We’re thrilled to announce that Dee Salomon has stepped into the role of President of the Homegrown National Park Board.
We’ve started this year with a flurry of Zoom calls—refining strategy, clarifying language, and digging deeper into how we grow the impact of this movement. And nearly every call begins the same way: Dee logs on, often just in from the woods, settles her dog nearby, and shares a quick story. Sometimes it’s a fox she spotted. Sometimes a bird she hadn’t seen in a while. Sometimes it’s a particularly stubborn invasive she’s at war with.
That rhythm, rooted in direct experience with the land, is exactly what makes Dee such a natural fit to help lead Homegrown National Park into its next chapter.
Over a decade ago, Dee began clearing invasive plants from her woodland property in West Cornwall, Connecticut. That work didn’t just transform the land. It transformed her. Her journey, which she documents as The Ungardener, has become a guide for thousands looking to reconnect with nature by restoring it.
Through her writing, speaking, and one-on-one mentorship, Dee makes a clear case: we don’t need to wait for permission or perfection to start restoring habitat. We just need to begin wherever we are, with whatever land we can influence. Dee puts it best, “Native plants are ready. The moment you make space, they respond.”
Her monthly column in the Lakeville Journal and essays on TheUngardener.com weave together scientific insight, practical advice, and deep personal observation. Whether she’s explaining why fall cleanup is a chance to help biodiversity, sharing what we can learn from beavers, or asking if trees can wait for science, Dee brings curiosity, humility, and a sense of shared responsibility to every topic.
Her leadership style is no different: thoughtful, intentional, and always connected to lived experience. As a founding board member of the Cornwall Garden Club, a frequent guest speaker, and a committed educator, Dee has spent years helping others take action, whether through programming, workshops, or just walking a neighbor’s property to help identify invasives.
All of this makes Dee a natural fit for Homegrown National Park. She’s been living the mission we now carry forward: catalyzing people to plant native and remove invasive species at home and in their communities, restoring and protecting the natural habitats that support all life. Her work is proof that this kind of grassroots restoration not only heals the land, but it inspires others to do the same.
We also want to offer our deepest thanks to Michelle Alfandari, Co-founder of Homegrown National Park and longtime Board President. Michelle’s vision, tenacity, and tireless leadership helped bring HNP from an idea to a growing national movement. We’re grateful that she’ll continue serving on the board as an active and guiding voice in this next chapter.
We’re excited to grow under her leadership in 2026—deepening impact, building community, and helping more people see that restoring nature isn’t just possible. It’s already happening.
Welcome, Dee. We’re so glad you’re here.
