As a Garden Earth Naturalist, YOU can make a difference!

Do you know what the word Naturalist means?

Do you know any famous Naturalists?

What can you do as a Garden Earth Naturalist?

A Naturalist is person who studies plants and animals in their natural surroundings. Naturalists care about the environment. What does the word Naturalist mean?

Famous NaturalistsAldo LeopoldRachel Carson John Muir George Washington Carver

Who are these people and why should I care about them?

Jane GoodallChipko Movement Teddy RooseveltDr. Seuss

Aldo LeopoldKnown as the Father of wildlife ecology Knew more about Americas wildlife than anyone else of his time!

Believed that all things in nature are connected into a web of life. It is not possible to hurt one part without the rest of the web being affected.

Aldo LeopoldWhile living on a farm in Wisconsin, Aldo documented years of nature study through journalingThese journals were published in a book called The Sand County Almanac Introduced the idea of A Land EthicTaught that people should be stewards of the land. We are just members of the land-community, not controllers.

Aldo Leopold1935: Helped found the Wilderness Society1937: Established the Wildlife Society

Rachel CarsonRachels Mother taught her a love for writing and natureShe studied marine biology and zoology in college.Wrote multiple books on marine ecology

Rachel Carson1962: published Silent SpringHer book talked about how DDT (a pesticide) and other synthetic chemicals that were poisoning local lakes, rivers, oceans, wildlife, and people as these chemicals went through the food chain from water, to birds, fish, and other wildlife, and eventually to humans.Rachel Carson has been called the Mother of the modern environmental movement

John MuirAfter loosing sight in one eye in an accident, John focused on getting into nature once his vision returned.John spent a lot of time in the Yosemite Valley of California. There he journaled about wildlife, plants, glaciers, trees, and mountains.He also took an 1000 mile hike through the Gulf of Mexico to study botany (plants).

John Muir1892: elected president of the Sierra Club, which is still an active environmental group today.Called the Father of our National Parks, Father of Glaciology, Father of Yosemite, and the Greatest Californian.

George Washington CarverAs an African American, Carver had trouble being recognized as the great naturalist and agriculturalist he was.Studied agriculture in college. Later becoming a college professor.

George Washington CarverDiscovered new ways to use plants for food, healing, and in manufactured products.Main focus was the peanut, finding over 100 uses for the plant crop.Made a way for future African Americans in science.

Jane GoodallAs a child, Goodall always had a dream of going to Africa.Worked digging up bones (archaeology) in Africa as a way to follow her dreams of studying animals.

Jane GoodallStudied chimpanzees for 45 years.Observed how chimpanzees use tools such as grass blades to find food and rocks to break fruit.Developed a relationship with the chimpanzees she studied, so that they were no longer afraid of her.

Chipko MovementChipko is a Hindi word meaning "hugging.Describes how local village women "hugged" trees to prevent them from being cut down. Though most protesters were women, Sunderial Bbahuguna is the most well known leader of the movement.The success of the Chipko movements have saved thousands of trees from being felled and have led to laws protecting forests in India.

Theodore (Teddy) RooseveltEnjoyed nature as a child, collecting plant and animal specimens and journaling on his studies.Studied natural history in college.First President to consider the long-term need for conservation of national resources

Teddy RooseveltPreserved more than 170 million acres of lands in the forms of national parks and monuments. 150 National Forests 51 Federal Bird Reservations 4 National Game Preserves 5 National Parks 18 National Monuments 24 Reclamation Projects Friends with John Muir and Gifford Pinchot, two other famous naturalists.

Dr. SeussDr. Seuss was born Theodor Seuss Geisel and began his career in the late 1920s doing cartoons for the humor magazines.Later started writing childrens books that often had powerful messages.

Dr. SeussDr. Suess greatest gift to the world of Ecology was his book, The Lorax. A story about pollution and unwise use of natural resources. Many people were shocked to see a childrens writer make such a strong environmental statement.

What can we learn from these famous Naturalists?How to take care of our own piece of Garden Earth!

What can you do as a Garden Earth Naturalist?Plant a gardenLearn the best methods for growing plants.Study pollinators and other wildlife that may use your garden for food or habitat. Distribute plants to local people for their gardens or food crops to people in need.

What can you do as a Garden Earth Naturalist?Fight for conservationProtect the trees! Whether it be a local plot of land or acreage of rainforest in South America.Educate the public on the importance of protecting natural resources.Help establish or clean up a local park.

What can you do as a Garden Earth Naturalist?Help stop pollutionOrganize a trash clean up in a local park, stream, or roadside.Do water sampling to test for pollutants in a local water source.Educate the public on common air and water pollutants and what they can do to help.

What are some Garden Earth Naturalists already doing?

Fowler Drive Elementary GEN ClubPlanting a butterfly garden to learn the importance of pollinators and to establish gardening skills.Collecting seeds and propagating plants to distribute at GEN Science Nights and Pinewood Estates (a local Latino trailer park).

Fowler Drive Elementary GEN ClubGEN Departments involved:Pollination SoilPest and Disease ControlBiodiversityFood Production

Madison and Oglethorpe County 4-H ClubCompost poultry litter to be used as fertilizerUse compost to fertilize pumpkin plants and other vegetable and wildflower plants.Plant seedlings at schools or local parks to attract butterfliesDonate vegetable seedlings to local food bank for low income summer gardening

Madison and Oglethorpe County 4-H ClubGEN Departments involved:Pollination Soil and RecyclingAir CleaningFood Production

What will you do as a Garden Earth Naturalist?