New Pioneers partnered with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and Naturally Bardstown this Fall to offer our community a FREE Invasive Plant Workshop for all ages!

We started the morning by reviewing what invasive plants are and nine common invasive plants in Kentucky, including identifying features, how they got here, and their impacts on our environment, economy, and health, led by New Pioneers.

Next, Melissa Varelas, the Ecological Sustainability Program Manager for the Sisters of Charity, shared sustainable removal techniques for each of these plants! This included solarizing, hand pulling, the fan-favorite cut stump treatment with "Buckthorn Blasters," and more.

Later, Jonathan Shirley, representing Naturally Bardstown, shared a success story about triumphant invasive removal at My Old Kentucky Home State Park, leading to flourishing native plants along the park and the Tannery Hill trail!

We also spent a good portion of the morning out in the field, practicing sustainable removal techniques with attendees' new long-arm loppers, pruning saws, gardening gloves, and safety glasses, kindly donated by the Bardstown Lowe's, and their new "Buckthorn Blasters" provided by New Pioneers! During this time, we sustainably removed autumn olive, winter creeper, bush honeysuckle, and more on campus.

We wrapped up the morning by reviewing the importance of native plants and exploring common species and local resources! Each attendee also went home with a free pack of native pollinator seeds, sourced from Roundstone Native Seed LLC, including a mix of native flowers and grasses.

Thank you to each attendee, our wonderful partners, and the Bardstown Lowe's for making this workshop possible and so impactful!

Missed this workshop? Follow our events page to discover similar events and future opportunities!

To view more photos from this workshop, click here or on the collage above.