Courses
- Learn from the very best.
Water is one of nature’s most powerful, yet most overlooked, climate regulators, acting as a built-in cooling system. Join us and a roster of the leading experts and thinkers in an exploration of how water, not just carbon, holds the key to a livable future.
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News and Insights
- Is It Time to Break Up With Fireworks?
“I’ve seen first-hand the devastation that fireworks can cause. For several years, when I volunteered as a marine mammal rescuer with a local rescue organization, we reliably collected dozens of distressed sea lion pups and disoriented birds in the days after the big bang of Independence Day. Animal shelters routinely clear their kennels before the Fourth of July (a.k.a. euthanize resident dogs who haven’t been adopted) in preparation for the influx of panicked dogs and cats that jump their owners’ yards, terrified when the big booms go off. Studies in Europe confirm that fireworks displace migratory birds long-term, cause birds to abandon their nests for good and lead wild horses to injure themselves when they flee the noise.”
“Call me a party pooper, but once I learned all this, I began to hate fireworks with a passion. When I started asking why we need to set off destructive explosives in order to have a good time, I found that all of this could easily be avoided because safer and more environmentally friendly alternatives are readily available.”
Events and Community
- We recently received this powerful message from Cindee Karns in Fairbanks, Alaska, where rising temperatures and wildfires are reshaping daily life with temperatures well above the norm this time of year. Her reflections are a reminder of how urgent, local, and personal climate breakdown has become, and how many people are hungry for regenerative models grounded in living systems.
- Virtual | 2025 Northeast Miniforest Summit
Landscape architect, ecologist, and educator Heather Schibli will close out the 2025 Northeast Miniforest Summit, delivering the final presentation of the event.
With over a decade of experience designing environments for both humans and non-humans, Heather’s research draws on her expertise in ecological restoration and investigates the emerging field of multispecies design. In an era marked by mass extinction and climate crisis, it is essential to embrace design practices that foster and enrich biodiversity. Landscape architects are uniquely positioned to enhance ecological health and resilience through collaborative approaches and interdisciplinary partnerships. Heather actively welcomes insights from a wide range of fields, recognizing the creative potential in cross-disciplinary exchange.
Presentation:
The Miyawaki Method vs. Ecology of Place: The Importance of Experimentation and Curiosity in Canada’s Mini Forest Network
Spread virtually across two days and an in-person bus tour, the Northeast Minforest Summit brings together practitioners, researchers, and leaders from a range of disciplinary perspectives—including city officials, landscape architects, scientists, and community organizers—to explore the Miyawaki method from root to canopy.
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- Bringing Back the Night Lights: Fireflies and the Power of Small Changes
Homegrown National Park outlines what you can do to help the fireflies in your yard:
Plant Native | Dim the Lights | Reduce Pesticide Use | Skip Mosquito Fogging | Leave Some Leaf Litter | Leave Decaying Wood | Establish No-Mow Zones | Maintain Moist Spots
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