It is through an anonymous benefactor that this class was offered at no cost.

Have you heard the news about dwindling bee and bird populations and feel inspired to take action, but don’t know where to start? A solution to rebound these critical wildlife populations rests right in your backyard! In this workshop, gain the basic native garden skills and hands-on experience of converting a section of lawn into viable habitat to support critical wildlife species. This workshop will give you confidence to put the skills to work on your own property or community space.

The first half of the workshop explored the fundamentals of ecological site prep and plant placement, based on the plant species’ sociabilities (growing pattern and organization) to create a native garden design on the Homefields farm property. The remainder of the class was a hands-on installation of the group’s crafted native garden design.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Elyse Jurgen, owner of Waxwing EcoWorks Co., 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.