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To: Bluedot Living
From: Liz Durkee, The Martha’s Vineyard Commission
Subject: Plant Local!
Climate change and development are stressing the Island’s natural environment. One thing you can do to make a positive difference is to plant local.
Native plants are more resilient than non-native plants to extreme weather such as heat, droughts, and heavier rainfall. They require less water and maintenance. They have adapted to the Island’s soils. They play a critical role in providing food and habitat for wildlife. They’re beautiful!
Plant Local MV is a collaborative campaign to educate the public on the value of native plants. It includes an attractive and informative booklet, Plant Local Martha’s Vineyard — A Nature-based Landscaping Guide, and brochures for landscapers and homeowners in both English and Portuguese.
“The intent of these publications,” notes Timothy Boland, Executive Director the Polly Hill Arboretum, “is to assist gardeners in making successful and impactful decisions about using native plants in their home landscapes.”
BiodiversityWorks, the Vineyard Conservation Society, and the Polly Hill Arboretum developed the materials through a grant awarded to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission (MVC). The grant project, Fostering Resilient Ecosystems, was funded by the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program.
The project complements related work being done by these organizations.
Polly Hill offers a plant selection guide. The Arboretum also hosts classes and workshops on landscaping with native plants, meadow making, and maintenance. The Arboretum hosts an online native plug sale and sells native plants at the Arboretum’s Visitor Center, open every day (9:30 am to 4:00 pm) from late May to mid-October.
“BiodiversityWorks' Natural Neighbors program has been working to help private landowners transform their yards into steppingstones of habitat across the Island to increase connectivity between parcels of conservation land.” – Luanne Johnson, Wildlife Biologist and Director of BiodiversityWorks.
The Vineyard Conservation Society advocates for smaller, more natural lawns: “Our landscaping choices and the sense of stewardship that we hold for the Island are critically important. VCS has been working on this through our Vineyard Lawns Initiative which advocates for smaller lawns that are chemical and fertilizer free. This is a healthier choice for the land and water as well as our own bodies, and is a natural complement to native plantings, which are a great replacement for lawn space.” – Samantha Look, Executive Director, Vineyard Conservation Society.
The initiative is part of the Vineyard Climate Action Plan, The Vineyard Way, a detailed plan with long-term goals for the Island to achieve by 2040, including maintaining and promoting habitat health, connectivity, and resiliency. The plan development was guided by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission.
“All the Island’s natural resources are stressed by climate change and human activity. Restoring native habitats is healing. It’s something we can all do to make a positive difference.” – Liz Durkee, Climate Change Coordinator, MV Commission said.
The Plant Local MV booklet is available at the West Tisbury, Chilmark, Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs libraries, on the Vineyard Climate Action Plan website and the MVC website.
Have fun, create beauty, and help fight the climate crisis!
