Welcome to our Blog!

Don’t Clean?

March 2026

Hold off on that spring yard clean up! These warm temps may have you tempted to start bagging that brush you left out in your yard all winter with the plan to take care of it in the spring. However, our pollinators and many other forms of wildlife rely on those brush piles, leaf litter, thatch, and standing plant litter to ride out the cold months either for food, shelter, or both!

Check out this photo of a polyphemus moth cocoon – would you recognize it as a cocoon? One of our staff members found one just like it in their yard recently. Unique in their wrapping of their cocoons with leaves, these native moths blend in remarkably well with that leaf litter you’ve been eyeing in your front yard. All the more reason to leave it be for the time being.

You may be thinking, “Ok, I get it, but when CAN I clean up my yard?” and the answers to that vary. A general rule of thumb is when soil temperatures and/or evening air temperatures reach around 50 degrees. Check out this article from the The Xerces Society on when it’s safe to pitch or compost that yard waste.

Same Eco-J, New Look!

June 2025

“The Eco-Justice Center has been a place of creativity, contemplation, and cultivation for 20 years. As we move forward, we realize that we are all that, and more. We wanted a brand that reflected our focus on education, discovery, and connection with the earth,” said MaryLynn Conter Strack, Executive Director of the Eco-Justice Center.

“The barn swallow embodies what we want people to feel when they come to Eco-J: belonging, joy, peace, discovery, and connection” said Conter Strack. “The upward movement of the barn swallow signifies forward motion and progress as we work to restore healthy ecosystems.”

Barn swallows are a common sight for staff, visitors, and summer campers during the spring and summer months. Found all over the world, barn swallows historically nested in shallow caves or cliff crevices. Today, they nest under bridges, eaves, or in open buildings. At Eco-J, many pairs of barn swallows nest in the granary or 1898 barn. Children in summer camp watch as barn swallow parents dart through the sky to catch insects to feed their young.

The sun symbolizes Eco-J’s commitment to renewable energy, regenerative agriculture, and mitigating climate change. The most recent renewable energy project, a solar-powered EV charging station, will be complete in February. When operational, Eco-J will produce over 90% of its electricity through renewable sources.

“In the last year, we’ve added STEM-based renewable energy programming for RUSD 5^th grade students, begun restoration of our riparian buffer, and planted almost 500 trees as part of the silvopasture project,” said Conter Strack. “How we communicate the work we do through our brand is important.”