy patch in their piece of the planet into high-functioning wildlife habitats. This outdoor workshop helped develop the skills in:

• Common weed identification

• Ecological practices for weed management

• Ecological practices to repopulate a space into a biodiverse garden

Our collaborative planting project involved editing the herbaceous layer of the existing Miyawaki Plot (rapid forest planting technique) at Homefields, sowing early successional seeds and planting native landscape plugs, grown from volunteer Matt Dilley and KindEarth Growers.

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Elyse Jurgen, owner of Waxwing EcoWorks Co. (www.waxwingecoworks.com), is a community collaborator working to rebuild ecological literacy and biodiversity through hands-on ecological gardening experiences in South Central PA.

She is certified as a Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional and Ecological/Permaculture Designer, along with earning an Ecological Gardening Certification from Mt. Cuba Center. She has a Master’s Degree in Environmental Education, 7-12 Biology Teaching Certification, and participated in Cornell University’s Civic Ecology program. Elyse works alongside homeowners in a participatory approach to their gardening for wildlife needs, infusing educational opportunities during the design, installation, and management process. She invites homeowners to deeply engage with their land to maximize its potential in enhancing human well-being and supporting dwindling wildlife populations.