Sustainability collective starting land care festival
A collective of environmentalists continued upkeep on the land at Ritts Park last year following the city’s stream bank stabilization project that helped rehabilitate Sullivan Run at the park. That same group is not only continuing that work this spring, but also making the environmental maintenance into a festival, of sorts.
Community Tree Resources’ first Sustainable Landcare Festival is Saturday, April 6, where attendees can not only help take care of invasive species at Ritts Park, but also learn about how they can take care of their own outdoor spaces. Jennifer Senchak, certified arborist with Community Tree Resources, said the festival will have more offerings than the land care days the collective hosted in 2023.
“We just want as many scientists and professionals to engage with the public as possible,” Senchak said. “The one-on-one conversations are always better for people to learn than the big presentations.”
Since the stream bank stabilization project, Community Tree Resources has weeded out Japanese knotweed, an invasive plant species, at Ritts Park during each sustainable land care day. Senchak said the events teach attendees how to identify plant species and also how to connect with nature through grounding exercises.
“It's the best time to remove that invasive species,” Senchak said. “We are doing yoga and grounding meditation, some natural art projects of course. Local advisers with Butler Conservation District and DCNR will be there.”
She said the environmental professionals will lead a tour of the different ecosystems of the park and show off the success of the group’s projects in maintaining the meadow. There will be land care demonstrations throughout the day, Senchak said, and there will be at least one food truck at the park.
She said the group has been successful in its land care days, despite not being an officially recognized group.
“We operate with no funding,” Senchak said. “There are no resources being used. It’s just people working together.”
The Sustainable Landcare Festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Ritts Park off North McKean Street.
