You are invited to join fellow tree lovers in a rapid forest building workshop, facilitated by Elyse Jurgen, ecological gardener and educator. Explore the experimental restoration technique called the Miyawaki Method by being hands on in the planting of over 300 native tree and shrub saplings of 13 species, including Spicebush, Oak, Redbud, and Serviceberry.

The Miyawaki Method, originated in Japan by acclaimed ecologist Akira Miyawaki, has demonstrated 10 times the growth rate of conventional tree plantings, even in challenging urban conditions. As a result, a multitude of ecological functions are more rapidly realized, such as:

• Carbon sequestration to combat climate change

• Building biodiversity

• Providing supportive habitat for wildlife

• Growing botanical medicines and edibles

• Capturing stormwater runoff

• Regenerating soil health

• and more!

Gain the skills and confidence to apply the process practiced on site at Homefields to your next home lawn conversion project or a shared community space.

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Elyse Jurgen, owner of Waxwing EcoWorks Co., is a community collaborator working to rebuild ecological literacy and biodiversity through hands-on ecological gardening experiences in Lancaster/York County, PA.

She is certified as a Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional and Ecological/Permaculture Designer, along with earning an Ecological Gardening Certification from Mt. Cuba Center. In addition to her ecological design skills, she has a Master’s Degree in Environmental Education, 7–12 Biology Teaching Certification, and participated in Cornell University’s Civic Ecology program.

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Thank you to Lancaster Community Wildlife Habitat and Lancaster TreeTenders for their generous native tree and shrub seedling donation to make this workshop possible. Each participant will also receive a freebie take home tree or shrub of their choice!