Talks, Walks, & Lectures
Winter Lecture Series
Shake off the winter doldrums with our annual Winter Lecture Series. This fully virtual series features presentations by regionally renowned experts on eight Sundays in January and February from 2 to 3 pm. Knowledgeable lecturers address a wide range of topics related to natural history, biodiversity, ecological gardening, native plants, native wildlife and more.
The 2024 Winter Lecture Series is brought to you, in part, thanks to the generous support of the Bucks County Foundation.
For more information, please call 215.862.2924 or email education@bhwp.org.
Individual Lectures
Registration for individual lectures are $15 each. Please, click on the title of each lecture to visit the registration page.
Full Series Bundle
Jan. 7 — The Biodynamic Garden Relationship with Valerie Leone
From insights that arose in Europe over 100 years ago, the biodynamic approach to stewarding the land offers a unique opportunity. Based on a variety of holistic principles, biodynamic gardening and farming cultivates awareness of co-creation between humanity and the natural realm. The development of one’s intuition is valued over acquiring information and allowing for more meaningful work to take place. Mindful applications in the garden invite reciprocity to become foundational. In this introductory conversation, Environmental Educator Valerie Leone will present the concepts of biodynamics in a relatable way. This new consciousness of the gardener can allow the landscape under their care to reach its vibrant potential.
Raised in the landscape of the Baltic region, Valerie Leone has always been immersed in outdoor life. Her gardening experience includes a wide range: from family subsistence plots, to residential design, to natural restoration and to her most recent work of gardening with school children. An environmental educator for almost 20 years, Valerie has developed practical ways to nurture her students. Through creative applications, she aims to deepen the integral bond between human beings and the kingdom of nature.
Jan. 14 — Growing Quality Organic Native Fruit with Jim Kinsel
Farmer Jim Kinsel of Chesterfield Organic Orchards & Nursery will talk about the benefits and challenges of growing native fruit organically in our area. He’ll highlight native varieties of small and tree fruits suitable for organic production, such as American persimmons (Diospyros virginiana), pawpaws (Asimina triloba) and blueberries (Vaccinium spp.). He will also discuss using your own compost as a fertilizer source, natural pest protection and protecting fruit from late and early frosts.
Jim Kinsel has been farming organically for over 35 years, starting as an apprentice at three NJ farms. After branching out on his own in 1991, he established the first certified organic Community Supported Agriculture program in Mercer County, NJ (then known as Watershed Organic Farm CSA), where he and his staff grew a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs and dried beans. At one time, his CSA program (after name change to Honey Brook Organic Farm CSA) was the largest in the nation. He and his wife Sherry Dudas currently grow certified organic strawberries, figs, pawpaws, American and Asian persimmons, Chinese chestnuts and asparagus on 118 acres of permanently preserved farmland in Chesterfield, NJ under the name of Chesterfield Organic Orchards & Nursery, where they also nurture a fruit plant nursery.
Jan. 21 — Wetlands: They Aren’t Just For the Birds?! with Jessica Schmit
A lot of wildlife need wetlands at some point in their life, and so do humans…whaaat?! As a follow up to her previous presentation “Wonderful Wetlands” on the Thursday Night Nature series, graduate student and wetlands ecologist Jess Schmit explores how wetland ecosystems tie into the greater community, how and why human beings need wetlands, why we should care and what we can do about things such as wetland and species loss. Schmit will also describe some of her Master’s research on a secretive marsh bird, migration and breeding ecology and the importance of healthy wetland ecosystems to support threatened and endangered wildlife.
Jess Schmit is a current Master’s student at the University of Arkansas Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit. She received a B.A. in Wildlife Conservation from Delaware Valley College in 2015. Schmit worked in wildlife rehabilitation for four years while in school and also as a summer camp counselor and naturalist educator. After graduating, she began traveling as a wetlands field technician for a variety of agencies and NGOs. Her experience has been focused on wetland birds, including wading birds, ducks and swans, shorebirds and secretive marsh birds. Prior to starting her own research, Jess spent three years working with rails and loves the challenge these intelligent birds provide. Her research interests are avian and wetland ecology, migration ecology, and resiliency in relation to climate change.
Jan. 28 — Seeing the Seasons: Through the Lens of Native Plants with Samantha Bean
Upon adding native plants periodically in the last few years to increase biodiversity through the creation of seasonally evolving habitats for pollinators and birds, Flutter By Meadows has evolved into an unfolding seasonal tapestry: a 1-acre detention basin turned wildflower meadow, a few mini meadows and plenty of native plants and shrubs including a rain garden are continuously evolving with the seasons. Seeing the Seasons: Through the Lens of Native Plants is a journey that meanders through the garden taking notice of the role native plants play in awakening our senses to what surrounds us.
