5 Recommended Resources for Creating an Eco-Friendly Backyard

Thank you to everyone who attended “Birds, Butterflies, Backyard and Beyond" with Bryan Pfeiffer last Wednesday. We welcomed Bryan Pfeiffer to the Newsbank Conference Center in Chester as a part of our adult speaker series. Pfeiffer, a well-known figure in the New England birding world and co-author of "Birdwatching in Vermont", teaches writing for future ecologists at University of Vermont.

It was energizing to both see many familiar faces as well as a few new kindred spirits! We really hope everyone had a wonderful time at the program.  

Bryan expressed the wide opportunities we all have, regardless of the size and location of our backyards, to make them hospitable to birds, butterflies, and pollinators. Over the course of his presentation, Bryan mentioned several fantastic resources that may help you as you pursue your own version of ecological nirvana just outside your backdoor. 

Backyard Wildlife Habitat in Vermont
From Vermont Fish and Wildlife

Bringing Nature Home
This site supports the lecture series and book "Bringing Nature Home" by University of Delaware professor Doug Tallamy.

"Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes"
A recommended read by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West

Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
An international nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats.

Grassland Bird Conservation in the Upper Valley (.PDF)
Produced by the Vermont Center for EcoStudies

As always, we would love to hear what you thought about this program if you were able to attend; all feedback is welcome.  And suggestions for new programs inspire us so if you have ideas send them our way! 

If growing things in a nature conscious way is of high interest to you, then you will definitely want to make it out to our next speaker event this Friday, March 10th in Chester. Michael Phillips will be sharing his tips for growing healthy fruit trees and berries in a sustainable fashion. Tickets for this event are available now on our website ($8) and they will be available at the door for ($10). Please do come out; pragmatism and inspiration will meet!