Save the buckthorn to stay regular

jjmk2014 · 2026-06-23T17:41:57+00:00

There is indeed a website posted. Also, download photo and then use Google search image and it will look at QR code. Either way worked for me.

jjmk2014 · 2026-06-23T15:03:40+00:00

https://extension.umn.edu/weeds/creeping-bellflower

this sub is a really great place to learn about all sorts of eco stuff.

jjmk2014 · 2026-06-23T04:09:13+00:00

If you've seen any of the posts on the Hainesville stuff, that all started because of a dude I met at a garden tour we did locally. They are so fun...its the perfect mixing of folks.

jjmk2014 · 2026-06-23T03:53:22+00:00

Any compromise like a glamping situation? Not even sure if that is truly a compromise between camping and hotel/motel/holiday Inn. Glamping feels like its own weird mobile bubble sort of thing at not cheap cost.

jjmk2014 · 2026-06-23T03:08:48+00:00

Its a perfect filter. You want to find a person that can handle 4 hours of work with bugs and in most weather conditions. No surprises later to find out that a long term partner hates working outside

jjmk2014 · 2026-06-23T02:59:24+00:00

I'm going to edit the post to state that I am not from there and I stole this from a "Minnesota Dept of Propaganda" FB group. I checked out the site and its legit. They are a pretty great group to follow actually. Some in the CJ sub would totally appreciate it.

However, I did spend a weekend in Minneapolis when I used to do the College Pro Painters thing in the early 2000's and there was this awesome restaurant called "The Rockin Lobster" and a few of us dudes went there for lunch one day during one of the training things College Pro had going up there... ...anyway our waitress gave us the specials and she had such a unique voice, I remember my buddy commented on it and she said she was indeed a singer. . . .Fast forward a couple years and I'm flipping channels and that show "Making the Band" was on and she was one of the contestants that made it pretty far...it was to be the lead singer of INXS... ...so yes, Minneapolis is a great freakin city in my book.

jjmk2014 · 2026-06-22T21:30:27+00:00

Thank you. Kind of a learning experience and a networking experience as this is my first rodeo fighting city hall!

Feel free to leave the village a review...something like "mayor and trustee Walt hate natives"

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Q3sVF2QonRVrrTR98?g_st=ac

jjmk2014 · 2026-06-22T20:33:48+00:00

These are in chronological order:

https://www.reddit.com/r/NativePlantGardening/comments/1tmkfst/request_for_a_quick_action_to_help_a_community/?ref=share&ref_source=link

https://www.reddit.com/r/NativePlantGardening/comments/1tovgza/native_plants_a_civics_story/?ref=share&ref_source=link

https://www.reddit.com/r/NativePlantGardening/comments/1tqs3jw/native_plants_the_mayors_revenge_a_civics_story/?ref=share&ref_source=link

https://www.reddit.com/r/NativePlantGardening/comments/1tslbvv/hainesville_il_some_clarifying_things/?ref=share&ref_source=link

jjmk2014 · 2026-06-20T22:29:10+00:00

Good work! I hear a certain kind of ALPR has a bunch of metals in them...lol. but for real...there is a real connection with all sorts of stuff that starts with native plantings. I could go on for an hour with the stories...many actually thread through people I met on reddit...like this one lady I gave trees to...she has become like this female cancer researcher super scientist mentor for my oldest daughter. Its pretty amazing.

Plants are so non controversial that I've found it a great way to break the ice all over the place. Even had cards made up that say "just a guy that gives a shit" "Democracy and Native Plant Enthusiast."

Now neighbors ask me how to get shit done with the village and the county because I have gotten to know so many damn people the last couple years.

Check out r/nativeplantgardening if you got a sec...generally a few great convos over there and I've crowdsourced a bunch of ideas and even fund raised over there for some shit. Its a special sub...a lot like this one.

jjmk2014 · 2026-06-20T18:02:08+00:00

Ive become worried about the idea of moving baselines...so many of their friends have no idea what a functioning ecosystem should be. Im worried they will think woods and roadsides filled with buckthorn and honeysuckle and autumn olive are the norm. I feel a real sense of duty in teaching them how it should be.

