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This month's newsletter contains multitudes. Please read on for recaps of March events and news of events to come. Since we have added many new newsletter subscribers, we thought it would be useful to include a little introduction to what we do, in the form of an FAQ prepared by our board treasurer, Angela.
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Remember that we are the ones who can respond to the biodiversity crisis. Right now.
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There is so much we can do together for pollinators. I hope to see you soon!
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Frequently Asked Questions
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About Journeywork
We're a southeastern Pennsylvania nonprofit on a mission to improve biodiversity one yard at a time. We're not a landscaping company — we're a community of people working together to help local yards contribute to a larger, healthier ecosystem.
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Everyone from total beginners to experienced native plant enthusiasts. If you don't know where to start, we'll meet you there. If you're already passionate about this work, we have community, resources, and events to go deeper.
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Getting Involved as a Homeowner
Two easy options: join our Pollinator Palooza program ($75) to convert a 4x12 section of lawn into a pollinator garden with a plan and plants included, or request a custom yard consultation ($50) for a personalized design and project estimate.
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Much less than a traditional landscaping firm. We source our plants below retail price, and our installation model is built around community volunteers rather than paid crews.
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Do I need gardening experience?
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None at all. We'll guide you through installation and send you home with maintenance instructions.
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Volunteering
It's a great way to learn native plant gardening for free while making a real difference. You'll work hands-on alongside homeowners and other community members — no experience required.
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Help with planting days, assist Pollinator Palooza participants, and join seasonal workshops and community gatherings.
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Events & Community
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What kinds of events does Journeywork host?
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We host speaker events on native plants and biodiversity, seasonal workshops, community skill-sharing gatherings, and "Not-a-Lawn Parties" to celebrate completed yard transformations.
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Supporting Journeywork
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How can I donate or become a member?
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Visit journeywork.org/donate. Memberships and donations keep our programs affordable and help us reach more yards and communities across southeastern Pennsylvania.
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Pulling vines in Plymouth Meeting
Returning to an area where we worked last year, we made more room for bloodroot, a native spring ephemeral, to emerge, and it may be appearing right now! Keep an eye out for it if you are walking at Harriet Wetherill Park.
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Many thanks to all of the volunteers who came out to improve habitat!
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After we accidentally disturbed this DeKay's brown snake, Katie held it to pose for the camera.
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bloodroot (in a Journeywork member's yard on 3/31)
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A Festive Native Plant Fest on March 14
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The first Native Plant Fest of the Liberty Bird Alliance successfully brought together community groups, nurseries, and interested people with all levels of gardening experience for a really good time packed with information and encouragement to take steps this season to build healthy habitat. I had a ball and appreciate everyone who participated.
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All the best bugs at our spring gathering
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Sam Nestory gave a fantastic presentation about beneficial insects, and those gathered asked great questions and enjoyed the wonderful spread of food and coffee provided by Weavers Way, Backyard Beans, and Nuts about Millets. A good time was had by all!
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Plants in Pots make-n-take workshops
Have you wanted to do your part for pollinators, but you don’t have a yard? This spring, you can sign up for one of our Plants in Pots make-and-take workshops!
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In the workshop, you will learn about native plants that grow well in containers and some of the pollinators they attract. Then you have three options:
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- Bring your own planter to pot up three native plants for $45.
- Pot up three native plants in one of our pots for $60.
- Learn about all of the plants and take the three plants with you because you have a yard and know where you want to plant them for $40.
We will have three species for sun and three for shade. Exact species depend upon availability but may include:
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for shade: Coral bells (Heuchera americana ‘Dale’s strain’), large-leaved aster (Eurybia macrophylla), Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium reptans), Seersucker sedge (Carex plantaginea), and Appalachian sedge (Carex appalachica)
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for sun: Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis), Eastern bee balm (Monarda bradburiana), Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), Eastern star sedge (Carex radiata), and Dense blazing star (Liatris spicata).
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**We are gauging interest for workshops in Philadelphia--if you live in Philly or have friends who might be interested, fill out this quick form or pass it on.
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We will take your gently used flower pots
To make our Plants in Pots program as accessible as possible, we are accepting donations of gently used flower pots: ceramic, terra cotta, or sturdy plastic (not planters with nursery names printed on them or black plastic nursery pots).
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Thanks for these pots, Sharon!
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Pollinator Palooza back--sign up now for fall plants!
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We are registering folks now until June 1 for Pollinator Palooza--our DIY program that gives you prep directions, 28 native plants, and a garden map in September--all for $75.
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In the spirit of friendly competition, consider encouraging your neighbors to join you and put your town or township at the top of the pack. With registrations from Philadelphia, Hatfield, Lansdale, Cheltenham, and Blue Bell so far, Lansdale is in the lead!
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Prep your space now, and you won't have to mow it all summer--then sign up for your plants!
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Bryan, one of our spring Pollinator Palooza participants, sent us some photos showing his prep for planting in May. You can see above the cardboard that he put down over his lawn (with an optional layer of leaves beneath the cardboard). A layer of mulch goes on top, and he will be able to plant right into that in May.
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Speaking of May, we will be distributing the spring Pollinator Palooza plant sets on Saturday, May 16 from 9:00-11:30, and we will need a lot of help in the days before that to sort 6,000 plants into plant sets. If you would like to take a shift, let me know, and I will send you the Sign Up Genius link when it is available.
