Sustainable landscaping at North Star House continues to grow through a combination of education, volunteer involvement, native planting, and thoughtful water use. We recently hosted a free community workshop with horticultural designer Molly Breen of New Wave Green, bringing together local gardeners, volunteers, and community members interested in creating healthier, more water-wise landscapes.
The workshop focused on designing native plant landscapes using Netafim drip irrigation systems, with practical information participants could apply in their own gardens and larger properties.
Sustainable Landscaping at North Star House
During the workshop, Molly introduced participants to the fundamentals of Netafim drip irrigation, including how the system works, why drip irrigation can be particularly useful for establishing native plants, and how thoughtful irrigation design can support plant health while reducing unnecessary water use.
She walked participants through layout planning, soil preparation, installation techniques, maintenance, and common troubleshooting considerations.
Rather than learning only through demonstrations, attendees were also able to see these concepts being put into practice on the North Star House grounds.
One of the primary examples was our growing native hedgerow, a project Molly has helped design and develop as part of the broader effort to care for the historic landscape. You can read more about New Wave Green and the North Star House native hedgerow project.
Expanding the Native Hedgerow
Following the workshop, we hosted a pop-up planting day on the grounds.
With guidance from Molly and a generous donation of 100 native plants from The Xerces Society, volunteers helped expand the hedgerow, introduce additional pollinator-supporting species, and prepare planting and irrigation areas to give each plant a strong start.
The project supports a larger approach to environmental stewardship at North Star House. While the estate's landscape is deeply connected to its history, caring for it today also means considering water use, habitat, biodiversity, and the long-term health of the property.
That work can be seen throughout the Heritage Garden at North Star House, where volunteers care for historic plantings, garden beds, native plants, pathways, and other landscape features. The native hedgerow adds another layer to that story by combining historic landscape traditions with modern ecological practices.
Learning Through Hands-On Community Work
Together, the workshop and planting day created a meaningful connection between education and action.
Participants were able to learn about irrigation and native landscape design, see those methods being used on an active project, and then contribute directly to the landscape itself.
That kind of hands-on learning is something we hope to continue offering at North Star House. Community workshops give local professionals an opportunity to share their expertise while helping visitors and volunteers better understand the work required to care for a historic 14-acre property.
We’re grateful to Molly Breen and New Wave Green for continuing to share their knowledge, to The Xerces Society for supporting the native planting project, and to every volunteer who helped put plants in the ground.
Those interested in participating in future garden projects can learn more about volunteering at North Star House. Garden and landscape volunteers help care for the grounds throughout the year.
For upcoming workshops, work days, tours, and other public programs, visit the North Star House event calendar.
North Star House
Published November 6, 2025
