Native plants are of vital importance for the health, resilience and balance of our ecosystems and the survival of all living things. Learn how you can transform your own garden into a healthy habitat, and find out about the “Pollinator Friendly Garden” certification program through USM’s Cooperative Extension.

About the Presenter

In 2023 Jen Stenberg enrolled in the Master Gardener Volunteer Program, a yearlong course through the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Here she developed her affinity to working with native plant species and received her certification in January 2024. She is passionate about the importance of native plants, which are of vital importance for the health, resilience and balance of our ecosystems and the survival of all living things. She has worked to transform her own garden into a healthy habitat and was awarded a “Pollinator Friendly Garden” certification by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Program. Jen co-chairs the Living Landscapes Committee of the Stroudwater Neighborhood Association, and has volunteered with South Portland’s Resilient Yard Program for the past two years.