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Save the date for this great native plant sale!
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and save the date for our Summer Solstice Evening
Friday, June 19, 7:00pm
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Journeywork is excited to welcome John Mark Courtney as the speaker for our second Summer Solstice Evening. He will be sharing stories of his experiences growing native plants and taking his cues from the natural world.
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Tickets will go on sale on April 22.
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If you or your company would like to sponsor this event, please contact us.
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If you would like to volunteer on the event committee, please sign up here.
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John is an avid plantsman, professional grower and lover of all things wild. He is the founder and owner of Kind Earth Growers LLC, a native plant nursery specializing in seed grown aquatic, wetland and upland perennials in Upper Bucks County, PA. After completing his B.S. in Environmental Design from Delaware Valley University in 1998, John pursued his passion for growing native plants and environmental stewardship first at Bowmans Hill Wildflower Preserve and then at Aquascapes Unlimited Inc., where he was the head grower and operations manager for 20 years. During the course of his career, he has helped educate and inspire others through published articles, lectures, keynote addresses and appearances on radio programs and Martha Stewart’s television show. John is part of 2014’s GPN Class of 40 under 40 and in 2016 he was awarded the PLNA Green Achiever award.
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Dive into our spring calendar!
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Meeting community members at township festivals and environmental fairs is a huge part of how Journeywork shares its mission, and it is a lot of fun! It is how I met most of the folks reading this newsletter! We have many tabling events this spring, several occurring simultaneously, and we could really use your help. Everything you need to know is in the FAQ above--we need your pep and enthusiasm! Click the button to volunteer.
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Visit our table at any of the fairs below and buy one of these lovely garden signs! Only $25!
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- Saturday, April 11: Hatboro Earth Day, 10:00-3:00, Miller Meadow on South York Rd. (volunteer from 10-12, 12-2, or 1-3)
- Saturday, April 18: Upper Dublin EPAB Open House, 9:30-12:00, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Ft. Washington
- Saturday, April 18: Conshy Green Fest, 12:00-3:00, Mary Wood Park, 515 Harry Street, Conshohocken
- Sunday, April 19: Plants in Pots workshop at Plymouth Friends Meeting, 3:00-4:00 register here
- Saturday, April 25: Upper Moreland Earth Day Fair, Masons Mill Park, 10:00-1:00
- Saturday, April 25: Whitemarsh Township Day, Victory Fields, 12:00-5:00 (volunteer from 12-2, 2-4, 3-5)
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- Saturday, May 2: plant in Lansdale, 2:00-5:00 sign up to help!
- Sunday, May 3: Chestnut Hill Home & Garden Festival, 11:00-5:00 volunteer from 11-1, 12-2, 1-3, 2-4, 3-5
- Saturday, May 9: plant at The First Presbyterian Church in Germantown
- Saturday, May 16: Pollinator Palooza pick-up at Gwynedd Friends Meeting, 9:00-11:30
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- Saturday, May 16: plant in Havertown, 3:00-4:30 sign up to help!
- Sunday, May 17: Keystone-Ambler Woman's Farm & Garden plant sale, Twining Park, Dresher 12:00-3:00
- Sunday, May 17: plant in Upper Dublin
- Saturday, May 30: Plymouth Township Community Day, 10:00-2:00
- Saturday, May 30: plant in Media
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- Friday, June 19: Summer Solstice Evening featuring John Mark Courtney, 7:00-9:00 tickets available April 22
- Saturday, June 20: Bucks Farm & Garden Designed for Nature Tour, 10:00-3:00 tickets here
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Journeywork won a grant thanks to this event!!
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Journeywork is honored to have won a grant from the Weavers Way Environment Committee this spring to offer our Plants in Pots program in Germantown and other Philadelphia locations. Spring clean your broken electronics and recycle them responsibly to support local greening projects!
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Journeywork is seeking corporate sponsors who support environmental stewardship and wish to make a lasting impact on our local habitat. Please reach out if you would like to learn more about how your company can partner with Journeywork.
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Just a little more news
- Pennsylvania's Invasive Replace-ive program is back! Learn how you can get free shrubs and trees when you remove introduced species such as Callery pear, tree-of-heaven, and burning bush.
- You can go ahead and trim last year's stems in your garden. Leave them at 8-24" as potential nesting sites for the stem-nesting bees that emerge this spring. Leave alone any stems remaining from the previous year--bees may be overwintering in them.
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the Journeywork journey
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We are doing consultations now for fall planting. We can create a garden design for you, source the plants, and plan a fall installation event.
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It is not too late to become a Journeywork member and get 5% off plants from Edge of the Woods Nursery and 10% off plants from Good Host Plants. (new Edge of the Woods rate for 2026)
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If Journeywork inspires you to sheet mulch, start seeds, or plant some native plants in your yard, please send us a picture! Or a donation! Let's celebrate and support each other!
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We have 650 newsletter subscribers now--woo hoo! As soon as we went over 500, the fee to send the newsletter doubled. If you have enjoyed our newsletter, please consider making a donation to help us cover our costs. You can now sign up to make a recurring donation--the cost of a latte every month goes a long way!
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