My friend Jean Devine is always up to something interesting. A Brown U grad, with an MBA from Simmons, she used to work in investor relations but in recent years has been testing the waters of social entrepreneurship.
Her latest initiative, with Barbara Passero of Sandpiper Creative, is called meadowscaping and is intriguing on many levels.
With access to a Waltham church lawn for a summer youth program, Jean and Barbara will work with kids to convert the yard into a meadow that uses native species from Garden in the Woods and provides a habitat to the bugs and other small creatures that make a healthy environment.
From the Meadowscaping for Biodiversity website: Meadowscaping “is an outdoor, project-based, environmental education program that provides middle school youth with real-world experiences in STEAM learning (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math), while inspiring and empowering them to address challenges to the environment and our society.
“Today, few children spend time experiencing Nature and the benefits of outdoor recreation, education, and contemplation. Founder and former Director of the Children and Nature Network (C& NN) Richard Louv coined the phrase nature-deficit disorder to describe the negative effects of reduced outdoor time on children’s development. …
“Children who spend little time outdoors may value nature less than children who spend time outdoors in free play. Similarly, children who feel part of something bigger than themselves may … understand their dependence on a clean environment and know that they are responsible for caring for the Earth as their home.” More here.
The idea behind the meadowscaping summer program is that children, both at a young age and as they become adults, can actually do something about the environment.
Remember our post “The Doctor Is In” about the woman who sets up in a Providence park to listen to your worries about global warming (here)? Stop worrying and do something, say the meadowscape entrepreneurs. Give up lawn chemicals, plant a meadow, provide a home for tiny necessary critters, and work to make change.
Suzanne's Mom's Blog 
Hi suzannesmom,
Thanks very much for highlighting the Meadowscaping for Biodiversity program in your blog. Jean and I would be happy to answer any questions from your readers.
I’d like to note that Jean and I planted seeds for over a dozen annual and perennial native plants at our homes early this spring. It was just too cold to put the tender seedlings into the ground outside until the first week in June. Now the plants are growing fast. We’re also buying native shrubs from Garden in the Woods.
I’d like to encourage your readers to consider making the changes I’m suggesting below.
Easy, low-cost, no-guilt ways to make a change: Give up toxic lawn chemicals; you don’t need them for a healthy green lawn , and you’ll save lots of money. Gradually reduce the size of your lawn by planting hardy, drought-tolerant native species in pretty configurations. Again, you’ll save the cost and effort of lawn care and frequent watering. Or go all out and plant a meadow. In any case, you’ll provide a home for necessary critters, soothe your conscience, and set a good example for your kids.
Thanks for the tips. I know I have readers who will be interested in doing just what you suggest. I haven’t had a lawn in years. We gave up because it would never take.