Our group, Garden On, started in the spring of 2019. We had originally been tasked to upgrade the existing gardens. With the reconstruction of Shore Drive and the additional space to the church grounds, we will now have a rain garden!  

Two members of our group, Carole Howe and Leo DaSilva, have a passionate interest in native plants and encouraged us to landscape with them. One of our goals is to share with you the advantages of native plants. The following is a question and answer format between Ruth Silver and Carole Howe.

R: Carole, would you briefly explain the difference between native and non-native plants?   

C: Native plants naturally occur over thousands of years in specific regions of the world. They evolve to the local conditions, climate and wildlife.  New England natives are plants that thrived here before the  European settlements.  

When the Europeans arrived, they brought their plants with them. These plants are called non-natives, also commonly called exotics or introduced natives.

R: Why are you advocating for native plants?

C: One of the most essential reasons is that they promote biodiversity. 

Native plants co-evolved along with their native pollinators. For example, plants developed toxins to protect themselves from being eaten. Co-evolving insects developed immunity to the toxins. Both plants and pollinators evolved to increase the chance of being pollinated which leads to blooms which results in food. They do this by creating healthy ecosystems.   Native plants support a greater insect diversity which is crucial for our food supply.

To be simplistic about it, natives belong here!  And such is the interdependent web of life.  

Next week: Natives do not require commercial fertilizers and pesticides!

A message from Carole’s sister Gail:

Hi,

Carole Howe’s sister Gail writing to you from beautiful Ontario where I have been living for over 15 years. During that time, I have worked to create fabulous native plant gardens where once there was barren lawn.

UUCW was an integral part of my childhood through adulthood and it pleases me immensely that our church is going native. What a fabulous opportunity to model beneficial lawn designs.

I have witnessed first hand the benefits of going native as I observe  an increase in numbers and diversity of wildlife in my own urban yard. Plus, I find that native plants are much less demanding in their care and needs!

Do you have questions or comments?  Send them to Garden On and we will answer them. 

Garden On members: Betty Jenewin, Carole Howe, Leo DaSilva, Jan Cutman, Melissa McKeon, Kim McCoy and Ruth Silver  

The post Garden-On Committee News – March 2, 2021 first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

From Carole Howe, Garden-On Committee Native Plant co-chair:

Neonicotinoids: “The Insect Apocalypse is Now, and Extinction is Forever.” (Northeast Organic Farming Associaion, NOFA)

This morning I went to Jed’s Hardware to research garden hoses for UUCW Garden-On Committee. There, I bought some daffodil bulbs. (I know they are not native, but, I love daffodils!) As usual, I asked if they are neonicotinoid-free. The young clerk replied, “I don’t know and honestly I don’t know what that is!” Taking the opportunity of this teaching moment, I explain that it is a toxin put in plants; it becomes systemic, travels to the pollen and nectar, kills our insects and can stay in the soil for several years retaining its toxicity. She thanked me for the information as her eyes glazed over.

I bought my daffodil bulbs because they are from Holland and the EU has banned the use of neonicotinoids. The daffodils are safe for my insect pollinators.

Like most folks, I haven’t always been able to plant safe plants or bulbs in my garden. Trying to amend the soil and plant some natives this spring, I found an old plant tag buried in the soil and when I cleaned it off I was shocked to read “This plant has been protected from aphids, white flies, beetles and mealy bugs and other unwanted pests by Neonicotinoids” as if that was something to be desired!  “These pesticides are approved by the EPA.”

More than ten years ago, I learned that neonics are responsible for the death of pollinators; without pollinators, no food can grow. Neonicotinoids are not choosy—they kill both harmful and beneficial insects by attacking the nervous system. Wanting to avoid neonics, I began to ask at every nursery I frequented if they sold Neonicotinoid-free plants. No one knew what I was talking about.

However, we are making progress! I don’t find that kind of tag on any plant I buy now, but there is much to do. Linda Morse shared this plea from NOFA.

Dearest friends of the pollinators,The Mass. state legislature is now considering which non-COVID bills it will take up before the session ends. This means that we have one more chance to ban consumer use pollinator-killing neonic pesticides before the 2-year session ends in December. Collectively we have generated many thousands of emails and calls to state legislators, resulting in broad bipartisan support, but they need to know this is still important to us now.

The Mass. Pollinator Protection Act (H.763) would ban consumer use of neonics and promote pollinator habitat. The bill has the support of over 75% of the legislature and is supported by the Baker Administration’s own recent literature review which confirmed that neonics are a significant contributor to pollinator decline.

Contact your legislators and ask them to “Pass the Mass. Pollinator Protection Act, this session!”

The insect apocalypse is now, and extinction is forever. As we’ve seen with this pandemic, our food system is already vulnerable. We must protect ALL pollinators in order to protect the food security of our Commonwealth.

Pollinators can’t wait another 2 years for the next state legislative cycle, and we know that we can’t rely on the federal government. The  EPA has massively expanded use of sulfoxaflor, a new neonic, despite a court order banning these uses…….

Read the NOFA post on their Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/NOFAMass/posts/10164561059230392.

If you’re buying bulbs this fall, or plants next spring, consider our pollinators!

The post Garden-On Committee News – November 10, 2020 first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

“WE CAN’T SOLVE PROBLEMS BY USING THE SAME KIND OF THINKING WE USED WHEN WE CREATED THEM”              A.Einstein

When you drive by the church at 90 Holden St, take a look at the dramatic changes to the grounds being implemented by the hardworking Garden-On Committee and its essential worker bees.

Einstein, in the quote above, was addressing the dangers of atomic weapons. Here on our church grounds, we are addressing climate change and the potential disruption of our essential food chain by being responsible stewards of our small plot of earth. With our plan for a hybrid garden and landscaping that honors and supports pollinators and our fellow creatures, we hope to challenge the traditional, perhaps cherished means of beautifying and maintaining properties and work with nature.  As William Cullina, curator of the Maine Botanical Gardens, wrote, “the ethical shift from war to diplomacy, domination to stewardship has been slow…but the rewards are worth any trouble.”  

Keep an eye on The Message and other church communications to learn what modifications, small but potentially mighty, are taking place.

The post Garden-On Committee News – November 3, 2020 first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.

On Sunday, September 28th Carole Howe and I picked up 32 plants from native plant expert Ellen Sousa’s Turkey Hill Brook Farm nursery in Spencer.  This photo shows Carole, right, discussing plants with Ellen, who had just reopened after testing Covid negative.. 

The weekend of October 3-4, a bunch of us will be planting them.  

Very special thanks go to Carole, who suggested to her fellow Garden Committee members several months ago that we consider native plants, and explained to us why they are important.  Carole and I now co-lead this native planting effort.

Look for future pieces from Carole in The Message explaining the benefits of this type of ecological gardening and the changes happening in the UUCW gardens.

Yours in the interconnected web, of which we are only a part,

Betty Jenewin

Garden Committee Chair

The post Green Thumb Team News – September 29, 2020 first appeared on Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester.