WWA

Do you have a large area you’re trying to re-naturalize? Where to start can seem daunting.
Check out these resources from EQIP.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is NRCS’ flagship conservation program that helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners integrate conservation into working lands.

| Natural Resources Conservation Service Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Here’s another reason to “leave the leaves” and not mulch or burn them this fall. In their last act as a caterpillar, Eastern Tiger Swallowtails (Papilio glaucus) often crawl down to the base of their host tree and pupate in the leaf litter or dangling from twigs on a tree or on the ground. At this stage, the brown caterpillar and pupa blend in well with the detritus and a light covering of fallen leaves insulate the pupa from cold winter temperatures.

If you want to see more of these beautiful butterflies in your yard next spring, here’s something to consider with your leaves. If you’re going to pick them up, gently blow or rake your leaves into a planting bed or wild space on your property. Spreading them out in a “fluffy” layer of loose leaves that’s less than 12 inches deep is best (think of the typical leaf depth in a hardwood forest), but this may not be manageable for all homeowners. The leaf litter will allow any Eastern Tiger Swallowtail pupae attached to the underside of the leaves to have a chance at successfully overwintering and then emerging from the leaf litter next spring.

Given their beauty and abundance, it’s easy to see why Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are the state butterfly of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.

NOT NEWS, But an important reminder: honeybees only pollinate a fraction of our crops, and they are not even native to this continent; start appreciating native insects!

TLDR: Hoverflies, often mistaken for bees and wasps, pollinate three quarters of our crops. Now we’re discovering we can train them to be even more efficient

The long-overlooked insects that could save our crops Hoverflies, often mistaken for bees and wasps, pollinate three quarters of our crops. Now we’re discovering we can train them to be even more efficient

Small businesses are being crushed under the boot of big corporations and government.

Enough is enough already!

SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES! WTF IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?!

Sorry not sorry that this makes me so damn mad. People are literally funding their own slavery!

Wonderful news!

We are thrilled to share that we have received a generous $1.5M bequest from an anonymous donor for endowment funds to support our ongoing work in conservation, including banking the seed of rare and endangered
native plants in New England, and to create a new endowment supporting our communications and visual resources!

“This extraordinary bequest strengthens the very foundation of our mission. In 2025, our seed bank surpassed ten million seeds—a testament to the power of science, persistence, and community in safeguarding the natural world. This gift allows us to deepen that commitment, ensuring that New England’s rarest plants, and the ecosystems they sustain, endure for generations to come.” -Tim Johnson, CEO

To read the full press release and learn more about our seed banking efforts, follow this link:https://newfs-society.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/NativePlantTrust__10MSeedBanked1.5MBequest_PressRelease_2025_2.pdf

Available online and at Northboro Canine Rehabilitation & Fitness Center!

✨Golden Paws✨
Canine Feed Additive designed to support joints and muscles especially in older dogs

https://www.wildwingapothecary.com/product/golden-paws-feed-additive-for-dogs-8-oz-tub/62

Ingredients: coconut oil (extra virgin organic), raw local honey (Carlisle Honey Co.), turmeric root (Curcuma longa), black pepper (Piper nigrum), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinale), frankincense (Boswellia serrata), MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), cinnamon, stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)

Why Frankincense(Boswellia) + MSM(Methylsulfonylmethane)?

Key Clinical Studies on MSM + Boswellia
MEBAGA Study (2015)
A randomized clinical trial compared MSM and boswellic acids (BA) to glucosamine sulfate (GS) in patients with knee arthritis. Over 60 days, the MSM+BA group showed significant improvements in pain and joint function, comparable to the GS group.
MESACA Study (2011)
This double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assessed the combination of MSM and BA in knee arthritis patients. The study found that the MSM+BA group experienced significant reductions in pain and improved joint function compared to the placebo group.
Systematic Review (2020)
A comprehensive review analyzed the efficacy of Boswellia extracts in OA patients. The findings indicated that Boswellia serrata is a potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent, providing significant relief in OA symptoms.

https://hero.epa.gov/reference/3161338/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26684635/

How Stinging Nettle Supports Dogs with Osteoarthritis:

Key Bioactive Compounds: Flavonoids, Phenolic acids, Lignans and polysaccharides, Lectins and scopoletin, Minerals

Mechanisms of Action:
COX-2 Inhibition
Some studies show (see below) stinging nettle extract can inhibit COX-2, the enzyme that drives inflammation and pain in osteoarthritic joints — similar to NSAIDs but gentler on the gut and liver.
TNF-α Blocking Activity
Nettle extract has been shown to suppress tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), a major inflammatory signal in chronic joint disease.
Synovial Fluid Support
Antioxidant effects may protect the synovial membrane, which produces the lubricating fluid in joints — crucial for mobility and comfort.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10606356/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9923611/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23092723/

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) may help support muscle retention in older dogs due to its natural content of ursolic acid, a plant compound shown to promote muscle protein synthesis and reduce muscle wasting. Ursolic acid works by enhancing the activity of IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) and suppressing muscle-degrading pathways, which is especially beneficial for aging dogs who may experience muscle loss due to decreased activity or joint discomfort. Additionally, rosemary’s antioxidant properties help reduce oxidative stress, supporting overall cellular health in muscle tissue.

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/2/186

Turmeric supports joint comfort in dogs through its active compound curcumin, which helps modulate inflammation by down-regulating NF-κB and COX-2—two key pathways involved in stiffness and joint discomfort. Its strong antioxidant activity also helps protect joint tissues from oxidative stress. Turmeric becomes even more effective when paired with ingredients like black pepper, which contains piperine to enhance curcumin absorption, and MSM, which complements turmeric by supporting collagen formation and reducing inflammatory signaling. Together, these ingredients create a synergistic blend that supports mobility and overall joint wellness in a gentle, natural way.

https://www.wildwingapothecary.com/product/golden-paws-feed-additive-for-dogs-8-oz-tub/62

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BKTZbZ21s/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Last fall I had the opportunity to speak with Andy Finton, the senior conservation ecologist at The Nature Conservancy. He was very helpful in making some connections between what we do in our yards and the bigger picture. There is a lot of information out there about leaving leaves and other organic materials in our yards in the fall and as long as possible into the spring. When I cover this topic, I always try to emphasize both the advantages of doing this and also some of the nuances because it’s not one-size-fits-all. Some of the considerations could be if you live in a Homeowners Association (HOA) and don’t have full control over what happens in your yard, you have landscapers and they do a full fall cleanup, you have dogs or are worried about ticks, or you may live in a more arid climate where it takes much longer for leaves to break down. The list goes on. If you can only leave a few leaves in a small corner of your yard, this is better than nothing at all. It’s great for your soil and protects your plants and it’s also helpful to wildlife. And it’s nice to be a little lazy at this time of year too! The next phase of this cycle to consider is leaving as many of these leaves as possible in the spring, to allow many of these insects to complete their life cycle, which is after temperatures have reliably reached the 50s. This also has nuance and exceptions. For information about what The Nature Conservancy does, visit their website: https://nature.org/Massachusetts About me: I am a garden coach and consultant based in the Boston area (zone 6b). I meet with people in person around the Boston area and virtually anywhere. My website to schedule consultations: https://www.youcandoitgardening.com #youcandoitgardening #thenatureconservancy #leavetheleaves #ecology #gardeningforbeginners #gardeningtips #gardencoach #gardening #landscaping #gardening101