When Dufief homeowners were asked in the HOA’s recent survey what we saw as the most important priorities for the community, our top answer was the importance of enhancing the appearance of the common areas and, especially, the beauty of the community entrance on Dufief Drive. This result should surprise no one, because it shows the strong continuity that today’s residents have with Dufief’s 50+ year history as a neighborhood dedicated to enjoying and preserving the natural world. Our wooded lots, our beautiful park and pond off Coles Chance Drive, and our location adjoining Muddy Branch Park (almost 900 acres of Eastern woodland forest) all contribute to our community’s strong links with our natural environment.

To strengthen this focus on our links to nature, the Board has encouraged the creation of the Dufief Green Team, which will take on projects to beautify Dufief as well as to provide opportunities for residents to learn about and enjoy nature, the Muddy Branch watershed, native plants and wildlife, and ways to support nature through more sustainable practices at home and in the community.

Green Teams initially sprouted as environmental advisors to municipalities but have blossomed into diverse, action-oriented groups. They’re no longer confined to town halls, but rather, they’re branching out into neighborhoods like ours. Here, they’re not just about recycling—they’re about weaving threads of sustainability into the very fabric of our Community.

Statewide, over 85 Green Teams, like those championed by Sustainable Maryland, are cultivating cleaner, greener worlds. These citizen-powered movements boast stats that speak volumes: a 15% reduction in energy use in participating towns, 10% more residents
composting, and a surge in community gardens and tree plantings. These aren’t just numbers; they’re stories of neighbors becoming stewards, families learning together, and our shared environment flourishing.

So, how can a Green Team take root in Dufief? The inspiration for this initiative comes from many sources, but one important one is the work of Doug Tallamy, an entomologist, ecologist, and conservationist who is a professor at the University of Delaware. He has written several books, such as Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens and Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard, that explain the importance of native plants and their role in the ecosystem. He advocates for home gardens and landscaping that bridge the gaps between parks and preserves in providing habitat for native species. He also calls for reimagining our lawns to expand more natural areas that can support more life.

The Board has requested that the Green Team’s first project be the replanting of the walled beds at the entrance to Dufief at Route 28 and Dufief Drive with a range of Maryland native plants and shrubs. Native plants are those that have evolved in our region and are  adapted to our climate, soil, and wildlife. They provide many benefits for our ecosystem, such as:

• Supporting pollinators, birds, and other animals that depend on native plants for food and shelter. ¹²
• Reducing water use, fertilizer use, and pesticide use, as native plants are more drought-tolerant, pest-resistant, and nutrient-efficient than non-native plants. ¹³
• Enhancing the natural beauty and diversity of our landscape, as native plants offer a variety of colors, shapes, and textures throughout the seasons. ¹⁴

We believe that by following Tallamy’s vision, we can create a more natural and sustainable environment in our community that will benefit not only ourselves, but also wildlife and the planet. Imagine a vibrant group of residents, passionate about green  spaces and eco-friendly living. This team, representing our diverse walks of life, could tackle projects like revamping our common areas with native plants, organizing workshops on composting or on invasive plants,
or advocating for solar panels on community buildings. The possibilities are as endless as our collective imagination.

We invite you to join us in this endeavor and become a member of the Dufief Green Team. As a member, you will have the opportunity to:

● Help decide what projects are most important and feasible for our community, such as planting native trees, shrubs, flowers, grasses, and groundcovers in our common areas, learning how to reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides, creating rain gardens or bird habitats to attract pollinators, removing invasive plants that threaten our native flora and fauna, or conducting nature and birding walks on our trails.
● Collaborate with other members and experts to plan, design, implement, and maintain these projects, using the best practices and resources available.
● Learn more about native plants and their benefits, as well as how to identify, grow, and care for them in your own yard.
● Enjoy the satisfaction of making a positive difference in our community and our environment, as well as having fun and making new friends along the way.