Nestled between the Midway Woods and Dearborn Heights neighborhoods is one of Decatur’s finest residential amenities: Dearborn Park, a leftover jewel of the Piedmont region. This wholly natural setting is a rare piece of land that contains fragments of other continents from underwater collisions millions of years ago. Wonderful little treasures are discovered by its loyal keepers regularly, from yellow fin shiners swimming in the stream to traces of an old-growth forest, and the communal enjoyment of nature shines forth in this group of passionate environmental advocates. Martha Miller and Sarah Zingarelli (known affectionately as “Zing”) started the alliance in March 2019, after learning of the Japanese Chaff Flower threatening to overtake the park’s well-being. What began as a desire to remove ivy from tree trunks snowballed into an operation to eliminate this highly invasive species, whose long seed spikes release up to 1,500 seeds in a season, 97% of which germinate. By digging up the chaff flower, Dearborn Park is protected, as well as the local neighbors’ own yards. Kristen Daniel, a teacher, joined in 2020 while working from home. With a passion for restoring the environment, her tips on the neighborhood Facebook group caught Martha and Zing’s eye, and she was quickly recruited. “The best chance we have for keeping our earth healthy is to keep the big trees and green space we already have balanced,” Kristen explains. Meg Hedeen, Kristen’s next-door neighbor, joined the cause when she moved to the neighborhood from Cobb County. A wildlife biologist, she was thrilled to meet an organized group of neighbors invested in preserving nature.
The first Saturday and third Sunday of every month, you’ll find this team in Dearborn Park, getting their hands dirty, calming their nervous systems, and restoring historic bounty. Each session typically has six to eight participants, and they’re intent on expanding those numbers to increase their impact. A key collaborator is a teenage boy named Finnan, who began helping in seventh grade and hasn’t stopped since. The opportunity to experience the wonder and awe of nature with equally enthusiastic advocates brings a blissful sense of satisfaction. It’s a magical experience to see spaces cleared of invasive species suddenly spring forth with native plants. “It’s been a great escape,” Meg tells me, “you’re sweating and you’re laughing: that’s the good part of life.” What they need now is more volunteers and sponsorship, and it is powerful to contribute to a cause that genuinely benefits the world. Are you interested in lending a helping hand? This month, the alliance meets on November 1st and November 16th, from 10 am until noon. “Nature needs heroes,” Zing proclaims, “and these women are heroes.” Enjoy healthy escapism, environmental advocacy, and pure community building with the Dearborn Area Nature Alliance.
dearborn30030@gmail.com
@DearbornAreaNatureAlliance