Sacred Grounds Project

The Sacred Grounds project, facilitated by the National Wildlife Federation, promotes planting native plants at home and at Oseh Shalom. Oseh Shalom is participating in the second year of the project. This program aims to educate faith communities about the importance of, and how to care for, our local waterways and environment by planting native plants. NWF secured a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust and Prince George’s County to conduct this project.

Adding native plants to our Oseh Shalom campus and our homes helps local waterways and wildlife and reduces lawn maintenance.  Native plants need less care because they are more resilient. Native plants reduce storm water runoff and improve the quality and quantity of water heading to the Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay watersheds. Native plants also provide food for birds and butterflies.

This is a grassroots effort to encourage everyone to plant native plants at Oseh Shalom and in their personal spaces, home, yard, or containers. Together, by caring for creation, Sacred Grounds will enable us to ensure our children and our community have a clean and safe environment well into the future.

Contact Sue Burger or Linda Solomon at sacred.grounds@oseh-shalom.org if you have any questions.

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Pledge to Plant Native

Thank you to our wonderful Oseh Shalom community. In 2022, we exceeded our pledge goal. We hope your plants bloom and grow! For 2023, our pledge goal is 55 households. We hope you will pledge again to plant more native plants in your yard.

Pledge to Plant Native and receive free plants

 24 pledges as of March 23, 2023

Submit the Native Plant Pledge Form affirming your intention to plant native plants at your home. Your household will receive free native plants from NWF on May 7th.

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Events and Learning Opportunities

• August through October, 2022 – Planned, prepared and planted a native plant garden at Oseh Shalom.
• February 26 at 10 AM – NWF “Yes, You CAN Make a Difference by Planting Natives at Home”. Join us to learn why it’s SO important to plant native plants, and how individuals can make a positive impact on our environment.

         The presentation can be viewed  on YouTube here.

Pledge to Plant Native and receive free plants from NWF on May 7, 2023 at Oseh Shalom.

• Sunday, May 7 at 10:00 AM until – 11:30 AM – Native Plant Giveaway at Oseh Shalom – Pick Up the native plants that you pledged to plant, provided by NWF. Thank you to everyone that pledges.

Pledge to Plant Native and receive free plants from NWF 

• Sunday, May 7 at 11:30 AM – Native Garden Maintenance at Oseh Shalom
• Sunday, May 7 at 12 PM – Native Plant Sale: Howard County Robinson Nature Center, Columbia
• Maryland Native Plant Sales 2023
• Sunday, May 23 at 3 PM – River walk at the Riverfront Park, Laurel MD
• Sunday, June 10 at 3PM – River walk at Sligo Creek in Takoma Park, Silver Spring MD

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Landscaping Ideas

Interested in planting a tree? Plant one of these native trees:

• White Oak
• Black Cherry
• Red Bud
• Dogwood
• Serviceberry
• Willow Oak
• And more
• U of MD recommended native plants and trees
• MD Dept of Natural Resources Recommended Tree list

 

Interested in planting perennial flowers?  Plant one of these native plants:

• Goldenrod
• Asters
• Milkweed
• Cone Flowers
• Sun Flowers (Helianthus)
• Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium)
• Black Eyed Susan
• Wild Flowers in Focus
• Monarch Nectar Wildlife plants for USA
• Monarch Nectar Wildlife plants for Mid-Atlantic States
• Maryland Native Plants
• NWF native plant finder
• And more

• Gardening Design ideas:
  • Creating a wildlife garden that neighbors will like
  • Live Green Howard pollinator garden templates and resources
  • Native Plant Pollinator Garden Templates
  • Montgomery County landscape design Templates
  • NWF Wildlife Garden Design
  • Design a Rain Garden
• Labeling plants:
  • The importance of labeling native plants
  • Do it yourself plant labels

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Learn More/Resources

On the Web

• National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Sacred Grounds Program
• NWF Sacred Grounds Garden-for-Wildlife
• University of MD Extension—Native Plants
• Howard County Cleanscapes : CleanScapes | Howard County Stormwater (cleanwaterhoward.com)
  • Get reimbursed on your home project for planting native trees and rain gardens.
• Maryland Native Plant Society
• Audubon Native Plants Database (search by zip code!)
• Chesapeake Natives, Inc.
• Here is the Homegrown National Park map An interactive map that shows where native pollinator-friendly planting is happening.
• Live Green Howard County – Planting Natives

Videos

• “Yes, You CAN Make a Difference Planting Natives 2023”.  View the presentation on YouTube here.

• “Why Plant Native Webinar 2022” hosted by the NWF. View the video on YouTube

• “How-to Plan Native Webinar 2022” hosted by the NWF. View the recording here

Facebook:

• Maryland Native Plant Society Discussion Group
• Maryland Area Gardening for the Environmentally Conscious

Petitions

• Petition Brookside Gardens to eliminate invasive species

Local Native Plant Nurseries

Let us know about other Nurseries promoting native plants. Thanks, in advance.

• List of Maryland Nurseries selling native plants (from MD Native Plant Society)
• NWF sells native plants Garden for Wildlife
• Howard County
  • Lauren’s Garden Service
  • Howard EcoWorks
• Montgomery County
  • Stadler’s Nursery
  • White’s Nursery
• Prince George’s County
  • Chesapeake Natives, Inc
  • Ecoasis Garden Center
• Anne Arundel County