The Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space is expanding its Community Conservation program across Central Jersey, inviting more residents to transform their own backyards into thriving habitats for native plants and wildlife.
The expanded program — which now includes nine additional municipalities — will be highlighted at a Community Conservation Conference on Saturday, April 18, at Hopewell Valley Central High School.
The event will feature remarks from New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Ed Potosnak, who was recently appointed to the role by Gov. Mikie Sherrill, along with a keynote address from nationally recognized author and ecologist Dr. Douglas Tallamy.
“Environmental problems can sometimes feel overwhelming, but it’s amazing what a difference individuals can make by making small changes in how they manage their own front and backyards,” said Jenn Rogers, executive director of FoHVOS. “We’re delighted that Commissioner Potosnak will join us as we kick off our expanded efforts.”
For more than two decades, FoHVOS has worked with nearly 300 families across Hopewell Township and the boroughs of Hopewell and Pennington, helping steward approximately 3,900 acres of privately owned land. Participants focus on planting native species and reducing invasive plants to support pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.
This year, the program is expanding to include Montgomery, Rocky Hill, Princeton, Lawrence, Trenton, Ewing, Lambertville, West Amwell, and East Amwell.
The expanded model also introduces new participation tiers, offering homeowners additional site visits, planning support, and hands-on assistance. FoHVOS staff can now help convert traditional lawn areas into meadow landscapes designed to attract pollinators and improve biodiversity.
Hopewell resident Maricel Hermann, a program participant since 2015, said the transformation has been striking.
“Thanks to their steady guidance, our property is now a thriving habitat,” Hermann said. “We’re filled with joy each summer when fireflies and pollinators return in abundance.”
The April 18 conference will explore those ideas in greater depth, with Tallamy — author of Nature’s Best Hope and founder of Homegrown National Park — delivering the keynote.
“One person can do a whole bunch to revitalize the ecosystem on their property,” Tallamy has written. “You are nature’s best hope.”
Additional programming will include a workshop on backyard meadows led by ecological restoration practitioner Jared Rosenbaum, as well as a panel of local homeowners sharing their experiences.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to connect with regional environmental organizations, native plant nurseries, and landscape designers.
Timed to coincide with Earth Week, the conference will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Hopewell Valley Central High School Performing Arts Center. Registration is $49, and the first 200 attendees will receive a conservation-themed tote bag.
More information and registration details are available at fohvos.org.
