Events

Reciprocity Community Food Forest sits on a 1.4-acre floodplain in Altoona, reclaimed from condemned housing and formally adopted from the City of Altoona by our chapter. Its rain garden, designed to absorb and filter stormwater from the surrounding neighborhood, was set back this year when conventional contractors mowed and herbicided the site, removing native plants and letting invasive species move in.

We want to improve the space in one big push. Thanks to a Healing the Planet 2026 Grant from GIANT, MARTIN'S, and Keep PA Beautiful, we're putting over 300 Pennsylvania native plants into the ground across two planting days: Saturday, October 17th and Sunday, October 18th, from 12 to 4 pm each day.
 

The planting runs from a wet ponding zone at the garden's center out to a drier outer rim, with species chosen for their place in that gradient: Blue Flag Iris, Swamp Rose Mallow, and Buttonbush anchor the deepest zones; Turtlehead (host plant for the Baltimore Checkerspot) and Swamp Milkweed (one of the only milkweeds monarchs can use in wetland conditions) take the mid-wet transition; Cardinal Flower and Great Blue Lobelia build a hummingbird corridor through the middle; and Mountain Mint, Aronia Berry, American Highbush Cranberry, and Pawpaw handle the drier outer edge. Every tree and shrub in this planting is edible, and everything is native to Pennsylvania.

This is a big lift, and we need a crowd both days to pull it off. No experience necessary. All ages welcome. Come for an hour or stay the whole shift, whatever you can give helps.
 

What to bring: closed-toe shoes, water, sun protection. Gloves optional, we'll have extras on hand.

What we'll be doing: clearing remaining invasive growth, digging in over 300 plugs, shrubs, and young trees, and mulching beds as we go.

This restoration rebuilds stormwater function for the surrounding neighborhood, adds habitat for pollinators and species of conservation concern, and grows public food access on one of Altoona's most productive community sites. Come be part of it.

Additional Resources

- Project page

- Grant program: Healing the Planet 2026 Grant

- Sign-up / RSVP

Bats are among the most important and misunderstood wildlife in our communities. Join experts from Bat Conservation International to explore how native plants, healthy insect populations, and thoughtful landscape design can help support bats. Learn about the ecological role of bats and discover practical ways to create habitat for North America's night flyers right in your own backyard.

Zoe Evans, rewilding coach and VP of Partnerships & Programs at Wildr shares a practical, science-informed framework for evaluating a home landscape, identifying its greatest habitat opportunities, and choosing actions that support more plants, insects, birds, and other wildlife.

Registration link coming soon.

No yard required. Learn how native plants can turn patios, balconies, containers, and other small spaces into meaningful habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. This practical panel will cover plant selection, container design, seasonal care, and realistic ways to support biodiversity in limited spaces.

Registration link coming soon.

Birds depend on healthy, connected habitats for food, shelter, nesting, and migration support. Join experts from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to explore how native plants and thoughtful landscape choices can support birdlife at home. Learn how gardens, yards, and community spaces can provide the insects, seeds, berries, cover, and habitat structure birds need throughout the year.

Registration link coming soon. 

Monarch butterflies depend on a network of habitats stretching across North America, and home landscapes can play an important role in their survival. Join experts from Monarch Joint Venture to explore the science behind monarch conservation, including the importance of milkweed, nectar resources, and regionally appropriate habitat. Learn practical ways to support monarchs through native landscaping and help sustain one of the world's most remarkable migrations.
 

Registration link coming soon.