Maintaining Manhattan: A Guide to Ecological Conservation

Challenging, Confusing, Courageous. All words to describe conservation at home. There are many articles and social media posts constantly telling us things we’re supposed to do to help the planet, most of which is contradictory and occasionally condescending. So how are we supposed to know what to ACTUALLY do? What can I do where I live? What opportunities are actually around me? Hopefully this article will provide some guidance and reassurance as we all take this journey towards a more sustainable future.

On April 6th, I hosted a public Ecology Fair hosted at the Manhattan Park District’s Round Barn Farm. In attendance were also the Possibility Place Native Nursery Inc., Illinois Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists, and a Natural Resource Education Specialist’s team from Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.

The event focused on addressing and educating the public about different aspects of local ecology, as well as empowering people to make a sustainable and meaningful difference. From learning about the soil, what makes it unique, and plant hardiness zones, visitors learned about the local area along with resources we have to support them in their journey.

Do you want to add native biodiversity to your yard? The Will County Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists are an amazing resource, with educational information, programming, and events to help teach people about how to do things like compost and build native habitats right in your own yard! Being the Will County Office, they specialize in our area and will be able to help with any specific questions. Another great resource are local plant nurseries that specialize in local native plants. One specific establishment that was present at the Ecology Fair is the Possibility Place Nursery Inc., who specializes in growing native pollinator plants and others that promote local biodiversity. The Possibility Place Nursery is also offering more days open to the public than previous years, and will be in attendance at many pop up sales. Their knowledge can help pick the perfect plants for your area.

Are you looking to learn more about the area you live and which plants will be the most successful (and also less work)? The USDA uses decades of research to determine different “zones” of the US depending on extreme temperatures each year in their Plant Hardiness Zone Map, where you can even search your specific zip code. The Xerces Society is also an incredible resource, offering guidance on specific pollinator plant lists for your area, and information on supporting beneficial insects such as pollinators and beneficial predators that will keep your garden pest free!

Do you need a way to engage your kids and help them learn about the environment around them? The Manhattan Park District has your back! They offer kids summer camps focusing on outdoor activities and education, while making friends!

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is an amazing resource for conservation education, preservation, volunteer opportunities, and just beautiful scenery for outdoor recreation. With so much to offer, visitors are welcomed to enjoy some of the prairies' unique opportunities. These could include walking the trails, visiting historic bunkers, seeing wild bison where they are protected, and volunteering in so many ways that all help the environment. They also offer amazing engagement opportunities just for kids!

Throughout the preparation and organization of the first Manhattan Ecology Day, I discovered so much about our local organizations and the resources available to us, right in our backyard. Though it can be difficult to see the impact and presence of some of these conservation organizations have in our daily lives, they are so impactful on the world around us and the future of our area.

Manhattan Park District Camps: https://www.manhattanparks.org/camps
Will County Master Gardeners: https://extension.illinois.edu/gkw/will-county-master-gardeners
Possibility Place Nursery Inc.: https://possibilityplace.com/
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/
Xerces Society: https://xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/pollinator-friendly-plant-lists