Dr. Christine Hatch, UMass professor, UMass Professor of Water Resources and Climate Change, talked about how many of beavers’ landscape alterations result in ecosystem enhancement, rather than degradation, and asked if we would benefit from co-existing with them in our densely populated landscapes.  Click HERE for a video of her talk and more, February 2026.

Kate Cholakis, Landscape Architect, explained how we can analyze and manage water in our yards and community by encouraging water to soak in rather than run off, by planting native habitat, shrinking our lawns, building rain gardens and more. These actions will help clean storm water, replenish our aquifers, support the water cycle, add beauty, and help restore our climate. Click HERE for a video of her talk, handouts, about Cholakis and more, March  2026.

Martha Gach holds a PhD in ecology and evolutionary biology. She worked at Mass Audubon for over 25 years. She asked the question “Do you want to attract and support birds?”   If yes, she then challenged and invited everyone to choose native plants to create an environment that does just that.  Attendees took home specifics as well as general principles that can be applied to a variety of spaces from patios to parks.   Click here for a video of the presentation, and hand-out here.  January, 2025

Greenfield’s own Pat Serrentino holds a Masters degree in Zoology from the University of Rhode Island, and has extensive experience in wildlife ecology and management, habitat restoration and public education. Pat focused on the actions that residents / homeowners can take to not only attract birds to their yards, but also keep them safe and healthy. She talked about supplying water and bird houses, how to prevent birds from striking windows, and urged us to avoid using pesticides.  Click here for a video of the presentation,  February, 2025.  Pat’s extensive bird resource list here.  

Susan Smith Pagano, Ph.D. Professor of Biology at Rochester Institute of Technology with research focused on the role of diet for migrating songbirds at stopover sites in the Northeast.   Her research indicates native fruiting shrubs provide more of what birds need and when they need it.  Her conclusion: If we want to support birds, we need to incorporate a variety of native plants that produce calorific, high-fat, and antioxidant-rich berries during migration. Click here for a video of the presentation, March, 2025, Hand-out here. 

Susan Pagano, Spring 2025

The first two parts of this three-part beautiful documentary film by John Feldman was viewed. It explored how life on our planet came to be. The documentary revealed fascinating insights into the role of water and plants in nurturing and balancing pathways to restore biodiversity and our climate.    Click HERE to rent or buy the films.

• Water Cools the Planet Part 1, February, 2024. 
• Life Sustains the Climate Part 2, March, 2024.

Rachel Lindsay, Ecologist and Designer, Regenerative Design Group presented ways to protect soil health and increase climate resilience at home and beyond.  She introduced us to the 2023 Massachusetts Healthy Soils Action Plan, the first statewide comprehensive plan of its kind that addresses non-agricultural soil management. Click here for a video of the presentation. April, 2024.

• A Chickadee’s Guide to Gardening, a talk by Doug Tallamy hosted by the Athol Bird and Nature Club and the Brookline Bird Club.  Doug is an entomologist, author, photographer, co-founder of Homegrown National Park.
• Wild by Design, The Rise of Eco-Restoration (60 min) Ecologist, historian, and author, Laura Martin, PhD introduces her book by this name.
  Successful eco-restoration stories:
• A Hundred Thousand Beating Hearts   (18 min) Fourth generation cattleman in Georgia, Will Harris, shares his journey to a humane food producer, and farmer of the soil, not cattle!
• Miyawaki Forests: Spreading resilience one pocket forest at a time (60 min) Maya Dutta of Biodiversity for a Livable Climate shares slides of planting Miyawaki mini-forests in Boston, and explains why these forests are special.
• Taking Root: The vision of Wangari Maathai, Kenya (60 min) PBS documentary 2008. Inspiring story of Wangari Maathai’s efforts to empower women to plant trees and restore areas “desertified” by colonial practices.

Lawns to Meadows, talk by Ecological landscaper and author , Owen Wormser, April 2023

Living with Nature, David Small, naturalist, Athol Bird & Nature Club, shared his thriving yard, home of insects, birds, and salamanders! March 2023

Turning a Barren Lawn into Thriving Habitat, talk by naturalists Charley Eiseman and Julia Blyth

Desiree Narango, Spring 2019

Nature’s Best Hope,  Doug Tallamy, PhD, behavioral ecologist professor, U. Delaware and author presents big picture thinking about what we need to do in our yards and communities.

A (Virtual) Walk in the Garden, with Rebecca McMackin, Director of Horticulture at Brooklyn Waterfront Park, who guides the tour presenting information all about plants and what they do to attract bees.

Climate Change, Conservation, and the Role of Native Plant Horticulture,  Jesse Bellemare, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, Smith College, and Current president of the New England Botanical Club. He explores the idea of “assisted migration,” and his research with umbrella leaf.

We’d like to express our gratitude to Grow Native Massachusetts and the Ecological Landscape Alliance for their work and hosting these talks.

Greenfield Public Trees, “Taking Stock and Planning for Our Future,” with the Greenfield Tree Committee.

Birds, Insects and Plants:   Sustaining Healthy Food Webs with Keystone Plant Species, a talk by Meredith Gallogly, Manager of Programs at Grow Native Massachusetts, takes a deep dive into the ecological links between birds, caterpillars, and native plants, and what we can do to support this system while adding beauty to our yards and communities.  Meredith’s handouts, March 2021 for GG

70% Native Plants: trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants count! Check out “WHY” this campaign, watch video by Dr. Desiree Narango, find plants to support our birds, butterflies, bees and more! Feb 2021 – new GG campaign launched.

Where the Wild Things Are: Native Plants for Pollinators, a talk by Dan Jaffe Wilder and a film on how building soil health helps reduce the climate crisis by sequestering carbon.  Kiss the Ground, Jan 2021 is suggested viewing while sequestering. Watch anytime! Hope for the Wild is a talk by Doug Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home, The Living Landscape, and Nature’s Best Hope.  He presents a new approach to conservation that starts in your yard. He shares stunning photos he took in his yard, and fascinating stories of moths, birds, and butterflies and more.

Gardening For Wildlife: Why Native Plants Matter To Pollinators & Songbirds– Dr. Desiree L. Narango, research scientist kicked-off the weekend with a talk about her latest findings on what to plant to bring pollinators and birds to your community.