EEA Newsletter

Bird Buzz Native Plant Sale Goes Live March 3rd!

Sale goes live March 3rd

Pick up day:

June 3rd, 12:30 - 4:30

Ingraham Park/Civic Center

2100 Ridge Ave

Evanston, IL 60201

The early bird gets the worm!

We are excited to announce that the 3rd annual Bird Buzz Native Plant Sale will be going live on our website, Friday, March 3rd to purchase online. This year we will be pre-sorting the plants before pick up day so that the event will run smoothly and efficiently. We have revamped our stock based on the popularity of certain varieties and changed the pricing to better reflect the actual price of the plants.

This sale is intended to allow Evanstonians, friends and neighbors, access to a wider variety of local plants to benefit bees, butterflies, and the other pollinators that are critical for maintaining our local ecosystem. Help "re-wild" Evanston and our region. Mark your calendars for March 3rd so you can scoop up these wonderful natives before they sell out!

Q&A with Local Eco-Champion Libby Hill

Libby Hill (farthest right) and her Sunday volunteers at Perkins Woods.

Photo Credit: Al Cubbage

Q: What are some of the best things Evanstonians can do to support our native ecosystem?

A: Perkins Woods is what Northwest Evanston looked like before it was turned into a residential area. The plants that grow in Perkins are growing in the same clay soil as the neighborhood, so residents can learn what grows well in the woods and purchase some of the same plants for their own back yards. The best examples are the spring wildflowers that grow in the woods, and some of the summer plants like Great Blue Lobelia. One of the best things we can all do to support our native ecosystem is to plant native flowers and shrubs that support our local insects and migrating birds and replace at least some of our grass lawns.

Q: How did you get involved with Perkin’s Woods and the Forest Preserves of Cook County?

A: I was recommended to be the steward after asking permission to remove invasive garlic mustard along Ewing. I set up a neighborhood meeting and block party and we pulled out garlic mustard. After two years, volunteers expanded beyond the neighborhood. The work we do in the woods now has evolved over time as needs have changed. We've pretty much eradicated the garlic mustard, and learned how to control buckthorn, but we have had to deal with dying green ash trees because of the emerald ash borer. Ash trees were the prominent tree in the woods after the elms died.

Q: What are some things people can and can't do when visiting the woods?

A: We love to have kids in the woods, but recently we have had problems with kids building bike ramps in the woods and building huts from sticks. Dumping is also a problem along the parkway. Neighbors or landscapers dump leaves and grass cuttings in the woods, bringing invasive species that volunteers have to work to clear out. The woods are owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and it is actually illegal to remove anything from the woods or use it as a dumping ground, even for pumpkins! That's a Forest Preserve law. Almost everyone nowadays days keeps their dogs leashed and cleans up after them, which is great.

Q: How do you see the future of natural area stewardship?

A: We need younger people who are committed to volunteering in the woods. It is important to find young people who want to be involved, but even I did not get involved with the woods until I retired and had more time on my hands. People can learn an enormous amount about the natural world by volunteering in the woods and then, hopefully, get on a path to stewardship. The Forest Preserve has lots of training programs, from learning about plants to monitoring frogs. Stewards will come from those who take the opportunities to volunteer and learn. Co-stewarding with another person is a great way to make the responsibilities more manageable.

Chicken of the Woods (genus: Laetiporus) growing on a dead tree in Perkins

Q: What are some of the most memorable findings you’ve stumbled upon while botanizing in the woods?



A: Chicken of the Woods is a standout discovery! Really all the fungi we have attempted to identify with iNaturalist have been amazing finds. Once we cleared out invasive species and opened up the forest floor, plants we want seeded themselves and began to sprout up in all sorts of unexpected places.

Libby will be hosting the first ever burn day at Perkins Woods on February 12th! Volunteers will be joining together to burn buckthorn clippings and share coffee together. Contact Libby at [email protected] if you are interested.

Bountiful Opportunities at the Foster Street Garden

Established in 2016, Foster Street Garden program is a collaboration between Family Focus Evanston and The Evanston Food Exchange. Children in this program learn about urban agriculture, entrepreneurship, and cooking. The Foster Street Garden is the main initiative of the Evanston Food Exchange. We run the garden from March to October and grow a variety of delicious fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Our president, Chef Q Ibraheem, warmly brought in youth from the after-school and summer programs to teach them invaluable cooking and professional skills.

We welcomed Matt Ryan in 2021 to help us increase production. His contribution helped us distribute more than 1,400 pounds of food from the Foster garden into the community. 

Our partnership with other efforts to grow more food in Evanston has strengthened our resolve to offer locally grown food to more people in the Fifth Ward of Evanston. The new Free Farmstand between Fleetwood Jourdain Community Center and Family Focus drew in many from the community. 

Please come and visit! Bring your time and talent to bear on the many ways to volunteer. 

Foster Street Urban Agriculture Program

Evanston Food Exchange  

Anne Sills, Board Member & Director

P: 847.814.3779

E: [email protected]

The board with the MOST local honey you could ever eat, honey from the Ecology Center's Apiary! This honey was gifted to staff and volunteers.

The Evanston Environmental Association wants to thank our generous donor, the Archer-Patterson Family Foundation, for their continued support.