In this Edition
- Upcoming Events
- On-going - Volunteers Needed for Gardening
- News
- Chesapeake Healthy Landscapes Program
- Why Healthy Landscapes in Your Yard Matter
- June Recap
- Fall Preview
Upcoming Events
On-going Volunteer Activities
Tasks include regular weeding and other garden work. Some of the work involves small group events during the week. Once orientation is completed, some work might be on an individual schedule.
Chesapeake Healthy Landscapes Program
To be recognized, they are looking for commitments to Protect Your Trees, put the Right Plant in the Right Place, Consider Wildlife, Reduce Lawn Maintenance, Reduce Runoff, Avoid or Remove Invasive Plants, and Limit Chemical Usage. Learn more and sign up at Chesapeake Healthy Landscape Program | Chesapeake, VA
We're hoping that the Indian River will be the top area for sign-ups in the Chesapeake.
Why Healthy Landscapes in Your Yard Matter
Bird populations are down 30% since 1970. Butterfly abundance is down 22% since 2000. Half of all native bee species are in decline and a quarter are in danger of extinction. Human-caused habitat loss and climate change are the primary causes of these declines. People have transformed nearly all the land of the eastern US by cutting down trees and converting land to farms, cities, and suburbs. We've replaced entire native ecosystems with cropland, lawns, ornamental plants, and asphalt that provide little value to wildlife, especially the insects that form the central layer of the food chain.
This is where you can make a difference. There are nearly 44 million acres of lawns across the US. The "well-kept" lawn sold by the lawn care industry is a burden on nature and homeowners' time and money. Lawns provide practically no benefits to nature while needing constant mowing, watering, and application of herbicides and pesticides to keep out "weeds" and "pests".
This doesn't mean you need to run out and start tearing out your lawn tomorrow. But every native plant added helps. Start small, perhaps planting a few pollinator-friendly native plants. Make a plan and add to your garden over time. Think about steps you can take to make your yard more wildlife-friendly, like adding a water source for birds, setting aside a brush pile, or just leaving more leaves on the ground in the fall. (Leaves provide an important habitat for many overwintering insects including fireflies). Set aside space where you can enjoy your garden and watch as it comes to life. Plant SEVA Natives — Plant Virginia Natives is a great starting point for learning about native plants.
Want more information and advice? The Chesapeake Healthy Landscape program has a ton of great tips and advice to share when you sign up at the link above.
June Recap
Later in the month, Five volunteers braved the late June heat to help with our Adopt-A-Road cleanup. We collected about 120 lbs. of litter, including a large bag of aluminum cans that we'll take to the Chesapeake Animal Services aluminum collection bin.
A big thank you to everyone who came out to help!
Fall Preview
In September, we'll resume our regular event schedule with
- Saturday, Sept. 13, Second Saturday Hike at Indian River Park
- Thursday, Sept. 18, Bi-Monthly Meeting with Christina Trapani from Clean Virginia Waterways
- Saturday, Sept. 20, International Coastal Cleanup volunteer event.
We're still finalizing the fall schedule, but it will include more hikes, cleanups, and gardening at the park. For our November meeting, we invited Council Member Pat King to speak to our group. And we'll plan a holiday get-together for December. Stay tuned for more details in our September newsletter.
Have an idea for an article for our newsletter? Send your submission, max 250 words, to us at info@friendsofindianriver.org along with a photo and we'll consider it for our next edition.
