The seasons are shifting, and so is our momentum! In November, we installed conservation landscapes with hundreds of native plants and tackled invasive species across multiple sites. Plus, don’t miss exciting updates on professional training and community partnerships. Let’s dive into November’s accomplishments!
Metrics
In November we’ve:
Visited 33 project sites
Installed 1,158 sq ft of conservation landscape
Installed 492 native perennials
Installed 82 trees and shrubs
Completed 11 professional development activities
Projects
Murray Hill Community | Columbia, MD
Continuing our efforts from October, we expanded our work in the Murray Hill community by installing two conservation landscapes at the community entrance. These gardens covering 633 sq ft, were designed to enhance curb appeal and address erosion.
Our team planted 262 native perennials and 4 native trees and shrubs, including highlights like Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia), which add both ecological and aesthetic value. This project was funded by the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) grant, supporting our mission to create sustainable landscapes in local communities.
Seeds of Change Meadow | Jessup, MD
We installed a 525 sq ft “Meditative Meadow Garden” at Seeds of Change, our native plant nursery and educational center behind the Howard County Corrections Department. Funded by Corrections, the garden features 230 native perennials to support pollinators and biodiversity while offering in-mates, Corrections employees, and visitors a place for quiet reflection.
Tree Plantings with NeighborSpace | Baltimore, MD
Our crews planted 68 native trees across three community green spaces managed by NeighborSpace of Baltimore County: Dunnmore (16 trees), Greengate (26 trees), and Tollgate (26 trees). These projects build on our summer work at Ridgely Manor Park, further supporting NeighborSpace’s mission to enhance open spaces, improve stormwater management, and foster resilient community green areas.
Stream Restoration Maintenance
In November, our team maintained 8 stream restoration sites across Howard County. They focused on removing invasive plants, vines, trash, and debris, ensuring native plants have the space to thrive and support healthy ecosystems.
Professional Development and Industry Exposure
Our workforce development programs UpLift and Maryland Climate Corps offer opportunities for growth in career development through exposure, networking, and training. Additionally, we offer career development for our staff and senior crew. Here’s what they did this month:
Garden Winterization Maintenance Training: Nick Lovett, Field Technician, led our crews in learning environmental garden practices for the winter.
Tree ID Lesson #2: Zsuzsanna Cooke, Natural Resource Specialist, led our crew on a Fall Tree ID lesson which involved identifying trees with fall leaves.
Invasive Plant Lessons #1 + 2: Nick Lovett led a training focusing on invasive plant identification with all crew members.
Pruning Lesson on Shrubs and Trees: Seasonal crew learned proper pruning and maintenance techniques with Zsuzsanna Cooke.
Professional Development Day #4: Matt Hemler, Programs Coordinator, guided sessions on resumes and cover letters for seasonal crew members.
CBLP-A Lunch & Learn #3: Seasonal crew members completed their Chesapeake Bay Landscape Certificate-A journey with their final tests.
Informational Interview with GBWC: Ashley Traut from Greater Baltimore Wilderness Coalition, offered insight into career pathways for seasonal crew members.
Industry Exposure – Arboriculture in Action: Seasonal crews did a site visit to Davey Tree Expert Company, and even met with a former UpLift crew member, Alex Andrews, who is now a Plant Healthcare Technician with Davey!
Additionally, they had an informational interview with Lou Meyer from Davey about career opportunities in arboriculture.
Industry Exposure with Howard County Office of Community Sustainability: Bill Mahoney, Sustainability Project Manager at Howard County Government, shared insights into green infrastructure and career opportunities with all crews.
Merits
Outreach
Lori Presents: In November our Founder & Executive Director, Lori Lilly, gave an insightful presentation on biochar at the Maryland Monitoring Water Conference! Biochar plays a crucial role in ensuring clean water and enriching soils and we're excited to be part of the dialogue on innovative environmental solutions. Additionally, she gave a presentation with the local Howard County Rotary Club in Ellicott City.
Tree Care Webinar: Zsuzsanna Cooke led a webinar on tree care and maintenance, with support from a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust. You can view the video here.
Volunteering
On November 14 Matt Hemler led a volunteer activity with the help of Marketing and Outreach Coordinator, Elura Morris. The primary goal was to package our seed packets and seed bombs for the holidays. Volunteers got to learn more about our native seed mixes and the ideal conditions in which they grow. You can view photos from past volunteering activities here.
Fundraising
In November we launched our Giving Tuesday campaign to raise $7,500 for a water well at our new property, Holly Hills. We managed to raise 31% of our goal, with $2,335. We will continue to fundraise for this project with our Year-End-Giving Campaign. Thank you to all of our supporters!
Thank you for joining us for this month's recap on conservation, professional development, and organization expansion. We hope to see you next time in December! Enjoy the following bonus photos from our crew below.
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