The Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS) will host its first Community Conservation Conference on Saturday, April 18, inviting residents to learn how backyard stewardship can play a meaningful role in supporting pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.
Timed just ahead of the 56th annual Earth Day, the half-day conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the auditorium of Hopewell Valley Central High School in Pennington. The event is open to the general public, with early-bird tickets priced at $39 through March 1 and $49 thereafter.
The conference will feature a keynote address by ecologist Dr. Doug Tallamy, author of Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard. A distinguished professor at the University of Delaware and founder of the Homegrown National Park initiative, Tallamy is widely known for his work on the ecological importance of native plants and the role private landowners can play in restoring biodiversity.
“Doug Tallamy has inspired thousands of homeowners to support nature through his program, Homegrown National Park—it’s just as it sounds,” said FoHVOS Executive Director Jenn Rogers. “Find a swath or expanse of your lawn and turn it into a small oasis for nature, using native plants.”
Tallamy has written that “one person can do a whole bunch to revitalize the ecosystem on their property which will then enhance their greater local ecosystem,” adding, “You are nature’s best hope.”
In addition to the keynote, the conference will include a workshop on backyard meadows led by Jared Rosenbaum, a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner and co-owner of Wild Ridge Plants in Warren County. Rosenbaum will share practical guidance on converting traditional lawns into ecologically valuable landscapes.
The morning program will conclude with a panel discussion featuring local homeowners who are actively restoring their properties, including Samantha Bean of Hopewell Township, Marian Labos of Hopewell Borough, and Alex Rivera of Ewing. Panelists will discuss their experiences and demonstrate how individual landowners can contribute to conservation through changes at home.
The conference reflects the long-running goals of FoHVOS’ Community Conservation Program, which focuses on encouraging land stewardship beyond the boundaries of preserved open space.
“For 20 years, FoHVOS has been visiting homeowners to provide advice and suggestions on making ‘lawn-to-nature’ conversions,” Rogers said. “Backyard efforts in conservation have been undervalued for years—with about 30 percent of land in private ownership, encouraging homeowners and business campuses to rethink their lawns has tremendous potential for expanding habitat, supporting pollinators, and bringing people closer to nature.”
FoHVOS launched its Community Conservation Program to extend its conservation and education mission beyond its preserves. This year, the organization is expanding the program beyond the Hopewell Valley into communities including Lambertville, Montgomery, Princeton, and Ewing. The program now offers multiple levels of participation, allowing households to choose the type and depth of support that best fits their goals.
“We are extremely proud to own or manage 2,671 acres of natural lands in the Hopewell Valley for the benefit of nature and the public,” said FoHVOS President Judith Karp. “At the same time, we recognize that this represents only a small portion of the Valley, which is why helping residents and organizations become better stewards of their own lands is so important.”
In addition to educational programming, conference attendees will have opportunities to connect with fellow residents and meet representatives from local nonprofits and companies offering services and information related to land restoration and conservation.
The full conference agenda and ticket information are available at fohvos.info/event/cc-conference/. Additional details about the Community Conservation Program can be found at https://www.fohvos.info/.
