Happy Spring Reader!

It is finally here, in Pennsylvania (the midAtlantic) and I’m really feelin’ it for the first time in years. I’ll share more about that soon, as the last few winter emails were quite reflective on all that already haha.

Today I’m in your inbox for a quick PSA: don’t rush into spring cleanup just yet!

I know it feels warm and amazing right now, and you might have the urge to get outside and "tidy" up, but a cold snap is coming (and always does) in the northeast, so it's really not time to cleanup yet, if you do at all.

Early spring cleanup can cause real harm to the wildlife you’ve been protecting all season:

🌱 Pollinators may still be overwintering in older stalks from prior years

🐝 Ground-nesting bees are weeks away from emerging

🐦 Standing seed heads are still feeding the birds

🍃 Leaves on the ground are insulating soil + sheltering insects

Every layer of organic matter in your yard is working for your ecosystem.

We'd love to see a world where it's more wild than manicured, but we also know that we have to build the bridge in that direction, from where we are now. And many neighborhoods are still expecting a certain visual standard, and in some places you can get fined for allowing plants to grow too tall or wild.

If you want clarity on what you CAN do this time of year, and how to avoid “bad looks” from your neighbors, haha…

…I’m sharing some tips from the resource we created for the EarthCare Library this month -

My longest-standing team member, Morgan, and my newest team member, and dear old friend, Sara Rose, both helped me create it <3

First, we can Observe.

One of the foundational aspects of EarthCare is bringing awareness to what our Place actually needs before rushing into action.

Only after we observe what our Place actually needs can we Interact Intentionally.

When you observe… you can...

• Aggressive weeds... pull them before they go to seed to prevent spread (use Seek app to ID)
• Fallen sticks and small branches... add to your compost or bundle into habitat piles
• Vines on trees... cut them at the base and let them dry up naturally
• Last years standing stalks... trim back to 8-24” but leave the older stalks (which may still have bees overwintering inside!)
• Leaf litter... leave it put to protect the soil, plants, and insects

The general "rule" has been to wait until temps are consistently in the 50's to do any real cleanup, but even this advice is a bit outdated, on the edge of leading awareness that many species are still emerging long after. So “full cleanups” are not really ever recommended in the ideal ecological approach.

We can assess damage to trees.

BUT - before you call an arborist to remove a tree you suspect is dead, diseased or damaged, remember that over 1000 species of wildlife depend on these dead or dying, but still standing, trees. Including our beloved fireflies!

In February, we published a full guide on how to assess these trees and your safety, how to create a wildlife snag, and even a one-page to print and give your arborist. You can find it in the EarthCare Library. ​

"Cues to Care" are another thing we can do in any season. These are simple design elements that signal you care. They communicate that you are being mindful and not neglecting your yard or property.

• A tidy “edge” is easy on the eyes
• Adding signage communicates WHY you care
• Use those fallen sticks and branches as natural garden borders!
• Remove trash that may have blown in from winter winds

The pressure we feel to manage our outdoor spaces ultimately comes from a place of caring a lot, so we want to start by honoring that! Thank you!! YES! AND... we can extend that care to the wildlife as well, and find ways to take action, without doing harm.

Ultimately, pay attention to your Place. The temps and all these "standard rules" shift from place to place, depending on what's present in your micro-climate. That's the point of observing first and getting to know it.

Our full 21-page Ultimate Mindful Cleanup guide comes with seasonal timelines, a toolkit checklist, basic mindful pruning tutorial, weeds 101, sheet mulching tutorial, and natural materials checklist.

It is available in the EarthCare Library along with a Cues to Care Guide, Wildlife Snag Guide, and tons of other resources to support you this time of year, and well beyond. This is what it looks like inside:

And if you’re feeling the itch to do MORE, you can also “Spring into Learning” with your local ecological education centers. You can find these by contacting local universities, state and national parks, wildlife rehab centers, some regenerative farms, arboretums, botanical gardens and even some basic garden centers.

If you’re local to me (York county PA), one of my favorite learning places is the Horn Farm Center, who are offering many workshops and walks this Spring:

Learning is a great way to slow down while still satisfying your urge to do something.

Speaking of which, my workshop is coming up soon!! I can’t wait to connect with you all live.

Stay wild and wonder-filled,

Kendra

P.S. What are you noticing in your Place as we shift into Spring?

Are you struggling with the cleanup delay? Or do you love hearing you're off the hook!

Hit reply - I love hearing what's happening in your corner of the world, and it helps me know how to help you better too!

Written by a human - Kendra Marie Hoffman

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." - Ralph Waldo Emerson