Lea is a Certified Environmental Educator-Professional. As the owner of Joyful Wildcrafting, she regularly consults with teachers and homeowners on creating native plant gardens and various land stewardship topics. She holds workshops for people to connect with nature through foraging for food, herbal remedies, and artistic creations. Lea is a member of the Native Plant Guild, the West Michigan Conservation Network, Wild Ones River City, and the Michigan Association of Environmental and Outdoor Educators (MAEOE).
Joyful Wildcrafting
- LOCATION: Eastown
- Native plants–many native species of flowers, shrubs, and trees have been planted over the years.
- Stormwater Management–keeping water where it falls on the property with four rain gardens filled with native plants.
- Pollinator habitat–Monarch and Eastern Black Swallowtail butterflies lay eggs on host plants every year, various native bumble bees and mud dauber wasps find nesting sites on the ground, while mason and carpenter bees find homes in structures.
- Edible and Medicinal plants–wildcrafting plants for food, herbal remedies, and artistic expression is a focus for both native and introduced species at the site.
