Presenters: Urban Ecology Collective

Plants are all around us–in parks, community gardens, street tree beds, and abandoned lots. They grow up with us, endure droughts with us, and suffer hurricanes with us. We depend on each other: we plant, water, and care for them, while plants protect us from the summer heat, reduce flooding, and provide habitat and food for wildlife. The plants in our city are our neighbors, and the city is (and has always been) their home. What do we mean when we talk about “green space”? Does it matter which plants we plant? Why do some plants thrive in cities, whether on the sidewalk or in a park? What can we do to support plant life or to care for plants in a way that supports other species, from pollinators to people? Participants will learn to meet their urban plant neighbors through direct observation. The workshop starts with a demonstration of observation, questioning, and interpretation of a small area of land. Participants then perform their own observation and inference on new site, guided by the workshop facilitators. They work towards a ‘story’ of the plants’ interactions with each other and their ecosystem, and devise responsible stewardship decisions. Participants leave with a worksheet which they can use to observe communities of plants in their own neighborhoods. The emphasis of this workshop is on experiential, participant-driven learning rather than didactic instruction.