January 15 & 16 of this year, I was excited to once again attend the NDAL Conference. Ecological gardening, ecological restoration, innovative meadow design and indigenous approaches to connection with nature defined the main topics covered in this year’s conference. Ranging from highly technical to quite sensitive, speakers shared their projects, experiences and moments of inspiration including: new GPS tech tools, Ecological Restoration tool kits, plant design sketches and beautiful photos from Brazil to UK to the sierra nevada forests. In all cases, speakers shared ideas and experiences that really matter to them. There was a lot of heart.

One of my favorite moments was listening to M. Kat Anderson, author of Tending the Wild speak about the connection between humans and plant evolution and the mutual benefit, when the action between the two is respectful and understood. So much of what she shared is obvious, and yet overlooked: many wild plants become more productive when harvested, many American landscapes are improved with regular fire, people are a part of nature. “Plants miss us,” she says.

Thank you so much Larry Weaner, Sarah Weaner and the NDAL team for putting together another wonderful and inspiring event.