Embracing local ecosystems in Newfield

Newfield residents recently participated in two environmental initiatives — Newfield Greenup Day and the Bloom into Spring: Native Plants Workshop — both of which aimed to promote community involvement and environmental education.

Newfield Greenup Day, orchestrated by Mitchell Raymond on April 27, began in 2023 and is intended to become an annual tradition. Participants gathered at Newfield Town Hall to collect cleaning supplies before setting out to pick up trash in designated areas of the town. 

The Newfield Highway Department subsequently collected and transported the gathered items to the Tompkins County Waste and Recycling Center. This year, 63 volunteers collected 1,800 pounds of trash, a notable increase from the previous year.

“That is a big improvement from last year, where we had 50 volunteers and picked up 1,100 pounds’ worth of trash,” said Raymond.

Following this, Newfield Public Library hosted Carlin Shew, a New York State Parks program specialist, for a native plants workshop on May 5. The event featured a family-friendly coloring book complementing Shew’s presentation, which highlighted the significance of spring ephemeral flowers. These flowers bloom briefly in early spring and are vital to the local ecosystem, particularly to New York state’s various bee species, which rely on these plants during their short active periods above ground. 

“Some of the spring ephemerals, like spring beauty, trout [lilies] and trilliums, are really important for early pollinators,” said Shew.

The library’s top floor was transformed into a sanctuary for plant lovers, bustling with 22 individuals, including children, all eager to expand their knowledge of native plants. The workshop commenced with each attendee introducing themselves and sharing their favorite plant, fostering a community atmosphere of shared interest and enthusiasm.

Shew, who specializes in the FORCES program — Friends of Recreation, Conservation and Environmental Stewardship — emphasized the importance of familiarizing oneself with local plant species. Understanding local flora is crucial for promoting ecological awareness and responsible environmental stewardship.

“When you start being taught the variety of species that are around you, maybe in your backyard or on the trail that you walk all the time, you start to understand just how diverse the plant community around us is, and it’s very inspiring,” said Shew. “And once you start learning the names or characteristics of what makes some of these plants special, you learn to care about them, or you’re invested almost like they’re a member of the community.”

Shew encourages taking a gradual approach when learning about local plant species. By taking it slowly, individuals can gradually build their knowledge and familiarity with different species over time, transforming what might start as a challenging endeavor into a rewarding educational journey. This approach not only enhances one’s understanding of the local ecosystem but also fosters a deeper appreciation and connection with the natural world.

“If you’re going on a couple of walks a year, you’ll learn a couple more plants every year — and so over time you’ll start to feel more like, ‘Oh, I recognize these because I’ve learned them over a long time’ versus feeling the pressure to learn everything at once,” said Shew.

According to Shew, the natural world, with its unpredictability, holds a unique beauty. She refers to these unforeseen and stunning moments as “nature slaps.” These moments, she explains, are what connect us deeply to the environment around us.

“Maybe we’re focusing on this one plant that we’re out to survey and then a huge falcon flies by and it’s a nature slap,” said Shew. “We all look up in the air and we’re like, ‘Wow.’”

These initiatives underscore a growing commitment among Newfield residents to engage with and protect their natural environment.

Newfield Notes appears every Wednesday in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Town board meeting

The Newfield Town Board will meet May 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Newfield Town Hall. Community engagement is encouraged and the meeting agenda can be found on the Town of Newfield website.

Spring plant sale

The Newfield class of 2026 will host a plant sale May 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be hanging baskets, potted plants, flats, baked goods and drinks for sale.

Sam’s spaghetti dinner to benefit Old Home Days 

On May 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Newfield Fire Company, there will be a spaghetti dinner with all proceeds benefiting the 2024 Old Home Days festival. The dinner includes bread, salad, spaghetti and meatballs and dessert by Sam Kopf.  The cost is $12 per adult and $8 for children under 12. Takeouts are available, and bringing your own container is welcomed.