Grow more May with Kate Small

Horticulturalist Kate Small will talk about what we can do in our yards and public spaces to increase habitat and reduce lawn. In America over 40 million acres of land are covered by turf grass, resulting in a lack of biodiversity; increased air pollution; and fertilizer runoff into our watersheds. Reducing lawns in our parks and yards is an important step towards a healthy ecosystem. Kate will talk about replacing lawn with native shrubs, sedges, grasses, ferns, and perennials preferred by native insects and birds to increase biodiversity and decrease lawns.

Driven by a reverence for nature and a desire to inspire positive change, Kate actively cultivates landscapes that thrive in harmony with the natural world.  She holds an Associate of Arts in Landscape Architecture from Merritt College in Oakland, California, complemented by a Certificate in Permaculture Design. As a part-time gardener at the Holden Arboretum, Kate serves on the Sustainability and Compost Committees, contributing to initiatives promoting environmental consciousness and responsible practices within the organization. On the board of Friends of Heights Parks and as a Watershed Steward with the Cleveland Metroparks, Kate actively engages in conservation and outreach efforts to safeguard local water resources and habitats. She is an ISA certified arborist dedicated to the preservation and care of trees within ecosystems and as an integral part of our urban environments.