Get On the Map: Be Part of the Homegrown National Park - Noel Ocen

Are you on the Homegrown National Park Map? Homegrown National Park (HNP) is the term coined by Dr. Doug Tallamy for his science-based grassroots call-to-action to regenerate biodiversity by replacing just one half of the green lawns (ecological deadscapes) of privately-owned properties. That equals 20,000,000 acres - more than all of our national parks combined.
Kalamazoo Area Wild Ones Executive Board member Noel Ocen presents an overview of the HNP project. She and a panel of chapter members speak about how they have transitioned their lawns to native plants, either recently or years ago. Join us for this exciting look into the future of restoring biodiversity into our lives and the southwest Michigan community.
Having been raised in what she calls a cement jungle (Chicago), Noel Ocen had little opportunity to experience nature or become involved in gardening at any level until fairly late in life. When she retired in 2009, she completed the Kalamazoo Master Gardener program and subsequently attended a lecture that changed her gardening focus forever. That lecturer is someone known to many of you, Steve Keto. Steve was a guest lecturer at a Master Gardener Association meeting in early 2010, and his inspirational and articulate defense of restoring native plants to the environment was the catalyst for Noel’s involvement in the native plant movement. At the same time, a personal acquaintance with KAWO, member Chris Bartley, brought Noel to Wild Ones-and the rest, as they say, is history.
presentation to Kalamazoo Area Chapter of Wild Ones, March 22, 2023
Kalamazoo/Portage, Michigan

[@stevemiller7949]

Thanks for these videos.🙂🙂🙂

[@salviabuckwheats7434]

I signed up as a new member in 2023 and never got the book. I reached out but still it was not sent. Very disappointed in case I could have learned something. I live in Indiana and figured you'd mail it for the $50 donation. I had never heard of Wild Ones and didn't know you only wanted local members. Anyway, thanks for all you do for Earth and its (biological) inhabitants. Including me: I enjoy your videos and learn from them.

[@threeriversforge1997]

I signed up for the HNP program. I'm being overrun with invasive bamboo and privet, and could use any help I could get because there's only one of me and many of them! With 15 acres already in a "natural" state, I'm sure those acres could use some help with introducing understory trees, sedges, and the like. The front 5 acres are where I'm losing the fight and there are zero resources in my area.