What can we do as a community?  What can we do at home?  On April 22nd at 6:15, North Fork environmental groups will provide practical advice on how one can transform their own yard into a glorious home for birds and pollinators, and explain why each choice we make creates a ripple effect with friends and neighbors.  The idea for this panel came from a collaboration between UUS’s Social Action Committee, North Fork Environmental Council (NFEC), and the NF Action Center.  Environmental groups here on the North Fork are: NFEC, North Fork Audobon, ReWild, and Group for the East End.

Panelists will be:

Mark Haubner, NFEC President (Moderator).  Currently working with scientists at Bio4Climate.org on several projects: screenings of “Regenerating Life”; creating nature-based solutions as alternatives to engineered structures; and bringing island-wide food scraps-to-compost as the solution to our solid waste problems.

Robin Semmen, landscape designer focused on native plants, sustainable agriculture, water conservation and composting.  Previously with the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Cornell Cooperative Extension, she holds a B.A. from Cornell and an M.A. in Landscape Design.  She currently chairs the Landscape Committee at NF Audubon Society and oversees the demonstration gardens.

Dennis Flynn, landscape designer and owner of Mossy Pine Garden and Landscape Design.   He is an Audubon-endorsed Habitat and Ecosystem Land Pro and will talk about incorporating ecologically beneficial practices especially related to maintenance in your garden.

Emily Lindback, Agricultural Stewardship Specialist at Cornell Coop since 2022, researches ways commercial growers can reduce nitrogen and pesticide leaching.  She holds an M.S. in Forest Ecology and Management and a B.A. in Environmental Science.  She has researched plant environment in Bhutan, Puerto Rico, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

Let’s change the world right here this spring in our own backyards!