Our Goal is to raise $5,000 for Giving Tuesday!
Last year we acquired a new property in Glenwood, MD called Holly Hills. Our long-term goal is to rehabilitate the land, turn it into a central hub for our organization, and expand our nursery operations. It's going to take a tremendous effort to achieve our vision. And we need your help!
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With your donation, you can help us with the development of Holly Hills.
Why Donate?
We're Building a
Better Tomorrow
Our goal is to build climate-resilient communities and promote biodiversity through conservation projects.
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From planting trees to building rain gardens, these natural stormwater management solutions protect our waterways and the Chesapeake Bay while restoring habitat.
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Additionally, we seek to restore our natural systems & protect our mature trees through invasive plant removal & forest management.
We're Creating the Next Generation of Green Industry Leaders
We develop and sustain workforce development programs, building the confidence and skills needed for success in the green industry.
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Program participants gain experience, engage in hands-on learning, develop career skills, expand their networks, and earn certifications. For many, we serve as a first job or a stepping stone into the environmental sector.
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Learn more about our programs, such as UpLift, READY, and EcoAmbassadors, on their pages.
We've Accomplished So Much and We Want
to Do More!
So far in 2025 we've accomplished the following:
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Installed 7,222 sq ft of conservation gardens.
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Planted 5,910 native perennials.
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Planted 1,040 native trees and shrubs.
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Graduated 34 program participants.
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Engaged in 98 professional development activities with our participants.​
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Engaged with 323 volunteers.
holly hills
Throughout 2024, Lori Lilly, Founder and Executive Director of EcoWorks, had worked to acquire a new property for our organization. After months of planning, fundraising, and overcoming challenges, we acquired a 16-acre property in Glenwood, MD, which we call Holly Hills!
This new property purchase allowed us to centralize our operations, expand our conservation efforts, serve as a green jobs training hub, and expand our nursery operation. We have ambitious plans for this land, and while it will require significant effort to realize our vision, we invite you to celebrate the beginning of this new journey ahead!
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Our vision includes rehabilitating the land with sustainable practices and native plants. Expanding nursery production will include greenhouses so we can grow year round. There are also plans for a central hub that will act as our office and guest center, with the ability to host events and workshops. ​
We've received so much support and want to thank the Howard County Government and the State of Maryland for grant funding that secured this property. Additional thanks to our board members, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, Brian Shepter, Felix Faccine, Senator Katie Fry Hester, Senator Guy Guzzone, Capital Bank, and Steve Miller from Cummings and Co.!
Looking Ahead
At Howard Ecoworks, our mission is to empower communities and diverse workforces to conserve and restore our natural resources for future generations.
For 2026, we aim to retrofit the house at Holly Hills into our new office space. Additionally, installing a permanent nursery with greenhouses, and continuing to manage the land for conservation and biodiversity.
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2026 will also see the expansion of READY and EcoAmbassadors to vulnerable communities outside of Howard County. Traditionally, these programs, which empower participants in the green industry through training and certification, were only offered to young age groups in Howard County. We are looking forward to including a much larger base of participants and future environmental stewards.
Thank You!
