HOPE 2022: Helping Ohioans Plant Ecosystems

08/15/2023

I made a game 😮

HERE IT IS! 🥳

I’ve been working on this native plant card game all summer and it’s FINALLY getting published and is now a physical card game you can buy!

Native Plant Party TM is a competitive card game where players compete to plant native plants and attract the most pollinators before time runs out!

Bulk orders take awhile (I’ve learned) so shipping isn’t until November BUT hopefully that means it’ll come in time for Christmas 🎅🏻

You can pre-order here, thank you to everyone who has supported this idea over the part months and here’s hoping it inspires families, classrooms, homeschool groups and more to get native plants in the ground 😎

Nature Dads

03/09/2023

Share far and wide!

🎉 Jared Goodykoontz a naturalist from central Ohio, with the help of his 6 year old has created a FREE native plant card game for parents and teachers to use as a fun way to introduce kiddos to native plant parties: the idea that each plant invites specific animal brothers and sisters to your habitat‼️ 🃏🃏🃏

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦This game is perfect for classrooms, homeschool groups, families, scout troops and more❗️ For ages 5… and all the way up❗️

🃏 Link to the Card Game: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10cQiWwaFYzLTotzw-HLFfpM0CO1PfG8l?fbclid=IwAR0kisfCw3RmPdSN--ZrajV7kxdYTryUCu0nd8l2Uetzz0PYpxOvBbu9Wjg

⭐ Be sure to read the READ THIS FIRST page.

⭐ The templates for making new cards is also included if you feel like making additional natives or invasives! If so then email Jared Goodykoontz so that he can upload for everyone.

04/26/2022

But on the positive side: ✨

He is teaching me (and all of us) 🧠
AND Him being on charge of what actually works is like Him gardening beside us, which is cool 😎

04/24/2022

It’s time to shine the light of Christians caring for Creation in science-based ecological ways

03/04/2022

Safety first! Let’s slay these ecological 🐉

03/01/2022

Here’s the form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/128R-IOfK6JA89e2-V-LfGTpOmdU4WNSpGnB6v8hcwgw/viewform?fbclid=IwAR0I-E4BaSEFm7KIqbwGpnoD6WgF3McqBE_7vsRyIt5KB1JYttqYAzP7TZ0&edit_requested=true

See older post for instructions too 😎

02/21/2022

Some winter sowing instructions put together by Laura Oldham! Are you growing with us? Don’t forget to fill out the form: https://forms.gle/eFz6E1nYRz9ApU4S8

🌱 Get growing with Team HOPE: 🌱

A team of Ohioans is helping other Ohioans plant as many native plants as possible in 2022! Why? Native plants mean healthier land and wildlife. Healthier land and wildlife means healthier YOU! Learn more about Team Hope 2022 via our LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/ohiohope2022

How can you help? We need HOPE heroes to help plant native seeds in milk jugs so that we can share with friends, neighbors, local organizations and more to help get growing in 2022.

First, collect milk jugs or semi-transparent plastic containers...your local coffee shop is a great resource for milk jugs.

Next, drill five holes for drainage in the bottom of each jug. Cut around the milk jug about 85% and keep the area around the handle in place to allow a way to carry your jug and then create a hinge. This YouTube video can help explain the winter sowing process: http://bit.ly/ohiohope2022

Then, add at least three inches of soil starting mix.

Finally, water your soil and add a single species of seeds to each milk jug. Native seeds shouldn't be planted deeper than the size of the seeds, so tiny speck seeds can just be sprinkled on top of the soil. Clearly label each milk jug with the plant's common and scientific name. Use Duct tape or another waterproof option to close your jugs around the cut, but leave the cap off to allow moisture in and out.

Put your milk jugs outside on the ground where they'll be safe from animals and the wind and will get at least six hours of sun. The east side of the building where you live works great. Every few days in Spring if it hasn’t rained for a while, check your jugs. Lift them up carefully… if they feel heavy, they’re good. If they feel light, water them.

And that’s it! Let’s make Ohio happier and healthier for people and animals! Once your jugs are planted, let’s celebrate together by posting it on our Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/952925085348071/)
or tagging on Instagram!

02/14/2022

For more great Winter Sowing in a milkjug info, checkout the Facebook group “Winter Sowers” 😎

02/11/2022

Okay, here we GROW!

We have connected with FLOW and possibly ODOT too!

If you are willing, we will empower YOU to grow at least 10 (or more!) jugs of Ohio native plants right in your backyard.

Come Late Spring, we will be giving these to FLOW in Columbus, possibly ODOT for roadside prairies, and everywhere else we can!

So, who is willing to try? You just need to to say yes and you’ll be helped with all the rest 💚

02/04/2022

Enjoy this Savannah Sparrow I made from nature bits for my daughter 🎶 🐦

02/04/2022

Bird song is beginning 🎶 🐦

Enjoy this Savannah Sparrow I made for my daughter out of various native plants!

Also, be sure to checkout our resources linktr.ee/ohiohope2022

02/04/2022

In Ohio we have almost 2000 native plant species. Starting in 2022, we will promote 3-5 of these great native plants that we are calling Ohio Native Plants of Distinction. The plants for this year are the Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa - a large canopy tree), Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis - an understory tree), Northern Spicebush (Lindera benzoin - a woody shrub), and Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea - a common, wonderful perennial).

Please help to promote these 4 great plants in 2022 by sharing stories about their benefits to wildlife, ecosystems, pollinators, or humans. Encourage people to learn about these plants, buy them from Ohio growers, and plant them in their yards and communities. Include them in your plant sales with a banner that identifies them as Ohio Native Plants of Distinction. More about each of these plants will be added to our website soon.

https://www.ohionativeplantmonth.org