Samantha Bean loves to chronicle her discoveries about creatures that share her home while describing the habitats that exist for them on her blog. Blending the exhilaration of learning all about native plants that pique her curiosity every day with her love of writing, Flutter By Meadows is what she calls her home, her passion, her blog and her hobby. Watching the changes that take place just steps from her house, Bean is continually documenting those moments, inspiring others on the year-round magic of native plants.
Feb. 4 — Smithsonian Bird Friendly Coffee and Cocoa: Proudly Serving Biodiversity with Melissa Mazurkewicz
The Smithsonian Bird Friendly® certification is the environmental gold standard in sustainable food production for coffee and cocoa. Smithsonian scientists developed the Bird Friendly certification for coffee in the late 1990s to conserve habitat and protect migratory songbirds. Bird Friendly habitat ensures a mix of foliage cover, tree height and biodiversity that creates quality habitat for birds and other wildlife. Learn about how to eat, drink and live Bird Friendly!
Melissa Mazurkewicz is the Bird Friendly program manager for Latin America, where she manages the coffee and cocoa producer, auditor and extension components of the Smithsonian’s Bird Friendly certified supply chains. She has made Panama her home after serving in the Peace Corps 10 years ago. Marzurkewicz has a B.A. in horticulture from Pennsylvania State University and an M.A. in extension education from the University of Florida. Her love for native plants started during her internship at the Preserve in 2007.
Feb. 11 —Edible Mushrooms: Delicious and Nutritious with Sylvia Emberger
Some of you may have collected mushrooms from the woods while others venture only to the supermarket for the exotic and common varieties. But have you ever wondered if mushrooms are healthy for you? We will take a look at a variety of edible mushrooms to learn about their nutritional benefits and how they can be a valuable addition to your meals.
Sylvia Emberger began her career as a microbiologist, working in research and teaching. She later became a registered dietitian and worked in long-term care as a clinical nutrition and food service consultant. Emberger was at the Hershey Company in nutrition research and product labeling and a corporate nutritionist for GIANT Food Stores providing expertise on product nutrition, recipe development and writing articles for consumers. Now retired, she enjoys cooking and baking, taking walks in the woods, reading, sewing and making lavender wands.
Feb. 18 — Beyond Honeybees: Beetles, butterflies, bumblebees, and other pollinators with Dan Duran, Ph.D.
People have become aware of the critical importance of insect pollinators to plants, including some of our major food crops. When thinking of flower pollination, honeybees might come to mind. This is unfortunate because so many of our most important pollinators are native insects, including the unsung heroes like beetles, butterflies, flies, wasps and more—groups of insects that few consider in this context! Join Dan Duran, Ph.D., for an enlightening discussion of the many pollinators that keep our wild and cultivated plants thriving.
Daniel P. Duran, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the department of environmental science at Rowan University as well as the naturalist for Scotland Run Park, a 1300-acre nature preserve at the edge of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. He has published research papers on new methods for species discovery/delineation, biodiversity science and molecular phylogenetics. Duran has described 13 new species of insects, previously unknown to science. He received a B.S. in environmental science from Stockton University in 1998, an M.S. in entomology from University of Missouri in 2002 and a Ph.D. in evolution and ecology from Vanderbilt University in 2010. In between his degrees, he has also worked for the Natural History Museum in London, UK and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. Duran is a co-author of the book A Field Guide to the Tiger Beetles of the United States and Canada, 2nd Edition.
Feb. 25 — Hunters Sharing the Harvest with Randy K. Ferguson
Hunters Sharing the Harvest is Pennsylvania’s nationally emulated venison donation program, channeling over 2.3 million pounds of venison from hunters to the food insecure since 1991. Pennsylvania leads the nation in venison donations with a record 235,532 pounds during the 2022-23 hunting season and provides over 1.25 million servings of lean, protein-dense venison to those who do not know from where their next meal is coming.
Hunters Sharing the Harvest Executive Director Randy Ferguson leads Pennsylvania’s nationally recognized venison donation program, providing millions of servings of lean, high-protein venison to the food insecure in the Commonwealth. Ferguson has over three decades of experience in PR, communications, marketing and non-profit management. His expertise spans conservation, agribusiness, healthcare, manufacturing and social service sectors, where he has directed and executed effective marketing, communications, public and media relations strategies. Prior to joining HSH as its executive director in 2021, Ferguson worked for Ernst Conservation Seeds in Meadville, PA as its director of marketing and communications for eight years. He is also a freelance outdoor journalist and photographer, with publications in regional and national publications over the last 30+ years.