How Many of Us Will Join "The Map" to Add Our Small Efforts to Build Diversity and Restore Our Maryland Ecosystem?
GFCA's Environmentalism-at-Home Group has a new email address:
environment@greaterfarmland.org
You are encouraged to join others in Greater Farmland by adding your property to the homegrownnationalpark.org map and making any small or large changes to your gardens to encourage pollinators and promote songbirds.
Be part of the GFCA movement, and you can install a small metal sign to put in your yard, indicating that it is a GFCA Pollinator Patch.
To get information or order your sign, send an email to the above address.
GFCA will pay the cost of your sign above your base $10 donation.
We are holding a competition for the artwork for the yard sign.
Submit a design for the GFCA Pollinator Patch by May 31.
It can be on paper or digital and scalable to 8"x12".
environment@greaterfarmland.org
You are encouraged to join others in Greater Farmland by adding your property to the homegrownnationalpark.org map and making any small or large changes to your gardens to encourage pollinators and promote songbirds.
Be part of the GFCA movement, and you can install a small metal sign to put in your yard, indicating that it is a GFCA Pollinator Patch.
To get information or order your sign, send an email to the above address.
GFCA will pay the cost of your sign above your base $10 donation.
We are holding a competition for the artwork for the yard sign.
Submit a design for the GFCA Pollinator Patch by May 31.
It can be on paper or digital and scalable to 8"x12".
“... what if each American landowner converted half of his or her yard to productive native plant communities?
Even moderate success could collectively restore some semblance of ecosystem function
to more than 20 million acres of what is now ecological wasteland. ”
“Every square inch of planet earth has ecological significance, even where we live, work, and play.
If we landscape these areas with plant function as well as aesthetics in mind,
we can create viable habitat where humans are, not just where humans are not.”
Even moderate success could collectively restore some semblance of ecosystem function
to more than 20 million acres of what is now ecological wasteland. ”
“Every square inch of planet earth has ecological significance, even where we live, work, and play.
If we landscape these areas with plant function as well as aesthetics in mind,
we can create viable habitat where humans are, not just where humans are not.”
Small efforts by many people can restore
pollinators and diversity.
Watch the video for an explanation of the park project.
Resources to Start on Your Own Property
A wealth of information - homegrownnationalpark.org
Get a list of native plants for our locale - nwf.org/nativeplantfinder
Here's a list of plants that support specific caterpillars, butterflies, and native moths
Get a list of native plants for our locale - nwf.org/nativeplantfinder
Here's a list of plants that support specific caterpillars, butterflies, and native moths
We can each join the Park in our own yards.
- Go to the site, homegrownnationalpark.org
- View the video “What’s the Rush?” at the bottom of the homepage
- Add your property to the national map
- Plan your improvements, large or small, to encourage the native mid-Atlantic ecosystem by any of the following:
- Planting native trees, esp. oaks
- Reducing grass lawns the easy way:
- Plant a tree in the lawn and remove the grass from under the canopy
- Plant some native plants under the tree canopy
- Use the fallen leaves to “mulch” below the canopy
- This creates a new native garden bed, where local insects can fulfill their lifecycles and birds can feed and spread seeds
- The bed can grow with the tree
- Install plants native to the Mid-Atlantic
- Go to the National Wildlife Federation plant-finder for suggestions, nwf.org/nativeplantfinder
- Many local nurseries include native plant sections for easy selection
- Buy native plants at local nature center plant sales - see list on next page
- Exchange seeds, cuttings, and seedlings with neighbors
- Add a birdbath and leave ¼ of a Mosquito Dunk in it
- Install a birdhouse suitable for native birds
- Watch your yard fill with songbirds, butterflies, and native moths