FRIENDS OF AMY B H GREENWELL ETHNOBOTANICAL GARDEN

ORGANIZATIONAL GROWTH AND LEADERSHIP THE FRIENDS OF AMY B.H. GREENWELL ETHNOBOTANICAL GARDEN ("THE GARDEN") BUILT OUT ITS PERMANENT STAFF TO SEVEN, INCLUDING NEW HIRES IN EDUCATION AND FOREST MAINTENANCE. STAFF UNDERTOOK PROFESSIONAL TRAINING IN PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS, FIRST AID, AND SUSTAINABLE PROPAGATION TECHNIQUES. A DORIS DUKE CONSERVATION FELLOW COMPLETED A COMMUNITY NETWORK STUDY IN THE SUMMER, AND THE GARDEN WAS PREPARING TO HOST ITS FIRST KUPU/AMERICORPS CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM INTERN IN EARLY 2025. DIGITAL OUTREACH EXPANDED SIGNIFICANTLY, WITH A REDESIGNED WEBSITE, INCREASED SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE, AND MULTIMEDIA DOCUMENTATION OF THE GARDEN'S PROGRAMS. NATIVE PLANT NURSERY AND CONSERVATION THE GARDEN DISTRIBUTED A TOTAL OF 898 TREES AND 563 PLANTS IN 2024 THROUGH A COMBINATION OF GIVEAWAYS, PUBLIC SALES, AND RESTORATION PARTNERSHIPS. OVER 50 NATIVE, ENDEMIC, AND POLYNESIAN-INTRODUCED SPECIES WERE PROPAGATED AND SHARED, INCLUDING RARE TAXA LIKE BRIGHAMIA INSIGNIS, HIBISCUS CLAYI, AND SANTALUM PANICULATUM. OUTPLANTING ON GARDEN GROUNDS ALSO RESUMED, WITH NATIVE TREES AND PLANTS SUCH AS SCAEVOLA CHAMISSONIANA ADDED TO THE LANDSCAPE. 1,600 SQUARE FEET OF NEW NURSERY SPACE WAS COMPLETED, INCLUDING A PEST-CONTROL QUARANTINE ZONE. PUBLIC EVENTS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT A SUNDAY FARMERS MARKET IN THE GARDEN PARKING LOT CONTINUED AS A VIBRANT WEEKLY GATHERING, SUPPORTING OVER 500 VISITORS EACH WEEK AND REINFORCING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN LOCAL AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION, AND COMMUNITY. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR INCLUDED A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION IN NOVEMBER, DRAWING 375 ATTENDEES FOR TREE GIVEAWAYS, PLANT SALES, CULTURAL DEMONSTRATIONS, AND EDUCATIONAL BOOTHS. IN TOTAL, AGEG HOSTED 21 PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EVENTS IN 2024, INCLUDING AN ONGOING MONTHLY ETHNOBOTANY TALK AND POTLUCK SERIES FEATURING EXPERT SPEAKERS ON TOPICS SUCH AS TRADITIONAL FARMING, EDIBLE INVASIVES, AND BIOCULTURAL RESTORATION. THESE EVENTS STRENGTHENED COMMUNITY DIALOGUE AND WERE MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR WIDER ACCESS.