With the underlying thought – “Think Globally, Act Locally” (Rene Dubos) – this series of talks is an exploration of current topics on conservation, sustainability and restoration from different viewpoints with different speakers who represent some of the State’s leading conservation groups. Starting with a state- wide perspective, it then brings the focus to Palm Beach County and the surrounding region.

Restoration and Transformation of Our Landscapes and Public Areas – How Community Engagement Creates Sustainability and Impact.

March 11, 2024 – 6:00 pm
CJ McCartney, ANSG Master Gardener in Residence

After moving to South Florida from Chicago in the late nineties, CJ McCartney underwent a shift in interests. Unfettered from her company, and now living in a subtropical climate, she began cycling and hiking natural habitats and started noticing all the wildlife that lived in and depended upon them for survival.

Along with a changing philosophy from “Somebody ought to do something about that, to one day realizing that she could do something,” she started learning how to be a knowledgeable and effective Environmental Steward. Along with training to become a Master Gardener, she started taking a variety of botanical and horticulture classes and seminars to supplement her formal education from Harvard University in public policy and urban management.

Currently, she works with PBC Environmental Resource Management vouchering plants and leading outreach activities, as the Master Gardner in Residence at Ann Norton Sculpture Garden and serves on several Boards and gardening committees. Two decades later, that budding interest takes many forms. Botanizing, birding, photographing nature, speaking to community groups as well as designing/installing pollinator and wildflower gardens are just some of the ways it shows up today. She approaches all her community service with an underlying belief that – together – we can mitigate the loss of natural habitats by creating a patch or a plot of wildlife friendly yards to offer our homeless wildlife and native plants a  safe and welcoming haven.