Meet The Ecologist
Hello! My name is Danielle and welcome to The Backyard Ecologist! Ever since a young age, I’ve always been fascinated by nature. Whether it be playing in a creek, searching for snakes, or listening to the birds- I’ve always had a strong connection to nature. This continued as an adult and I always found myself happiest when outside exploring.
I studied Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in college and began working in the Herpetology department at a local zoo. Eventually, I went on to teach Science at the middle school level and most recently worked for an extension office. In 2018, my husband and I moved to upstate New York and bought a small house on a corner lot. For the first few years, we basically maintained the existing landscape. Mostly just weeding, mowing, and trimming bushes. We never planted things. Having a background in ecology I already knew the importance of native plants and I was certain I would use them in my future garden one day. It was when my son was born that I really started to explore changing our outdated landscape and exploring natural landscapes.
I believe passionately in restoring the native ecosystems starting in our own backyards.
During nap time, while blissfully trapped below my son, I started learning as much as I could about native species and their importance to the local ecosystem. Listening to podcasts or books became my regular naptime routine and I was hooked. On walks with my husband, son, and dog Watson, I made sure to point out all the native plants, or lack thereof in our neighborhood. We talked about the dead space of lawns and how using pesticides in our neighborhood is the norm.
Last summer, we decided to stop talking and get to work. Having an infant we decided to start small by expanding an empty garden bed. We planted only native species. It was a huge turning point for me as I struggled to find my new place in the world postpartum. Given my education and background, my husband encouraged me to start The Backyard Ecologist. So here we are!
I am a self-taught gardener and outdoor enthusiast, who believes passionately in restoring native ecosystems starting in our backyards. I hope this blog will help inspire and educate you about the beauty and importance of native backyard gardens. Thank you for following along as I begin this journey to hopefully make a difference no matter how small!
