Newtown Senior Center members recently learned about the Homegrown National Park initiative thanks to a presentation by Protect Our Pollinators (POP) Co-Founders Holly Kocet and Mary Wilson.

About a dozen people gathered in one of the center’s meeting rooms on April 10. Kocet and Wilson offered a brief introduction to POP and its mission, but really focused quickly on the upcoming kickoff event for the national grassroots effort to conservation that starts in yards as envisioned by entomologist and author Doug Tallamy.

POP and Pootatuck Watershed Association (PWA), with C.H. Booth Library, hosted a virtual presentation last month that featured Tallamy.

“He’s just fascinating,” Wilson said. “The concept is, and why it has to do with national parks is, Doug Tallamy has determined there is so much property in the United States, land owned by individual homeowners — east of the Mississippi it’s close to 88 percent. If everybody that had a lawn gave up half of their lawn — which we’re not asking you to do — but if everybody did half, that amount of acres would equal more than all the national parks combined, including Denali in Alaska, which is huge.

“It focuses on the fact that there is a lot of land in lawns, and that a lot of people put chemicals and toxins in their lawns. Even fertilizers may or may not be necessary,” Wilson said.

“Most products provide nothing for insects and bees,” she added. “It provides nothing for flying insects.”

Wilson noted that insects are in crisis. She recalled the days of driving, “when your windshield would get covered with bugs, and you’d have to scrub your windshield at least once a week.

“That doesn’t happen any more,” she said. “That’s not a good thing.”

Lightning bugs are lessening in numbers, Kocet later pointed out. She also said at least three forms of bees have gone extinct.

“We should cherish insects,” Wilson continued. “We should be rooting for them because we need them.”

The point of Homegrown National Park, she said — as well as local pollination protection efforts, she added — “is everything is connected to everything else in nature, including us.”

Kocet said many “so-called ‘green’ landscapers” will address the grass of a home, “but they don’t do anything for the soil. Soil is so important.”

Local Kickoff Planned

POP is working with PWA, in conjunction with Newtown Congregational Church and Trinity Episcopal Church, to launch the local Homegrown National Park effort. The groups are planning a kickoff event on Saturday, April 29, at 1 pm, at Newtown Congregational Church.

The event will feature Lisa Turoczi, owner of Earth Tones native plant nursery; and DEEP Biologist Peter Picone. There will also be additional information designed to educate and inspire.

Additionally, the first 50 people to arrive at the church that Saturday afternoon will be offered a free native shrub or tree.

Wilson on Monday offered tips on using “natural products as much as possible.”

In the autumn, she likes to either leave fallen leaves on the ground for a winter cover, or rake them to one area. In the spring, those leaves are compost, she said.

Both women encouraged their audience to use less on their lawn.

“It’s very important that people understand that what goes on their lawns goes down into the watershed,” Kocet said.

The program on Monday offered some suggestions for homeowners, which will also be covered further on April 29. Kocet and Wilson shared tips on what to look for, and where, when buying native plants; explained the importance of lessening night-time light pollution; and even discussed creating caterpillar pupagation sites under trees.

“This is something most of us haven’t even thought of until recent years,” Wilson said of efforts to purposely create soft landing pads below trees, or soft surfaces into which caterpillars can burrow.

Kocet nodded, and said, “Remember, no caterpillars means no butterflies.”

Attendees were encouraged to join POP, PWA, et al later this month for the local kickoff of Homegrown National Park efforts.

“This initiative,” said Wilson, “gives you a chance to take charge, to take power to do things. Homeowners have the power to protect pollinators. We can’t rely on the government.

“It’s designed for the homeowner,” she said. “You’re going to feel good, doing something positive for yourself, and your neighbors, and the pollinators that are going to visit your yard and beyond.”

There is no charge to attend the Homegrown National Park event on April 29. Registration is requested and can be done through HomegrownParkNewtown@gmail.com. Additional information is also available through that website.

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.