Posts

Centro Hispano, Madison, Wisconsin

/0 Comments/in /by
Students learned how to measure slope, take soil samples and design a site for human and wildlife use.

Students learned how to measure slope, take soil samples and design a site for human and wildlife use.

Everyone (there were over 50 participants) in the Earth Partnership for Schools institute took a break and posed for out Hometown Habitat cameras.

With support from the Earth Partnership for Schools team, participants gain the tools for bringing ecological restoration home to their schools and communities.

With support from the Earth Partnership for Schools team, participants gain the tools for bringing ecological restoration home to their schools and communities.

 

This summer institute had a Latino focus and today was all about planning the installation of a rain garden and designing a community, family friendly outdoor activity center, featuring native plants, at Centro Hispano. “Centro Hispano works to improve the quality of life for Latinos in Dane Co. by empowering youth, strengthening families, and engaging the community.” The EPS workshop had a two fold purpose. First help the center design an ecologically sound make-over of their outdoor space. Second, give the institute teachers, students and families a chance to get hands on experience doing site analysis and design using math, science, art, and critical thinking skills.  The goal, bring ecological restoration into the classroom and community!

Westward Bound

/0 Comments/in /by

We are headed to the mid-west! I am very excited AND happy for the great response yesterday to the fundraising campaign. We need $130,000 for production and we have 60 days to get there. That means every day we need to raise about $2,200. Guess what? You guys stepped up yesterday with exactly $2200! Keep up the support.

Speaking of supporters, I had a nice online chat last night with Betsy, a fellow native plant lover. Here is some of what Betsy had to say:

My husband and I created mini meadows and native plant gardens in our yard several years ago – (mostly inspired by Tallamy’s work) – but also just inspired by childhood in Vermont. and I so related to Tallamy’s story of the frogs! GREAT story! I found my own way to the love of meadows – through the bees. In 2007 I fell in love with the bees- and we got rid of grass and my husband and I planted gardens – and now our yard is full of wonderful native plants and wildlife.  Interesting timing (during our chat) we JUST this minute saw a hummingbird out by the basketball hoop!  Before we transformed the yard we never saw hummingbirds or bees. What a wondrous miracle it all is. I never get tired of watching all the action in the yard!!! Anyway – best wishes on the film – and can’t wait to see it! Hope you have safe and wonderful travels. I just am so happy that you are using your filmmaking gift to help create meadows and habitat for wildlife!!!

Now, I call Betsy, a Habitat Hero! The rest of the night, I pictured her hummingbird, in her bountiful garden!  On, to our mid-west Habitat Heroes.

6Clear_pond_Illinois

Hometown Habitat Launch!

/0 Comments/in /by

I don’t know about you, but I spent my winter and spring months dreaming about and working on my next film project. I’m a story teller, so this was a pleasant pursuit!

As I go around the country talking about changing our land care practices, reducing lawn in favor of native plants, my take away impression is, people are just not informed. It’s a matter of education, of inspiration and basic know how.

As a filmmaker of nearly 40 years, I decided to do what I do, tell a story. An important story. This is the inspirational story of people, towns, churches, organizations, and communities who are stepping up, taking the lead, being the environmental voices we need to heal the planet. You might call them Habitat Heroes!  Let their stories unfold. We begin the journey. Join us!

interesting dragonflyDSC_0184