Kim - Teter Retreat 

Learn more about the Park Steward Program

Hello!  I’m Kim.  I hope you are enjoying your visit to Teter Retreat and Organic Farm and its natural areas. You may see one of our team members rustling in the woods here. Teter volunteers love its natural areas and its wildlife.  We want to share what we are doing.
  
What We Are Doing
A team of a dozen volunteers manages Teter’s 50 wooded acres which border the White River. Like much of Hamilton County, Teter’s natural areas are being degraded by an onslaught of exotic bush honeysuckle, Callery (Bradford pear), multiflora rose, and other invasive species. We work with Teter staff to reduce the effect these species have on Teter property and the White River. Team members participate in scheduled work days as well as volunteer on their own schedules.
 
How I Got Involved

• My family has lived in Noblesville since 1991. My introduction to Teter was through their organic farm. In 2018 an opportunity arose to assist in Teter’s natural areas.  I love learning about natural systems, so I decided to volunteer even though I had very limited experience.
• My volunteer experience began very modestly; my main goal was to “do no harm”.  I started by focusing on common and easily identifiable species.  After a few years of experience and training, I now have sufficient background to assist others in this task.
• Presently I enjoy passing on the techniques and lessons learned to others in Hamilton County.  I volunteer with Hamilton County Invasives Partnership (HIP) to host Strike Team and Weed Wrangle events in several HC Parks.

 
Why It Matters to Me

• It’s all about environmental justice, beauty and legacy for me.
• As a society, we are learning that many of our past practices are not sustainable and that we must reinvent much of our lifestyles. Working at a local level provides insight into what changes are actually effective.
• More than ever, I am conscious of how humans affect animal species, and I better understand the link between a healthy natural environment and the welfare of all wildlife.
• For me, beauty is a north star for what is worthwhile. A healthy ecosystem is a thing of beauty, so it’s thrilling to restore them.
• I want my descendents to know that I did what I could to maintain the health of the natural environment.

 
Resources for You to Get Involved

• Hamilton Co. Invasives Partnership: https://www.hcinvasives.org/
• State of Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management: https://www.sicim.info/
• Indiana Native Plant Society:  https://indiananativeplants.org/
• Hamilton County Master Gardener Association: https://hcmga.org/
• Missouri Botanical Gardens Plant finder: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/plantfindersearch.aspx
• Midwest Invasive Plant Network (MIPN): www.mipn.org