Ethical Humanist Society ReWild Garden
Ethical humanist society green committee
Located at the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island, Garden City, NY
One of the key beliefs embraced by The Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island is in the interdependent connections to all humans, to nature, and to our inner values. We aim to put “deed before creed” and with that in mind, our Board and membership fully supported the plan to restore our backyard gardens with sustainable native plants, trees and shrubs, providing a more balanced ecosystem and in the process supporting native wildlife.
EHSLI was initially inspired to abide by the concept of sustainable gardening practices when we faced a severe flooding issue in our parking lot. Solving the problem successfully with environmentally-positive Rain Gardens, planted with native drought and water-tolerant sustainable species, inspired us to look to the other areas of our grounds. As a result, a garden committee was formed in June 2021.
We first resourced information and advice from ReWild Long Island in 2022 and worked with landscape designers who specialized in sustainable, native landscaping practices, who then cleared out the invasives and planted native species. The lawns were removed and replaced with environmentally friendly wood chips supplied at no cost by local arborists. The ribbon-cutting to what we now call our “The Celebration Garden” was June, 2022.
This past spring our volunteers, with guidance and funding from the ReWild Program, were able to plant and install irrigation to create a new 750 square foot native garden in a featured section of our Celebration Garden, where we hope to host many events. Our garden highlights a focus on environmental stewardship. In addition to caring for others, we are also caring for the Earth--which also of course benefits humans and wildlife.
Anitra Pavlico, member of the Ethical Humanist Society, says, “I personally have realized [through the rewilding process] I want to get more involved with environmental efforts on Long Island, and I recently went to a beach clean-up on Long Beach sponsored by another group. So the process has had ripple effects, you could say.”
Volunteerism and education are an important aspect of our philosophy. Our garden is tended by volunteers and each month we have a featured article about our native garden in our monthly newsletter which reaches over 500 people. With the support and guidance of ReWild LI, we are able to broaden our outreach in educating and involving our membership and the surrounding community in sustainable gardening practices.
Get involved with the Ethical Humanist Society by emailing office@ehsli.org and cc lorraine@agostinoarts.com.
