A Sense of Community
Bringing home delicious, protein packed insects! It takes about 300 insects a day to feed the fledgling bluebirds.
– photo Douglas W. Tallamy — from his front steps!
Ever since entomologist Doug Tallamy awakened me to the critical connection between native plants and native insects, with his book, Bringing Nature Home, a new, fascinating world has opened up. Without hesitation, I can say Doug has inspired me and changed the path I’ve taken in environmental filmmaking.
I am thrilled to be producing Hometown Habitat, a documentary that focuses on Doug’s research and insights and expands to profile other individuals and organizations who are working to create diverse, native habitats and change the unproductive culture of lawn based thinking.
We are in the final stretch of field production, with only a handful of pick up shots needed. Our last day of shooting will be October 21st to film the one millionth tree being planted in NYC for the Million TreesNYC campaign.
Meanwhile, we are editing -the fun part- as we weave together these inspirational stories of ecosystem healing!
Ever since entomologist Doug Tallamy awakened me to the critical connection between native plants and native insects, with his book, Bringing Nature Home, a new, fascinating world has opened up. Without hesitation, I can say Doug has inspired me and changed the path I’ve taken in environmental filmmaking.
Soundman Rick Patterson & I film Prairie Crossing developers George & Vicky Ranney as they walk the prairie trails with consultant ecologist Steve Apfelbaum. The model, conservation development celebrated 20 years in August! – photo Sarah Ranney
I am thrilled to be producing Hometown Habitat, a documentary that focuses on Doug’s research and insights and expands to profile other individuals and organizations who are working to create diverse, native habitats and change the unproductive culture of lawn based thinking.
We are in the final stretch of field production, with only a handful of pick up shots needed. Our last day of shooting will be October 21st to film the one millionth tree being planted in NYC for the Million TreesNYC campaign.
Meanwhile, we are editing -the fun part- as we weave together these inspirational stories of ecosystem healing!
Here we are editing Doug Tallamy’s script as he talks about the unbelievable task birds have of bringing home the “bacon” to their nestlings. “They will bring back to the nest between 390 and 570 caterpillars every day and they do that between 16 & 18 days. So that’s between 6000 and 9000 caterpillars that are required to make one clutch of chickadees.”
As I look back at the last year and a half of developing this documentary and filming across the country, there is a thread that runs through all the stories. That thread is a sense of community.
In pouring rain, volunteers plant trees in Soundview Park, Bronx, NY as part of New York City’s plan to plant one million trees in 10 years. They are two years ahead of schedule! – image from Hometown Habitat
Individuals are making a big difference “healing the Earth one yard at a time”. And even more exciting is that those individuals are joining with neighbors, city agencies, businesses, schools and churches to form a significant force, an army of Habitat Heroes!
Volunteer residents at Cherry Creek 3, a 250 unit town home community in Denver, finish wildscaping unit fronts with native and adapted plants. – photo Catherine B. Zimmerman
Since 2011, Todd Crail and his Toledo University, student army of Habitat Heros, have hand cleared invasive Buckthorn from Irwin Prairie State Nature Preserve. Using only loppers and saws they helped restore 20 acres of prairie in by-monthly Department of Environmental Sciences Service Learning days. – photo Catherine B. Zimmerman
Students at West Hialeah Gardens Elementary School, Dade County Florida, plant a tree with EcoArtist Xavier Cortada in an Earth Day observance. – photo Catherine B. Zimmerman
Fundraising is ongoing. With generous donations from native plant enthusiasts everywhere, we are half way to our goal of $176,000! We critically need the help of individuals, nurseries, native plant societies, master gardeners and environmental groups to complete this film and get the message out all over the country. That message, by planting native plants, each individual has the power to conserve resources, manage storm water, restore habitat for wildlife and bring beauty to their patch of earth and their hometowns.
Please join our team with your donation and be the first in your community to screen Hometown Habitat in 2016!
With gratitude,
Catherine & Crew
Hometown Habitat
