Fireflies are among our greatest ambassadors for Earth’s natural magic. Yet they hold so many mysteries! Sara Lewis will explore the science behind their bright lights and illuminate their remarkable lifestyles. Human activities have put fireflies at risk, but we’ll learn how we can all help protect these dazzling creatures. This Evening with Experts program on May 14 will be held in person at New England Botanical Garden at Tower Hill and online on Zoom. It is a Grow Native Massachusetts event. Register https://grownativemass.org/Our-Programs/calendar. Sarah is the author of Silent Sparks.
Fireflies are among our greatest ambassadors for Earth’s natural magic. Yet they hold so many mysteries! Sara Lewis will explore the science behind their bright lights and illuminate their remarkable lifestyles. Human activities have put fireflies at risk, but we’ll learn how we can all help protect these dazzling creatures. The program is a joint presentation of Grow Native Massachusetts and the New England Botanic Garden, which will host the live event on May 14 at 7:00 pm Eastern. Free and open to all. Sara Lewis is the author of Silent Sparks. To register visit https://grownativemass.org/Our-Programs/calendar
A recent report commissioned by Friends of the Earth found that the U.S. food retail sector’s use of pesticides on just four crops could result in $219 billion in financial, climate, and biodiversity risks between now and 2050. The report identified $34 billion in biodiversity risks associated with pollinator-harming pesticides. Friends of the Earth’s Bee-Friendly Retailer Scorecard shows that major U.S. food retailers are increasingly acknowledging the role pesticides play in biodiversity loss. Since 2018, thirteen of the retailers ranked on the scorecard have established policies aimed at reducing toxic pesticides in their supply chains, signaling a significant shift taking place across the food retail sector. These efforts follow a multi-year campaign led by Friends of the Earth and supported by over 100 environmental, public health, farmer, and farmworker organizations across the country. Yet, despite this promising trend, efforts fall far short of what is needed to address this massive liability. Join Dr. Kendra Klein online on April 29 at 7 pm Eastern to learn more about the findings of the report and what companies are doing. This free Zoom is presented by Grow Native Massachusetts and you may register at www.grownativemass.org
Kendra Klein, PhD is Deputy Director of Science at Friends of the Earth. She leads research on pesticides, environmental health, and sustainable agriculture. Prior to joining FOE, she held positions at Physicians for Social Responsibility, Health Care Without Harm, and Breast Cancer Action. Klein is a Switzer Environmental Fellow and her work has appeared in publications including The Guardian, The Nation, and Gastronomica. She holds a BA from Miami University of Ohio and a PhD in Environmental Science, Policy & Management from UC Berkeley.
Join Grow Native Massachusetts and Nicholas Anderson to learn about his practice of ecological maximalism, which centers on embracing abundant, charismatic native weeds to coauthor ecological succession, and transform our landscapes at the pace and urgency required to confront the joint crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. This very popular program was given in person at the Arnold Arboretum last year, and now you will have the opportunity to join online on April 24 at 7 pm Eastern. $28 for Grow Massachusetts members, $38 non-members. Register at https://grownativemass.org/Our-Programs/calendar
Jennifer Jewell, Creator and Host of Cultivating Places, will present a free Grow Native Massachusetts webinar on April 9 at 7 pm as part of Grow Native’s Evenings with Experts series. Gardeners are powerful agents of change; the landscapes we steward can impact climate change, habitat loss, and more. Jennifer Jewell will explore this power through the lens of the ecology, cultural history, and industry surrounding seeds, a story that holds both cautionary tales and guiding lights as we seek to effect positive change. https://grownativemass.org/Our-Programs/calendar
Grow Native Massachusetts is delighted to host a conversation with New York Times Opinion writer and bestselling author Margaret Renkl on April 13. We will be delving into her book The Comfort of Crows, which tells the story of the creatures and plants observed in her backyard over the course of a year.
Moving through the seasons—beginning with a crow spied on New Year’s Day, its resourcefulness and sense of community setting a theme for the year—what develops is a portrait of joy and grief. Joy at the ongoing pleasures of the natural world: “Until the very last cricket falls silent, the beauty-besotted will always find a reason to love the world.” And grief at a shifting climate, at winters that end too soon, at songbirds growing fewer and fewer.
Along the way, we also glimpse the changing rhythms of a human life. Grown children, unexpectedly home during the pandemic, prepare to depart once more. Birdsong and night-blooming flowers evoke generations past. The city and the country where Renkl raised her family transform a little more with every passing day. How can one person make a difference amid such destabilizing changes?
Exploring Renkl’s observations and themes of change, personal action, and hope, this intimate brunch chat will span topics from taking time to notice and appreciate nature right outside your door, to preserving and restoring wildlife habitat, addressing climate change, and making other difficult systemic changes in the way human beings live.
Our venue, Bull Run, is a farm-to-table restaurant and function hall situated in a historic tavern at 215 Great Road in Shirley, MA. You can enjoy their delicious brunch buffet before or during the discussion with Margaret, included as part of your ticket.
Doors open at 10 am – book signing prior to discussion. Discussion begins at noon. Grow Native members $50, public $60, including brunch. Register at www.grownativemass.org
Nicole Bell of UMass Amherst Extension will lead a special free event with Grow Native Massachusetts and Mass Pollinator Network on March 25 at 7 pm. Nicole will introduce the new pollinator program through UMass Extension, as well as talk about future goals. She is open to any and all ideas for future projects and collaborations! In addition, she’ll discuss some of her prior research on wild bees, and briefly discuss provisioning habitat for specialized pollinators. Sign up at https://grownativemass.org/Our-Programs/calendar
Learn how Sara Weaner Cooper converted her lawn into a wildflower meadow while leaving the turf in place and avoiding herbicide, heavy physical labor, and unhappy feedback from neighbors. After two growing seasons, the results have exceeded expectations enough to be featured in The New York Times in 2024. This Grow Native Massachusetts webinar will take place March 12 at 7 pm – free and open to all. Sign up at https://grownativemass.org/Our-Programs/calendar. Sara is Executive Director of New Directions in the American Landscape.
Jana Harris of Essex Forays will take us on an exploration of the vital roles fungi play in garden ecosystems and how gardeners can incorporate them to help plants and trees thrive. This Grow Native Massachusetts webinar will take place March 19 at 7 pm Eastern. Members $28, nonmembers $38. To register, visit https://grownativemass.org/Our-Programs/calendar
Love the Great Marsh, or live alongside of it? Learn how you can start making plans for your property NOW that will benefit this extraordinary ecosystem. This special workshop will be held at the @ecgreenbelt headquarters at the Cox Reservation. https://grownativemass.org/our-programs/calendar
Join restoration ecologist Zachary Navarro for unique insights drawn from New England marsh restoration projects. Through professional case studies, discover which native plant species naturally thrive in our coastal environment and why. Learn how our local marshes function as dynamic ecosystems and how residential properties fit into this bigger picture. Understanding these fundamental ecological relationships can inform simpler, more sustainable approaches to coastal property management. The presentation will explore success stories from restoration projects, key native plants, basic marsh ecology, and essential permitting considerations. After a presentation inside Essex County Greenbelt’s headquarters at the Allyn Cox Reservation, we will walk out to the adjacent salt marsh to find examples in the field.
Zachary Navarro leads Essex Horticulture @essexhorticulture , an ecological restoration firm specializing in coastal wetland rehabilitation throughout southern New England. A certified horticulturist with deep knowledge of native plant communities and invasive species management, he has successfully directed numerous large-scale salt marsh restoration projects across the region. His expertise encompasses ecosystem assessment, sustainable restoration techniques, and long-term habitat management for government and commercial clients.