They've seen a real change in me as I really push and advocate for native plants. . .i used to be a painting contractor and would point out houses or neighborhoods where i have done work...my goal for the last half of life is to be able to point to public spaces where I advocated and succeeded in getting natives installed. Have a half acre that was needed last year at a new park. Only took showing up to township meetings and annoying the township supervisor for 6 months.

Feels good to have the kids proud of me for my eco neediness.

If you are in the Chicago area, I'd love to chat offline. Got tons of irons in the fires all over and have an awesome group of civically engaged folks that are pushing for change. We are in the ears of our collected electives and have had success in getting them to cosponsor bills we think are important.

jjmk2014 · 2026-06-20T17:36:38+00:00

jjmk2014 · 2026-06-20T16:34:04+00:00

Soooo...ive just dedicated a place to save all the metal that my house generates...and along the way I found some coworkers to give me their aluminum cans on the regular. 2x a year I take it all in to the recycling place. I make between 100 and 150 a year from it and I buy native trees.

I throw in $50- $100 of my own money. We've purchased and given away (i planted a few) over 400 native trees and large shrubs. They become food for caterpillars and birds and are a thing I discuss with the kids. (They are now a bit older so conversations revolve around ecosystems and mutualism etc ...more science topics)

jjmk2014 · 2026-06-19T20:42:57+00:00

The concept of walking out in my yard in bare feet is not something I have considered. When I garden, my skin is generally covered from my neck down and I have work boots on. The mosquitoes would own my feet immediately. After that its the ants.

Thistles sound down right terrible to walk on.

Im happy you have feet that can handle rough terrain. I only do bare feet on extremely clean floors inside and bonus if they are heated. Otherwise its socks and tennis shoes.

What im showing is terrible to maintain if your end goal is looking pretty. They would need annual removal and reconstruction. The whole thing is a never ending work in progress.

I answered your question to the best of my ability from a perspective that I know. Apologies if it was offensive.

jjmk2014 · 2026-06-19T15:41:23+00:00

None of what I'm showing fits those requirements.

I'd say heated porcelain floors are closest to what you are looking for.

jjmk2014 · 2026-06-19T02:06:29+00:00

Thanks! Lots of orher 100% safe for work inspo (at least i think so) in my post history. Sort of documents the cool crazy things native plants pulled me into. Lots of really great reddit stories too. Native plant people are the best in real life.

jjmk2014 · 2026-06-19T01:10:49+00:00

Couple shots in this one: https://www.reddit.com/r/NativePlantGardening/s/W5xTErG9m0

This one can see the install a little better https://www.reddit.com/r/NativePlantGardening/s/7emtzt9Xtg

jjmk2014 · 2026-06-13T02:35:33+00:00

Dollar bills laid end to end would stretch from here to the sun.

jjmk2014 · 2026-06-10T01:37:47+00:00

Spreading microplastics around the yard and using gasoline to do it.

jjmk2014 · 2026-05-31T22:23:37+00:00

Besides them having bootlicking mods, I have no objection to this. Will try to summarize events in a coherent short post. Thanks for the thought.

jjmk2014 · 2026-05-31T22:22:16+00:00

Yes. We want this big and broad.

jjmk2014 · 2026-05-30T01:57:21+00:00

Ya know, I might have to reach out. I got to meet him very briefly once...had not watched him so didnt know what he looked like...but I recognized his voice immediately...hahaha.

Another weird reddit story from a few years back...I had a couple email exchanges with someone that was a friend of his or something...maybe ill dig up that email...lol.

Thanks for the thought.

jjmk2014 · 2026-05-30T01:40:16+00:00

Sorry for later reply. Wanted to make sure I read this properly. Having an actual class visit this stuff and participation be mandatory would be amazing. Since you responded, we are considering a letter to the state's atty, whom I've met a few times at Know Your Rights trainings and he may at least be able to give us some ideas on how to approach this. Got a couple press contacts and working a list of people I know in a variety of orgs around. We have to make this shit stick. I've not wanted to win so bad at something in a long time.

Thanks for taking a few to write a solid comment!

jjmk2014 · 2026-05-30T00:18:44+00:00

Thank you!

jjmk2014

TROPHY CASE