Welcome to Native Shore

Welcome to Native Shore, a blog from the American Littoral Society about it's Shore Steward program. In the Shore Steward program it is our mission to restore native plants to coastal New Jersey using partnerships with private and public organizations and individual citizens.

Why are we doing this? Is there a benefit? We're doing it because 150 years of coastal sprawl has left New Jersey's natural habitats almost non-existent and many of the plants the evolved here to live and flourish in the natural climate and conditions of coastal New Jersey have all but disappeared. They remain only in a few remnant natural areas and gardens of a few home owners who remember them from their youth. And yet there are great benefits to restoring native plants, not the least of which is the return to a vibrant and rugged natural beauty.

Along the way here we will seek to educate about the benefits and beauty of native plants. We will demonstrate how native plants can be incorporated into home gardens, public parks, municipal buffer zones, and corporate and business properties and lawns. We will demonstrate how schools and civic groups can participate. We will talk about how teachers can show students and citizens can show their neighbors the benefit of a healthier watershed that derives from the addition of more native plants.

Most of all we hope to engage you in this process. we look forward to your learning about your experience with New Jersey's native plants, your advice on how to care for them and where to plant them. We seek also your help in establishing partnerships that will help us put shovel to soil and plants in the ground. Do you belong to a garden club? Do work in a company that has a flat, over fertilized lawn? Do your belong to a civic organization in your local community? Are you on an environmental commission? Do you belong to a Rotary Club? Do you work for the Department of Public Works in your town?

Do you have ideas on how we can reach out and further this process? Reach out to us, we want to hear from you.