Habitat Advocate: Green Mulch - Using Native Plants as Groundcovers

Do you find yourself in a seasonal habit of spreading wood mulch in your garden beds to suppress weeds? In this interactive workshop, learn how to kick that habit to the curb and instead nurture a new land ethic of cultivating a layered landscape by integrating native groundcovers (“green or living mulch”) in your garden. Through mimicking natural landscapes in your home garden, you truly can experience the joys of stewarding your own mini nature preserve (don’t let anyone stop you from making your own DIY hiking trail too)!

Participants will practice a hands-on to-scale plant layering technique that they can use for future planning of their home landscape.

The Lancaster Conservancy has protected over 10,000 acres of natural lands, which are critically important to supporting biodiversity. Smaller patches of native habitats spread throughout urban landscapes are also essential to creating corridors of habitat – food and refuge – for wildlife. This is why we are offering our fall 2024 Habitat Advocate Certification program at Tec Centro in Lancaster City.

The cost of the Habitat Advocate classes covers instructor fees. If the cost of this class is prohibitive, please reach out to Keith Williams, VP of Engagement and Education, at a3dpbGxpYW1zIHwgbGFuY2FzdGVyY29uc2VydmFuY3kgISBvcmc=.

Elyse Jurgen, owner of Waxwing EcoWorks Co., is a community collaborator working to rebuild ecological literacy and biodiversity through hands-on ecological gardening experiences in South Central PA. She is certified as a Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional and Ecological/Permaculture Designer, along with earning an Ecological Gardening Certification from Mt. Cuba Center. She has a master’s degree in Environmental Education, 7-12 Biology Teaching Certification, and participated in Cornell University’s Civic Ecology program.

Elyse works alongside homeowners in a participatory approach to their gardening for wildlife needs, infusing educational opportunities during the design, installation, and stewarding process. She invites homeowners to deeply engage with their land to maximize its potential in enhancing human well-being and supporting dwindling wildlife populations.

This course is open for general admission; there is no prerequisite required for this course. Learn more about Habitat Advocate classes and certification .

Attendees ages 16 and over are invited but must be accompanied by an adult if younger than 18.

Refund Policy: If you are unable to attend this event after purchasing a ticket, refund requests must be made at least two weeks before the event.

Cancellation Policy: This event will be held rain or shine, with cancellation for severe weather made at the time of the event. If the Conservancy reschedules the event, attendees will be emailed and tickets will be automatically moved to the new date. If the Conservancy cancels the event, attendees will be notified via email when possible and refunded.

Photo: Elyse Jurgen

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