Trees fight urban heat islands, by providing shade and moisture, they filter stormwater and shield from winds. Plus a lot more. NHE will donate trees, prioritizing oaks, to residents of the 5th Ward, and schools serving the 5th ward. Ask at Habitat@ClimateActionEvanston.Org
Oaks are the top plant for wildlife in North America (a "keystone" species). They are host plants to more than 500 species of caterpillars, meaning that those caterpillars need oaks to develop into butterflies and moths, just as monarch butterflies need milkweed. Without oaks, those species cannot survive. No other plant in North America hosts as many species of pollinators. In addition, oaks feed other insects, birds and other wildlife with acorns, and other forage.
Although the ward is changing, the 5th Ward overall has among Evanston's lowest income levels and life expectancy, and appears to have lost private tree canopy relative to other areas. Natural Habitat also shares trees in other under-canopied, historically underserved neighborhoods in Evanston.
Yard Maintenance Brochure in English and Spanish, NHE
Petition delivered to Mayor Biss, Council members, City Manager Stowe, Clerk Mendoza, Ms. Pollock and Ms. LeBlanc Fisher, April 2023. From Citizens’ Climate Lobby and Climate Action Evanston (formerly Citizens’ Greener Evanston)
Gardening that Matters. Get Started or Enhance your Native Garden. March 2023 presentation to North Shore Senior Center's Tuesday Club. A simple way to take action for climate, community healthand biodiversity: Swap out your lawn for native plants. Reconsidering theculture of lawns. Why it matters, steps to prioritize, how to get started, andhow to amplify the change. Leslie Shad of Natural Habitat Evanston presents.
Presentation on Transitioning from Turf (Powerpoint), January 2023. Touches on the issues with turf, why native plants, why leave leaves, concerns about neonicotinoids and outdoor lighting.
Transitioning from Turf presentation to FLOW (Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed, Columbus, Ohio) lead by Leslie Shad, NHE Lead. DIscusses the issues with turf, why native plants and why leave leaves, the concern about neonicotinoids, and how to navigate outdoor lighting.
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Website database: search your zip code for plants ranked by Tallamy
Audubon Plants for Birds Database
From Saving you Money to the Air you Breathe: Tree Benefits
Chicago Audubon Society Plants for Birds
Plants measured as host plants for US caterpillar species from Doug Tallamy, Univ of Delaware
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - search native plants by state
Donating to Climate Action Evanston and earmarking your donation for Natural Habitat Evanston. You can further earmark your donation to one of our initiatives.
Join our Pollinator Pledge and let the city and landscapers know we care about sustainable yards. Take an optional yard sign to spread the word.
$25/bag to local residents (pickup; no shipping). We also have some $5 seed packets of bottlebrush and little bluestem grass. While supplies last. Emails should include your phone number and which species you are requesting. Pay by check payable to Citizens’ Greener Evanston at pickup.
Help at outdoor workdays
Rethink how you Lawn
Northwestern students Petition for Bird-Friendly Films at Mudd Library. Mudd Library accounts for over 14% of bird deaths and injuries on campus each year. Applying patterned window film to a portion of the building would dramatically reduce collisions that are fatal to birds.
Get updates and share your thoughts on our FB Group. You can also check out our FB page here https://www.facebook.com/NaturalHabitatEvanston
Just want to spread the word on certain steps? Mow Less-Leave Leaves (2-sided yard sign) or Leafblowers sign
Get news the next time there is a threat to Isabella Woods. (Only sent when there is news.)
Provide Food, Water, Shelter, Places to Raise Young and Sustainable Steps for wildlife. It helps Evanston maintain its NWF Community-wide Wildlife Habitat certification.
