How did you get involved with the land trust?
I wanted to work in conservation in some way. I was doing consulting… but I wanted my main focus to be in conservation, although I don’t have direct training in restoration ecology. I’m always trying to learn something, and this is what I want to learn.”
What is your favorite part about working here?
“I really like the opportunity to keep learning and to meet really interesting people… I’ve been really interested in the recovery of the city since I moved here almost 30 years ago. That was initially my interest in Gardens Buffalo Niagara because that is part of that work too. The whole recovery from an industrial past is what I’m really interested in, and being able to learn about it and take part in it is really awesome. I really love putting together the speaker series and getting to know people in different ways… It’s been a lot of fun.”
How do you stay motivated?
“It’s really good work, and it’s really important. It impacts everything. In terms of the work we do specifically, we protect and restore vulnerable land. It’s land that’s been made vulnerable by the legacy of industry and all the people around it are the most vulnerable people… everybody deserves a clean and beautiful place to live, and it shouldn’t have to depend on somebody’s income.”
What is the significance of the place you chose to meet?
“This is my home! I love this place… When we moved here, there was absolutely nothing growing…This back yard was just compacted clay–it was my son’s soccer field… What I wanted to do is what we call ecological gardening, and that’s basically native gardening or pollinator gardening with an even more intentional focus with being part of a larger ecology. One of the things I love most about this area is its ecological importance… I’m inspired by the NWF Habitat Project and Doug Tallamy’s Homegrown National Park. We have so many acres of lawn and it has absolutely no ecological benefit. It’s a monoculture and it supports nothing, but it also requires an awful lot of energy and chemicals to maintain. So the idea is that we would create all this habitat in our backyards, and it would eventually connect to other local habitats… between me and my neighbors we have actually provided a couple acres of habitats… The monarchs have to dip down in a number of places before they get to Mexico! It’s a long trip!… If we could have all of these spaces intentionally planted then we are actually providing habitat. That’s part of the idea behind it, but also it’s just really cool!”
What is your favorite season?
“I like them all, but I do like Summer best because I just really like being outside…This is the best place in the world to be in the Summer.”
What is your favorite outdoor activity?
“I love hiking and camping. I like paddling, but don’t do enough of that at all. I like riding my bike… just going for walks. I love to work in my garden–I do that about an hour or so a day.”
If you could have a super power what would it be?
“I was actually just thinking about Wonder Woman’s lasso of truth… I love Wonder Woman. I would want to adapt the lasso of truth so that it also makes people comfortable with that truth.”
